Shoot the Messenger: A Special Report on WGA Terror!
Shoot the Messenger plays every Monday night at Caberet under ACME in New York City. It is the latest offering from the mind of Lizz Winstead, whose name you might recognize from her full-house standup comedy shows — or perhaps from a little show on Comedy Central called “The Daily Show,” which she created a while back.
About Shoot the Messenger
Shoot the Messenger is a live sketch comedy show that incorporates multi-media elements to give us the world as seen through the filters of the fictional producers and on-air talent at “Wake Up World,” the worst morning news show in America. It is an indictment — both hilarious and scathing — not only of the newsmakers, but of the news media that molds them.
One of the latest reports filed by the journalistically-minded folks over at Wake Up World was on the recent activities of the Evil Terror Organization calling itself the Writers Guild Association, or WGA. The WGA has claimed responsibility for a recent attack on our nation’s peace-loving studio system, demanding unheard of concessions like fair contracts and tiny profit percentages. The report bravely delves into the issues that make up this Issue, as co-host Davis Miles checks in with our embedded reporters.
So… just in case you’re unclear: Shoot the Messenger is entirely supportive of the writer’s strike. One unique aspect of the show is the second part of the evening, known as Part II, during which Lizz sits down with a guest from the outside world to discuss whatever is on their minds. Roseanne Barr has made an appearance, as has Mo Rocca and David Rees… but most recently, Lizz had a chance to chat with two WGA writers about the strike. The interview will not be made public, but one point was made that summed up the rationale for the writer’s strike very nicely.
In the morning, the studios are constantly telling their shareholders that “x” amount of money is expected from online content, with “x” usually equal to a number that ends in “billion.” Then, following their daily lunch of their underlings’ souls, they spend the afternoon telling the WGA that it is too early to tell what kind of revenue they can generate from online content.
When you watch The Daily Show, or any other show, on your television, the writers behind the show are being compensated with the tiny percentage that exists under their former contract. If you got up, went over to the computer, logged on to The Daily Show’s website, and watched any of the show’s past episodes, you will be making lots of money for Viacom through the ad you have to sit through, but the writers — the same writers who wrote the episode when it showed on the bigger box on the other side of the living room — get nothing.
One other point: there are around 15,000 writers in the Guild, and what they are collectively asking for essentially amounts to 11 million dollars a year, from each of the 5 major studios involved in the negotiations (even though they are all represented by one lawyer and have presented a completely united front.) 11 million dollars sounds like a ton of money — except when you consider that it represents, as one person put it, “half of Reese Witherspoon.” And that is to be divided unevenly among 15 thousand talented writers.
The studios make millions upon millions of dollars off of the hard work of these talented men and women, and without them there wouldn’t be any content for the studios to monetize. They deserve what they are asking for, and both Shoot the Messenger and ScribeMedia.org (or at least Jonathan Light, who works at ScribeMedia) support the current strike.
For more information, please log on to or visit the WGA West website here OR the WGA East website here.
And be sure to check out Shoot the Messenger’s website for upcoming show information and more videos.
Jonathan Light is an Associate Producer at ScribeMedia.org, as well as a multi-hat-wearing assistant at Shoot the Messenger.
This article was created by the editors and producers at ScribeMedia.Org.
Discussion
No comments for “Shoot the Messenger: A Special Report on WGA Terror!”
Post a comment