Golden Globes and Oscars... Will they even happen?

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 9:27am

Well, sure, they'll hand out the awards... somehow, somewhere.

But maybe not on TV and not with guild writers at either show... and now, not even with clips from the movies.

The WGA has refused a waiver request from the Hollywood Foreign Press that would allow for guild writers to work on the show. The Academy didn't even ask for the waiver out of respect, but turned in its usual request to all guilds for clip clearance... and was denied by the WGA.

No funny jokes... no clips from the nominated films... and most likely no John Stewart as host of the Oscars.
CNN Link

[mattonstage]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 9:49am

And yet, somehow, the Oscars will still be 4 1/2 hours long!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 9:53am

I may be in the minority, but I don't mind long Oscar telecasts. It's the acceptance speeches I can't stand.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:29am

Their only hope is a non-writer who will host and write all their own material. Ellen?

It will get interesting if the writers picket and ask all other unions to not cross the picket line. Who would attend?

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:32am

Some show biz folk are also saying they won't cross the picket line.

"And the nominees are... not here."

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:45am

Seriously, b12b, there are NEVER funny jokes.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:48am

I think that an untelevised luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire would be divine. And, make the women wear gloves and hats.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:50am

...and nothing else.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:54am

Fur wraps are acceptable.

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:57am

I will not miss Johnny Depp winning an Oscar. Even if it means I have to crash the Beverly Wilshire....in hat and gloves.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 11:53am

Maybe they can do it like the Emmys when the actors were on strike. Ryan Seacrest and Ed McMahon can host and present all the awards. And Powers Boothe can be the only actor present to accept and award. Ryan is of course standing in for Dick Clark.

[nmartin]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 12:16pm

Mattonstage, I thought about the same thing. Powers Boothe and the Jim Jones tv-movie.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 7:15pm

I'm hoping they just get Cirque du Soleil to do the whole thing.

"O-SKAAR"

And the award goes to...


SIDEWAYS!





HAIRSPRAY!

[Rosalind]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 7:22pm

Jon might be able to use some of his own recycle material, but I think a lot of actors will be boycotting it. From what I've read though, they have some serious plans in the works and it wont be a complete disaster. But they can't show clips from ANYTHING, and a lot of people wont be there.

It'll be a tad dismal.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 7:59pm

Besty I just saw on tv that they may not even televise it (whatever IT turns out to be) at all.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 9:57pm

I, too, don't mind the long telecasts. I love every aspect of the Oscars as to what they are...

It's the CONTENT that can be awful. A horrible host can kill the show, but if we have a good host then people generally don't mind the lengthy show.

I love all of the "entertainment" segments within the show, ESPECIALLY Billy Crystal's intro video with him edited into the nominated films.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:01pm

They should just go back to having a banquet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, this year. Just like the very first Academy Awards.

They had a nice dinner... and gave out the trophies in five minutes.

[mateo]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:03pm

Were you there in '29?

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:09pm

Of course.

The shrimp cocktail sucked.

And Emile Jannings was a no-show.

[mateo]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 10:22pm

What a dick

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 12/18/07 at 11:21pm

Rosalind- Unless I've misread everything Jon Stewart is a member of the WGA and is behind his union 100%.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 12:13am

I was looking forward to Jon Stewart's hosting again. He has been my favorite by far. Ellen was way too vanilla and silly to keep me entertained for all 5 hours last year.
I do love me all award ceremonies concerning film/TV though. That's something I look forward to yearly. I was all about the WGA's strike until they messed with my award ceremonies

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 6:51pm

I don't know how much it matters what the general public thinks about the WGA strike, but "the masses" are gonna be pissed if the ceremony is canceled this year. It's a billion-strong worldwide annual audience. And most don't have any idea why the writers are striking. In their eyes, they already have fancy houses, cars, pools, etc. So shut the hell up!

If the producers were smart (and I'm not even supporting them!), they would just let this one play out and remain passive about the WGA decision.

I'm sure the Academy is scrambling, trying to figure out what to do. This is their big money maker each year... plus it's a huge money maker for the network. Loss of some serious ad dollars if the ceremony is canceled or cut way down.

[nitsua]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 6:53pm

Is there any chance of the writers coming to an agreement before the ceremonies?

Only 10% of the writers, if that, make enough to do it full time.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 7:05pm

Hey, this was posted on the Academy's site earlier today:

http://www.oscars.org/80academyawards/wga_announcement.html

Looks like they'll have some kind of show, regardless.

And it says they will still show clips, but I'm guessing they'll be silent, or music only, or something like that.

"This decision affects only the conditions under which we may use such material, not our ability to do so."

And it reiterates that they never asked the WGA for a waiver to use union writers.

But the Golden Globes did. And the request was denied.

The strike MIGHT be over by February 24th... but there's no guarantee. And they have to make their production plans now.

I vote for silent hand puppets!