The Writer's Strike & NIGHT COURT
Hollywood comin' at ya fast!
Welp. I wanted to promote my upcoming appearance on NIGHT COURT this Tuesday night on NBC and on their streaming service PEACOCK the next day (and beyond). So, here I am, during this massive Hollywood work stoppage, letting you know to tune in to catch my character, Esther, in the finale (episode #116). You (might’ve) met me as Esther back in episode 113! She’s a stalker who’s been struck by lightning 11 times. So, tune in to find out what all Esther is up to before the season ends. I will let you in on a little about my time filming the finale this past August, but also update you on what’s going on in Hollywood right now with the writers in a hot second.
On a scorching August day in Burbank on the Warner Brother’s lot, I had the pleasure of reprising my role as Esther. It was a privilege to be directed by the great Joanna Kerns! You may remember her acting work as Maggie Seaver from 80’s sitcom GROWING PAINS (especially if you’re GenX like me), but she is a prolific director, as well. There was also a slew of other fun guest cast invited back for the episode. So I was able to spend the day with some immensely talented comedic performers.
Coincidentally I was already fast friends with the HILARIOUS Jaime Moyer, and we were like the class clowns who TRIED not to get in trouble between takes. Jaime and I first met when I ended up filling in on Paul’s Halloween comedy sketch show, THE UNCANNY HOLLOW, which Jaime is also in, at Dynasty Typewriter, a cool comedy theatre here in Los Angeles that also live streams shows. One of Paul’s actors dropped out at the last minute, so I learned on the fly a few of the sketches he wrote (that was in our wedding vows!) That live Halloween sketch show is STILL available to stream here (where I just saw my name is misspelled on their site when I went to go grab that link!) It’s the little things that keep ya humble, ya know? LOL.
BACK to me and Jaime. We took the walkaway lunch together on our rehearsal day, just perusing the Warner Brothers lot in the Burbank HEAT. I suggested we get some soft serve, because the cafeteria was mercifully selling it. While we were enjoying our ice creams, a sweet young tourist agreed to take our photo, and the stranger charmingly turned it into an extensive, goofy photo shoot.
I mentioned this before, but I can’t stress enough how Melissa Rauch, the star of the new NIGHT COURT, is as sweet as all the candy.
AND I had the privilege of working with two writers on NIGHT COURT I already knew, loved and respected, Jessica and Rebecca.
Which brings me to the current labor action going on by the Writers Guild. This past Monday at midnight a strike was called. That means, for screenwriters it’s “pencils down.” Although, it’s more like “laptops closed?” (AMIRIGHT??) I’LL BE HERE ALL STRIKE, BE SURE TO TIP YOUR STRIKE CAPTAINS!
As SAG-AFTRA members, we have been invited to join the picket actions in solidarity with our fellow artisans. I went the entire week to Warner Brothers Studio, and I plan to be out there arm in arm with my union siblings every single day during the strike.
If you follow me on social media, you have probably been bombarded with my posts from the picket. So some of you may have already been seeing some of the discourse over there on Instagram and that dying place called Twitter. For some reason, there are a few people who have been extremely triggered real snowflake-like by this labor action. From some comments it seems they don’t want to side with workers, instead, they feel emboldened to denigrate what we are doing which (in my mind) puts them squarely on the team of greedy capitalists that want to fleece writers, crew and actors (yes, they want to shortchange ALL of us, it is just that the writers are the first ones negotiating new contracts this year).
Rather than try to explain the entire complicated asks the labor side requires from the AMPTP (which is the stubborn and entitled entity that is refusing to negotiate a fair contract), I just want to assure observers this is a wholly justified labor action from the writers. Check out Strikegeist, an informative substack with some solid big picture reporting.
Also, not ONCE, have I ever read a headline about an industry going on strike where I would even THINK to comment that it was not a legitimate fight. I never see airline pilots threatening a strike and think, THOSE VERY SKILLED WORKERS ARE SO ELITIST TO DEMAND FAIR PRACTICES IN THEIR CHOSEN INDUSTRY I DON’T UNDERSTAND, BUT ALSO USE ALL THE TIME!
And yet….
And yet….
And yet….people are posting derisive nonsense on our social media. MOST rational folks have been supportive. But, man, there are a few out there that are negging on something they have ZERO knowledge of. So. If you are one of THOSE folks, or KNOW one of those folks, there is information out there to educate even the laziest thinker on earth. If you have been supportive of the labor action, then THANKS! We see you, hear you, FEEL you! The encouraging and compassionate words are incredibly fortifying. It is TIRESOME to require value from the robber barons who don’t compensate the people who earn them all of their obscene profits.
There have been a few articles out there so far explaining how this particular labor fight (and L.A. is a union town!) could have positive effects in many other industries run by corporations by providing a road map on how to deal with this insane wealth disparity climate the U.S. has found itself in, too. I really believe that to be true.
One odd dystopian aspect of this fight is about the use of artificial intelligence, which a few people have questioned me on. Like, I have any flipping clue what the future ramifications in society will be from unregulated AI! I barely watch sci-fi! However, acknowledging this new powerful tool in relation to labor is something that needs to be addressed. It’s not that the writers fear AI will “replace” them, it’s that the existence of AI gives buyers/hirers new avenues to shortchange how to hire/pay us all in Hollywood. But also, who knows, maybe not long from now they desire a landscape where we are all replaced by deep fake actors and ChatGPT scripts. Good luck with that, weirdos!
I wouldn’t put something like that past the current people in charge, because they are REALLY into “exponential growth” for their “shareholder meetings.” When WE are interested in telling amazing human stories that keep making them billions. Why is it so hard to SHARE those billions, though, with the team responsible for making them? Greed is NOT good (even though a Writers Guild writer wrote that it is for the character Gordan Gekko in the movie Wall Street. THAT WAS A MOVIE!!!!! NOT REAL LIFE, AMPTP!!!!)
There are many other issues on the table besides AI. These freaks want to BREAK our unions. They want to destroy every labor gain artists and artisans have made over 90 years. But they will NOT win this fight, because Hollywood’s PISSED.
In the (close enough) words of Shiv Roy in last night’s SUCCESSION:
We’re hot shit, and we’re ready to go.
Well, I’ll leave you with a few more picket pics!
The AMPTP needs to dignify the ones who make all the stuff. And if AI is so freaking fantastic, then use it to replace all streamer and studio heads! It sure would save a YACHT FULL of money. Shareholders would LOVE that …
Man I can’t wait to see Esther again. You seriously gave me the biggest belly laughs of the episode!
So good of you to support the strike. I am all for it and hoe everything works out! The greed somehow just keeps getting crazier. No bottom to that pit I guess.
Speaking of which, what’s your opinion of the MET Gala going on during the strike? It’s like the epitome of supreme decadence going on as their fellow artists struggle for their share. I found myself fairly grossed out by it.
It shouldn't take this much effort (multiple times) to get a living wage for one's work. Here's hoping the companies come to their senses soon. Best of luck to writers everywhere! <3