Rumor Patrol: Conan on Colbert, Colbert on Conan

This tip was sent in from a source in NYC:

A car picked up Stephen Colbert outside his studio tonight and brought him to Conan's taping, and then Conan showed up at Colbert. I guess they are doing their own strike solidarity thing on tonight's shows.

All of the late night hosts have been steadfast in their support of not just their own writers but also the hundreds of employees who were affected by the strike. A Conan/Colbert couch swap (man, that sounds dirty) promises some must-see nonsense. We can't wait.

Speechless #34: Interim Athreement

The latest from "Speechless" starring, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Zoe Kazan, Allyson Sereboff and Diana Paschal.


See all the "Speechless" videos:
Brightcove (hi-res)
YouTube (low-res)

SAG Awards Honor Achievement and Solidarity

United Hollywood extends its congratulations to all the winners of last night's SAG Awards and thanks all those who supported the WGA during their remarks.

- Read the official SAG press release about last night's ceremony.
- Coverage from the New York Times and from David Carr, aka "The Carpetbagger."
- A photo gallery from the LA Times.

And don't forget to stop by the SAG/WGA Unity rally at Fox today! Organized by the WGA Union Solidarity Committee and the Women's Committees of SAG and WGA.

Location: Fox Studios, 10201 W Pico Blvd, 90064

Shifts: 7-10 AM, 10 - 1 PM, 1 - 4 PM
Special SAG participation from 12 - 3 PM

Sign-ins: Motor Gate and Galaxy intersection (at Ave of the Stars).

Parking:
· Free four-hour parking in the parking lot at the park right off Motor (200 yards from Fox).
· Two-hour parking on Motor and side streets south and west of Fox.
· Pay parking at Century City Mall.

Bathrooms: Public bathrooms in the building halfway up the parking lot at the park.

Be Safe! Traffic on Pico and Motor is very heavy -- stay out of the street. Cross intersections only with the lights, and watch for turning cars. Step all the way up on the curb when the light has changed. Be particularly careful when passing Gate 3, where cars come in very fast.

Thanks to Fox Picket Coordinator Ashley Gable.

Speechless #33 feat. Brian Cox and Jennifer Jason Leigh

See all the "Speechless" videos:
Brightcove (hi-res)
YouTube (low-res)

Videos: Mariska Hargitay and David Dean Bottrell

Speechless Episode 31: 1/14

See all "Speechless" videos.

A Working Writer: David Dean Bottrell

See all "A Working Writer" videos.

How to Help and How to Get Help

Nia Vardalos Lifts Picketers' Spirits with Lunch

Writer/Actress/Producer Nia Vardalos has been buying lunch for picketers once a week at all gates of various studios. On Tuesday she provided hot pizza for all gates at Paramount with help from WGA board member Kathy Kiernan. Anyone who would like to join Nia in buying lunch for a picket line can email Marianne at mariannetitiriga [at symbol] aol [dot] com. A donation of $140 to $160 will cover enough burgers/pizzas/subs to feed the hungry front lines. Be sure to designate a studio when you email. Nia will handle delivery and provide donors with receipts. Thanks!

Laugh Factory Benefit: Time Change for This Week

Jamie Masada's Laugh Factory hosts a weekly show on Wednesdays to benefit the Writers Guild Foundation Industry Support Fund. Minimum donation of $20.00 collected at the door.

Tonight's benefit (1/16) will start at 9:30 pm instead of the usual 10pm.

Jamie tells UH there will be national press coverage and a stellar lineup, including Jeff Garlin, Dane Cook, Paul Rodriguez and, tentatively, Dennis Miller.

8001 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
(323) 656-1336
www.laughfactory.com

Bang Comedy Theater Fundraiser

On January 24th, Bang Comedy Theater presents a special, all-WGA cast of the written essay show PINATA. Half the door with go to the Industry Support Fund.

Readers will include Brent Forrester (The Office), Christy Stratton Mann (King of the Hill), Shawn Schepps (Weeds), Peter Murrieta (Wizards of Waverly Place), Laura House (George Lopez) and a special essay from Larry Gelbart (No need for parentheses). The show always ends with free candy.

Thursday, January 24th, 8PM
Bang Comedy Theater
457 North Fairfax (btw. Beverly and Melrose)
Reservations and info at 323-653-6886

UPDATE: "There Will Be Comedy" Benefit in NYC -- SOLD OUT

Tickets have already sold out for this show benefitting the Industry Support Fund. Ars Nova and the writers and staff of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will present a night of stand-up, sketch and film to benefit staffers affected by the WGA strike. Performers include The Daily Show's Rory Albanese, Hallie Haglund, JR Havlan, Elliott Kalan, Rob Kutner, Adam Lowitt, Sam Means and John Oliver.

Tuesday, 1/22. 9pm
Ars Nova Theater
511 West 54th Street (btwn 10th & 11th Aves.)
New York, NY 10019

Where to Seek Help
Besides the Industry Support Fund, a good place to seek financial assistance is The Actors Fund.

For financial emergencies, call 212-221-7300 x 119 for Lucy Seligson, intake director at the NYC office. She can be reached by email at lseligson [at] actorsfund [dot] org. A more general backup email is intakeny [at] actorsfund [dot] org.

The Actors Fund helps anyone who works in the entertainment industry. Its staff are knowledgeable about the many assistance programs available. They also offer mental health counseling and career counseling to name but two other programs.

Other office contacts are:

Chicago office
312.372.0989
Don Towne dtowne [at] actorsfund [dot] org

Los Angeles office
323.933.9244 ext. 55
intakela [at] actorsfund [dot] org
Keith McNutt, the Director of the LA office: 323.933.9244 ext. 14

[Major thanks to S.E. Olson for compiling info!]

Drew Carey Guest Hosts The Armando Show At iO West Tonight

Come see WGA and SAG member Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show, Whose Line is it Anyway, The Price is Right) host The Armando Show at iO West tonight at 9pm.

The Armando Show, over the month of January and until February 4, is raising money through ticket proceeds for the Writer's Guild Foundation Industry Support Fund. Armando is one of iO West's longest-running shows featuring a guest monologist every week backed by a regular troupe of improvisers (including SNL's Tim Meadows, and MADtv's Stephnie Weir). This week's improvisers include WGA members John Reynolds (Late Late Show), Joe O'Brien (Late Late Show), Adrien Wenner (My Boys), Ed Lee (The Drew Carey Show), Kate Purdy (Cold Case), and Wendy Molyneux (The Megan Mullally Show) in addition to the regular Armando cast.

Ron Livingston is hosting January 14th, Bob Odenkirk is hosting January 28th, leading up to a star-studded finale on February 4th featuring cast members from The Daily Show, The Office, SNL, and MADtv.

Tickets for the Armando Show are $10 (February 4th will be $25) and can be purchased in advance at the iO WEST web site www.iowest.com or by calling 323.962.7560.

iO WEST is located at 6366 Hollywood Blvd, between Cahuenga and Vine.

IO West Theater Comedy Fund Raiser

Tomorrow night Jerry O'Connell ("Carpoolers," "Crossing Jordan") Kerri Kenney ("Reno 911," "The Ten," "The State"), and stand-up comedian Dan Mintz (writer, "Luckie Louie") will perform in Talk Show: The Talk Show at iO West Theater. Half the proceeds go to the Industry Support Fund - a fund set up by the WGA for non-WGA members affected by the strike.

Here are the details:
11pm THIS FRIDAY, Jan 11th
iO West Theater:
6366 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(Hollywood Boulevard between Cahuenga and Ivar - valet parking available on Cosmo)

For reservations or more information call the iO West Theater at 323-962-7560. You can find out more about the theater by visiting iowest.com.

Tom Hanks to AMPTP: Negotiate Seriously, Save the Oscars

According to Reuters, actor Tom Hanks has firmly spoken out in favor of a fair deal for the striking WGA. Read the whole article here.

"I just hope that the big guys who make big decisions up high in their corporate boardrooms and what not get down to honest bargaining and everyone can get back to work."

The star of box office hits "Forrest Gump" and "The Da Vinci Code", and twice a best actor Oscar winner, added that a shift in the way screenwriters were rewarded for their work was needed in the Internet age.

"The delivery systems, the revenue streams, just the very presentation media is now going to be a brand new place," he said in a brief interview on Thursday.

United Hollywood thanks Tom for stating the issue so simply and resolutely. Let us all hope he is heard.

Speechless (and Jokes at the Expense Of!)

One of the "Speechless" producers writes, "Jon Stewart last night did a bit on Speechless (about 6 mins in). I hate to say it, but pretty funny stuff."

Speechless #29

Directed by Steve Pink, starring Illeana Douglas.



See all the "Speechless" videos:

Brightcove (hi-res)
YouTube (low-res)

Heroes Strike Day

Masi Oka (Hiro) came to support the writers, along with many of the rest of the cast.

Writers, actors and fans of the show "Heroes" all picketed together at Universal on Tuesday.

Check out the whole album to see everyone together on the lines (and see what Claire's dad looks like without the hornrims.)

photos by Mark.

UPDATED: Write Aid Benefit Concert

DISCOUNT TICKETS AVAILABLE: If you are a Union Member who has lost their job or been otherwise adversely affected due to the WGA Strike, please use the following code when purchasing your tickets AIDWGA. Tickets purchased using this code will cost $15 per person. You may purchase a maximum of 4 tickets at this price. There is a limited number of tickets available at this price so it will be first-come, first-served. You may purchase the tickets through the avenues listed below.

Marti Noxon, Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin and the United Showrunner Committee
cordially invite you to attend

WRITE AID

A Benefit Concert to Provide Assistance
to Industry Employees Affected by the WGA Strike

Performers currently scheduled:

Eddie Izzard
Lewis Black
Patton Oswalt
Sarah Silverman
&
Tenacious D
(featuring Jack Black & Kyle Gass)

ONE NIGHT ONLY!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th at 8 p.m.
ROYCE HALL at UCLA

Tickets - $75 per person
Tickets can be purchased
By visiting
www.UCLALive.org
Or calling
(310) 825-2101
Or by contacting
Ticketmaster

Tickets also available in person at the UCLA Central Ticket Office
Southwest corner of the James West Alumni Center
And at
All Ticketmaster Outlets

Write Aid is presented by members of the Writers Guild of America West, the Screen Actors Guild and West Beth Entertainment.

The idea originated with the United Showrunners Committee who wanted a way to reach out to the Industry community during the strike. Dawn and Nicole, Executive Producers of “The Riches” approached star Eddie Izzard. “I wanted to help because the WGA struggle is in the same area as the SAG struggle will be in a few months time.” Izzard said. “We will also be negotiating over Internet residuals, so doing the benefit seemed like a good way of helping out and showing solidarity.”

“A small group of writers and performers came together recently in the hopes of reconfirming our solidarity, as well as raising spirits and money as the Holidays fast approach,” explains Marti Noxon, Executive Producer and Showrunner of the series “Private Practice.”

For 30 years WestBeth Entertainment, led by President Arnold Engelman, has produced critically acclaimed work in live entertainment. Productions have included the sold-out national tours of Eddie Izzard’s Dress to Kill, Circle and Sexie; Billy Connolly’s Too Old to Die Young (North American Tour); Lewis Black’s Nothing’s Sacred (Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall) and Red, White and Screwed (NY City Center); The Family Guy Live (NY, Los Angeles, Chicago) and Wigfield featuring Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello (Off-Broadway, National Tour); WestBeth recently produced Margaret Cho’s The Sensuous Woman in New York and Eric Idle’s play What About Dick? in Los Angeles.

Events of the Week

Compiled from WGA and United Hollywood emails. -JA

TUESDAY DECEMBER 11TH:

PENCILS2MEDIAMOGULS: It's here! The first delivery of pencils will take place today. Over 500,000 pencils have been shipped. Please join us as we deliver the pencils to NBC CEO Jeff Zucker, Robert Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and to Universal Studios for GE's CEO Jeffrey Immelt. Writers slated to appear include: Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), Joss Whedon (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly), Carol Barbee (Jericho), Alfred Gough (Smallville), Miles Millar (Smallville). We will meet at 11:30 am at Johnny Carson Park, 400 Bob Hope Drive in Burbank.

PICKET WITH THE WRITERS AND STARS OF HEROES: Showrunner Tim Kring along with series stars Ali Larter, Adrian Pasdar, Jack Coleman, Christine Rose will be on the picket line from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm at Universal Studios’ Main Gate (Universal Center Drive and Lankershim). T- shirts and comics will be handed out to fans who show up and picket with us. Contact Adam Armus chammax [at] aol [dot] com.

CHRISTMAS CAROL VIDEO BY HOLLYWOOD INTERRUPTED: Today at Universal, Peter Rader will be shooting music videos featuring SAG actors and picketers singing modified carols that skewer the greedy old Scrooges who are ruining the holidays for so many with their appalling greed. It's part of Hollywood Interrupted's "Santa Supports the Strike" DVD boycott. Picketers are encouraged to bring Santa hats. Peter is distributing lyrics you can download here.

Coincidentally, Graham Flashner, Lorin Wertheimer and Maria Elena Rodriguez sent us their own satirical holiday songs. Download them here and here, then sing them at your next studio picket. But don't expect any hot cider from the moguls inside, only a big lump of coal.

BRING AN ACTOR FRIEND TO THE LINE DAY: This is about all actors coming out to support you, their friends and union brothers and sisters. Our fight is their fight. And hopefully, after they walk with you, a lot of them will keep coming back. All Studios, all shifts.

STUDENT PICKET DAY: Film and screenwriting students join WGA members on the picket line at Sony, Overland Gate from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

PINK HAT BRIGADE: Female sci-fi and genre writers gather on the picket lines once a week. You can spot us by our Pink Cowboy Hats adorned with alien antennae. Our next group picket is planned for Warner Brothers from 8:00 am – 11:00 am. For more information, please contact Gillian Horvath at ghorvath [at] aol [dot] com

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 12TH:

WGA/SEIU JOINT ACTION: Wednesday December 12th at 5:00 pm at the corner of Wilshire Blvd. & Veteran Ave. in Westwood. WGAW members will join SEIU Security Officers in a March and rally to bring General Electric’s disrespect of workers to light. Please wear red t-shirts. Picket signs & flashlights will be provided. Speakers will include President Faith Culbreath, SEIU SOULA Local 2006, Nancy De Los Santos, WGA Board Member, Dr. Norman Johnson, Sr., Pastor of First New Christian and Rev. Eric P. Lee, Sr., President/CEO - SCLC of Greater Los Angeles Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

THE STRIKE SHOW: A live comedy/variety show produced by Nick Kroll and Kat Foster. Wednesday December 12th at 10:00 pm at THE STEVE ALLEN THEATER Center for Inquiry-West, 4773 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90027 Two blocks west of Vermont -- Plenty of FREE parking in the rear. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. WGA Members get in Free, but donations are encouraged. All proceeds will benefit members of the industry who are affected by the strike via the Motion Picture and Television Fund, which provides financial assistance to industry members during these challenging times.

DIVERSITY PICKETING DAY: The Committee of Black Writers wants to cordially invite all members to DIVERSITY PICKETING DAY, Wednesday, December 12th at the Paramount Gates from 12- 2. Please join a diverse group of celebrities and writers for a day of unity on the picket line. Also, the Committee of Latino Writers is sponsoring salsa-dancing lessons at Paramount’s Bronson Gate (the unofficial dancing gate). Everyone is welcome. For more information contact Jacqueline McKinley at JacMac14 [at] aol [dot] com.

UNITED HOLLYWOOD LIVE: Tune in by clicking on the United Hollywood Live widget along the right hand side of this site or by clicking here. 12:00 pm -1:30 pm for the duration of the strike.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 13TH:

MIRACLE ON 1ST STREET TOY DRIVE: The Latino Writers Committee is sponsoring a toy drive to benefit east L.A.'s famous Hollenbeck Youth Center on THURSDAY DECEMBER 13th . For over 25 years, the Hollenbeck Youth Center has helped organize the Miracle on 1st Street Giveaway that annually distributes over 10,000 toys to needy inner city L.A. kids – it takes place in Boyle Heights on Dec. 15. If you can, please bring a new toy to drop off when you sign in for your Thursday picketing shift – there will be boxes available at all picket sites and in the WGA Lobby. Contact Alan Dybner at dyb@aol.com if you have any questions. Click for more information on the Hollenbeck Youth Center.

NYC MUSIC VIDEO SHOOT FOR CANTINERO: Chris Hicken aka Cantinero will be on the picket lines in New York this coming Thursday at noon shooting a video for his strike anthem, "No Apologies." He is looking for audience participation. We are told it is also student day on Thursday in NYC, so invites all students to join the chorus along with WGAE members on the line.

INDIE FILM GATE: Please join your fellow writers at Indie Film Gate, a picketing event on Thursday, December 13th. Independent Film Screenwriters and their friends & supporters will be gathering at Paramount - Melrose Gate from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Confirmed speakers include Howard A. Rodman, Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal, Robin Swicord, John August and Bill Condon. Site is located at 5555 Melrose Avenue and parking options include streets South of Melrose. Contact Kay Schaber Wolf: kschaber [at] wga [dot] org

WGEh: Canadian writers and the people who love them will be out and about picketing on Thursday, December 13th from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm at CBS Radford (main gate). Bring anything Canadian -- flags, hockey stick signs, plucky optimism -- and wear your Canadian colors in honor of this event.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 14TH:

WRITE AID: A benefit concert (organized by Marti Noxon, Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin and the United Showrunner Committee) to provide assistance to industry employees affected by the Strike featuring performances by Edie Izzard, Lewis Black, Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman and Tenacious D (Jack Black and Kyle Gass). Friday December 14th at Royce Hall, UCLA at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $75.00 per person and can by purchased at UCLALive.org or by calling (310) 825-2101 or through Ticketmaster. Tickets are also available at the UCLA Central Ticket Office (southwest corner of the James West Alumni Center) and at all Ticketmaster Outlets.

DANE COOK BENEFIT SHOW: Dane Cook is currently scheduled to headline this Friday at the Laugh Factory, and he is donating the entire door to support workers affected by the strike. We will post any changes or additional information as we get it.

BOSTON TV PARTY with Joss Whedon, Rob Kutner and Jaime Paglia: Full details in this Boston Herald article. "Festivities begin at the Meeting House of the First Parish Unitarian Church in Cambridge, where writers and celebrities will speak. Then the strikers and fans will march across Harvard Square to the Harvard Lampoon building for a rally."

“We encourage people to bring their own picket signs, (tasteful slogans please,)” the union says in a press release, “and look forward to having writers and fans march side by side in support of the people who provide the content that gives the studios and television networks their record profits.”

THE STRIKE SHOW: see calendar WEDNESDAY 12/13

UNITED HOLLYWOOD LIVE: 12:00 pm -1:30 pm

The AMPTP explains their latest proposal...

This is the video the WGA doesn't want you to see! Studio Head and AMPTP Member, Roger A. Trevanti explains the AMPTP's groundbreaking new deal in a way writers can understand!

Speechless #20: Woody Allen

Toy Drive A Real Ball

Writer and actress Nia Vardalos, seen here with Phil Rosenthal and Tom McGowan, sponsored a toy drive this Monday. She had this to report:

So many people came by the Raleigh Van Ness Gate (WGA, TEAMSTERS and SAG) and we took two truckloads of toys to the fire station! People brought food for SOVA too – enough to fill two large boxes. It was so much fun, and a great feeling to be part of such an uplifting day!

Thanks to Nia for organizing the event, and thanks to all who donated!

"Speechless" -- The Official Launch

After its exclusive weekend run on Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily, United Hollywood is thrilled to present the official premiere of the "Speechless" campaign, as well as announce the debut of its new site, SpeechlessWithoutWriters.com. This campaign is like no other. For the first time, high-profile actors are taking their talent directly to the Internet for a powerful show of union solidarity. The folks at SpeechlessWithoutWriters.com will be adding new videos every day, in both high-res and low-res versions. Here is "Anthem," the first one. We hope you enjoy!



Click here for the hi-res version.

Pieces which ran exclusively on DHD can be seen here:
HI-RES/Brightcove
LO-RES/YouTube

We're "Speechless" with Gratitude

On this Turkey Day, the writers of United Hollywood wish to extend our thanks to everyone across the world who has offered so much help, support and encouragement. We invite you all to watch "Speechless," a new campaign featuring dozens of actors who want to see creative talent get a fair deal. "Speechless" will run exclusively at Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily through the Thanksgiving weekend. Three new videos are scheduled each day. Read the full press release here.

And we hope you'll find this video from Tuesday's labor solidarity march as inspiring as we do.



Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. We're all on the same page.
- your friends at United Hollywood

Monday Morning Links

- Garth Brooks Rocks
The best-selling solo music artist in US history refused to cross picket lines and appear on "The View" or "Ellen" last week to promote his album. Reports cited this quote from Brooks' publicist: "Garth is proud of the position he has taken since he hopes to be a writer in the not too distant future."
Garth, I'll bet you now have several thousand writers who will happily look at drafts for you. Thanks for your support.

Many outlets carried this story, but when one is called CountryStandardTime.com, well, that's the one getting the link.

- The LA Times' strike coverage has been ramping up, and it now regularly includes angles of the story unreported elsewhere. Two examples: a Christian group's prayer for a fair resolution and the announcement of a worldwide day of protest on November 28 to support the strike.

Today, the paper runs two pieces of note. The first provides some good context on the battles over fair compensation that got us here. And it provides this great quote:

"Profitability is next to nothing," said one studio executive who asked not to be named. "The notion of taking out more money from a business that's nascent just seems crazy to us. The problem is, we said the same thing about DVD and it became a $10-billion business."

Yes, nameless executive, that is the problem. I suppose there was a time when it cost a king's ransom to manufacture the housing of a single VHS cassette. "We're getting reamed on the plastic costs! Throw us a bone here!" As if to reinforce nameless executive's confession, the headline of the second LAT article states, Digital Media Won't Be a Sideshow in the Future.

- Michael Fox writes in The Smirking Chimp, a political blog:

The visibility is tremendous, and the zeitgeist in L.A. seem unanimous: This is not the fault of the writers – the studios have reverted to the state they were in 1948 (and then some), they are greedy beyond any sense of reason, and we are all damn mad – and supportive of the strike; the writers must get their fair share of the income their work generates.

- Ruth, aka "Anonymous English Major," e-mailed UH asking how to help, and she joined the picketing for a day! She's posted her picket story on her LiveJournal page, complete with pictures.

- I'm told the most recent Prairie Home Companion included a "sympathetic, funny bit" about the strike near the beginning of the show.

- John Vorhaus hit Vegas after a week of picketing, and he found metaphors at the poker table. WARNING: Highbrow literary theory content. But there's also this:

I asked what people thought about the strike, and this one old guy (by old, of course, I mean about my age) said, deadpan, "'Fair is fair,' says Billie Jean." This, if you don't recognize it, is the signature line from the movie The Legend of Billie Jean, written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal, released in 1985, and starring the delicious Helen Slater.

- I'm not sure if I'm supposed to reveal the identity of Charlie, the writer behind My Second Strike, but here's a hint: This is not his first strike.

- "The most prominent TV critic in Canada" supports the WGA.

Here's the idea: Let's just boycott American network TV until the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers settles with the Writers Guild of America and the writers can get back to doing what they want to do -- entertain us.

*****
Don't forget to visit Strike Points for all the news from our friends in the Guild East. I also recommend Late Show Writers on Strike. We have relaunched pages on Facebook and MySpace, plus a growing Flickr account. Send your strike-related pictures to unitedhollywood [at] gmail [dot] com!