The World of Bohemedude

Pencils Down!

"I'd like to thank the writers!"

How many times have we heard that phrase spoken at awards shows? Think back to this year's Emmys and recall the number of times an actor, director, or producer publicly acknowledged the enormous contribution that writers make to the entertainment industry. It makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, really! Before "McDreamy" came to life on our television screens, he existed in the minds and imaginations of a team of talented writers. And, those crazy one-liners that acctress Megan Mullaly delivered each week as Karen Walker on NBC's Will & Grace  were first tossed around by the writers of the sitcom. Of course, Ms. Mullaly is a dynamite actress, and she certainly gave life and breath to one of my favorite characters of all time, but it was a writer who gave her such perfect dialogue. "Hey, hey, hey...Come on. I know what guilt is. It's one of those touchy-feely words that people throw around that don't really mean anything... You know like 'maternal' or 'addiction'." Writers are even largely responsible for the timing and flow of shows like American Idol  and Dancing with the Stars.  In fact, if you caught last night's episode of Dancing with the Stars,  you had a first-hand glimpse of that show without writers.

"Pencils Down!" Those are the words written across one picket sign that I saw in a photograph of members of the Writers Guild of America, now on strike in Los Angeles and New York City. What seems like such a simple action will certainly have a huge impact on an industry that Americans take for granted. According to one online news source, we won't truly experience the effects of this strike for many months. Most of the top shows on TV already have a stockpile of scripts ready for production. TV dramas aren't likely to begin showing reruns for a few months. Sketch shows and late night talk shows, however, are another story (forgive the pun.) Jay Leno's nightly monologue and Letterman's top-ten lists are pretty much written daily. "Live from New York, It's Saturday Night!" We'll still hear those words this weekend, but the material will be far from timely and fresh. How sad! Especially considering how the race for the 2008 White House continues to provide more than enough material for comedic scrutiny.

It isn't a surprise to see how much media coverage the Writers Guild strike is receiving. After all, Americans are more than a little addicted to the tube. Yet, in all of the coverage, I've heard very little about the reasons for this walkout, and those reasons do seem compelling, at least to me. Of course, a good reporter is going to cover the entire story and let the audience know that the strike is the result of a dispute over royalty income from show downloads on iPods and cell phones and the guild's argument in favor of renegotiating distribution of residuals from DVD sales. Beyond a mere mention of the issues at hand, very little is said. I don't think I've seen any coverage that includes a statement from the guild itself. Instead, the media seems to be focusing on the losses the network's will face should the strike continue for too long as well as communicating to TV audiences, in an almost fatalistic manner, that new episodes of their favorite shows will soon come to an abrupt end.

Now, far be it from me to take sides on such an issue, but if my arm were twisted, I'd have to side with the writers. It seems to me that they are simply asking for a share of the pot, and given the huge profits garnered through DVD sales, that pot is nothing to sneeze at. And, if current trends continue and technology continues to advance at lightening quick rates, what else might be on the horizon? The writers are simply standing up for what they feel they deserve, a share in the prosperity that their efforts have brought forth.

Nobody likes being taken for granted, and it seems that is precisely what is happening. If you asked me to tell you everything I could about my favorite television show, I could easily name the actors.  Sort of a no brainer considering they are the people on the screen each week. I'm sure I could even hum the theme song. Could I tell you the name of a writer? Not at all. Do I pay attention at all to the credits? No siree!! And yet, it is without a doubt the story that captivates me. It's the story that keeps me watching week after week. It's easy to get caught up with the familiarity and the celebrity of the actors on TV, but it is truly the writers that give us something to watch and relate to.

Perhaps this dispute would be quickly ended if the interested parties turned to the words of one of the greatest dramatic writers of all time. When these words were penned for the Elizabethan stage, television was not even imaginable. And yet, these timeless words have made it to the screen a number of times. These words have been recited by the likes of Mel Gibson and Kenneth Brannagh, portraying one of the most well-known protagonists of all time. Stepping back for a moment, one might well ask whether it is Hamlet or the playwright who is truly speaking. Regardless, those who make drama their lives work must necessarily agree. "The play is the thing!"