11.08.07 5:00 AM CST
• TV & DVDs
• Stephen Randall
I’m just a bystander to the current labor dispute that has pretty much cast a pall over the city of Los Angeles. And even though the strike is only a few days old, here are some random observations:Good thing about the strike: It’s easier to get a table in a good restaurant. Fewer power lunches are going on, and writers and agents are watching their pennies.
Bad thing: Fewer people to eat with. I’m an editor so I tend to hang with writers, many of whom are out are strike. You’d think that would give them more spare time, but the union insists that they picket four days a week, either from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The union is not very considerate of my lunch plans.
Bad thing: Dealing with depressed millionaire writer-friends. When you make a lot of money, you have a huge overhead. Listening to a millionaire obsess about tightening his belt is weird.
Good thing: See above. It’s also sort of satisfying.
Bad thing: No Letterman or Kimmel.
Good thing: No Leno.
Bad thing: If the strike goes on, The Office will disappear from NBC and House from Fox.
Good thing: Cheesy reality TV becomes guilt free. You can’t feel bad if it’s the only thing left on the air.
Good thing: Knowing that someone, somewhere is planning to make money off new media.
Bad thing: Realizing that it’s not me. I work in a non-unionized business and thus, unlike the striking writers, I’m willingly writing this blog item for free. (Are you reading, Hef? Christie? Anyone?)
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