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2ND UPDATE: Televised Golden Globes Cancelled! This just rocks back and forth and back and forth. The latest I’m hearing as of a few minutes ago is that NBC will not be broadcasting the Golden Globes as planned. Insiders tell me also that the entire event, even untelevised, will be cancelled. And the Hollywood Foreign Press Association instead will make an announcement of the winners.
UPDATE: Looks like Hollywood’s lobbying of Jeff Zucker to back off is working… NBC is softening its hardline position that there can’t be a Golden Globes unless it televises the awards. But no go-ahead yet.
EXCLUSIVE: My sources say the striking Writers Guild Of America has told the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that the union won’t picket the 2008 Golden Globes as long as it isn’t broadcast by AMPTP member NBC. But now NBC isn’t allowing the HFPA to hold an untelevised awards show by arguing that the media group is contractually obligated to have the network broadcast the Golden Globes on January 13th or a pushed-back date. I’ve learned that many in the Hollywood community are lobbying NBC Universal topper Jeff Zucker to change his mind. Because his refusal to allow a non-televised Golden Globes could effectively cancel the awards night altogether, and Hollywood wants it to proceed. Yet another mess…
I’m told the WGA has even assured the HFPA that, in addition to no picket lines, the union would encourage actor nominees and presenters as well as writers to attend a non-televised Golden Globes. And the WGA also has given the nod to a Red Carpet media blitz. (See my previous, NBC Still “Moving Forward” To Air Golden Globes Even Though SAG Says Actor Nominees & Presenters Won’t Go)
The ethically challenged HFPA, of course, would much rather have the event broadcast because of the big bucks that it receives for the telecast rights. But insiders say the HFPA also recognizes that it needs to hold the event no matter what in order to maintain what little credibility it still has in Hollywood.
“NBC has the contractual right to broadcast the Golden Globes and that’s where a lot of the complication now is coming from. The network is telling the HFPA that if they hold any kind of Golden Globes show, then NBC contractually has the right to televise it,” a show veteran explained. “NBC is essentially telling Hollywood, ‘If we’re going down, then everybody is going down with us’.”
It’s now painfully clear to both the HFPA that there won’t be a televised Golden Globes on NBC on January 13th because of the writers strike. Especially after the WGA is keeping at arms length any side agreement with Globes producer Dick Clark Productions on grounds that the awards show is a worldwide marketing tool for studio and network product. And especially after SAG president Alan Rosenberg’s statement yesterday that there is “unanimous agreement” among his union’s actors not to cross WGA picket lines to appear on the Golden Globe telecast as acceptors or presenters. I’ve learned that not just the WGA but also NBC are why HFPA president Jorge Camara sounded so unsure yesterday whether the Golden Globes awards could “take place with the creative community present to participate. We hope to announce a resolution to this unfortunate predicament on Monday.”
NBC won’t officially confirm or deny the above. But an insider at the network told me today: 
“We are earnestly trying to find a way to telecast the show even if it means pushing the airdate. We haven’t looked beyond that as we are focused on that resolution. We have received support behind the scenes from many in the Hollywood Community to try and work this out.”
Not just NBC and the Golden Globes, but I’m told also ABC and the Academy Awards are both looking at the feasibility of delaying their respective telecasts until after the WGA strike is settled so there would be no picket lines. But to make this plan work, both networks and awards organizations would have to look into a crystal ball and predict a possible strike settlement within the next few months or at least within 2008 (something nobody can predict right now). And then there’s the huge logistical and costly nightmare of pushing back the airdates.
Meanwhile, here is NBC’s response to that letter sent from major Hollywood publicity firms informing Jeff Zucker that ”the vast majority” of the actors, writers and directors nominated for 2008 Golden Globes “are not comfortable crossing a picket line”:
Jeff Zucker has asked that I respond to your e-mail to him of earlier today.
NBC shares your desire to see your clients recognized for their work and talent. We agree that an interim agreement between dick clark productions, inc. (“dcp”) and the WGA would be in the best interest of all involved, including your clients, the WGA and its members, and certainly the viewing public. In fact, dick clark productions has attempted to do precisely what you suggest: it has tried to obtain an interim agreement with the WGA on the exact terms and conditions upon which the WGA entered into an interim agreement with Worldwide Pants just last week. Unfortunately, the WGA has refused to enter into or even negotiate over such an interim agreement with dcp.
Perhaps your clients could request that the WGA come to the table to negotiate and enter into an interim agreement with dcp on the same terms to which it was willing to agree in dealing with Worldwide Pants. As I noted, NBC understands that dcp has already proposed and stands prepared to accept such an interim agreement. If the WGA will not concede to this reasonable request, then we would ask that your clients reconsider their position and attend this year’s Golden Globe Awards presentation as planned.
Very truly yours,
James M. Lichtman
Senior Vice President, Litigation
NBC Universal Television Group
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Why not let DCP get the waivers and broadband it out over GooTube? Does NBCU even have contractual rights for broadband usage? I’d check that contract, pronto!
To gregory – WGA headlock on Hollywood…PLANT! Or even worse…PLAYER!!
To lax25 and diablo – Why so serious?
To rp – Have to agree with Jimmy that NBCU is the problem not the guilds. Nice try at a red herring…PLANT!!! Or even worse…WANNABE!!!!
Um the WGA needs to stop concerning itself with the Golden Globes and nail down a contract and let us all get back to work.
Interesting that the NBC lawyer’s remarks didn’t mention NBC making an agreement with the WGA, which is of course the issue. The WGA’s beef is with NBC, not with poor Dick Clark, who finds himself caught in the crossfire. If Jeff Zucker has any leadership abilities, now would be the time to show them.
Unemployed and Pissed,
It really is fun to find the Fabio and Labia shills, but you make it too easy. You are “unemployed and pissed” and yet you are crying in your beer because there is no glittery award show? No, no, no, silly…your character is, “Just a viewer.” “Just a Viewer” is the one whose life comes to a tragic halt because he doesn’t get to see if Angelina Jolie is wearing Versace.
The character “Unemployed and Pissed” should be complaining that UA only makes one film a year (although, they have only released one film they have a 500 million dollar production fund and even with a Tom Cruise tent pole thrown in that’s quite a bit more than one film). Also, if the head of MGM had to approve this deal, could MGM (to whom the WGA’s deal would cost the least) be far behind?
And look out, here comes those sparky Weinstein boys, and Lionsgate, and whatever network that cares more about winning than sitting at the popular table at Mortons (BTW good news, Morton’s is closed! The popular table doesn’t matter, let’s be the number one network instead!)
Hey, it’s the weekend and I’m feeling better than I have since this whole thing started, so let’s play “Find The Shills” on Deadlinehollywooddaily” and every time you find one you get to take a shot.
This will be a better drinking game than the classic “Bob” drinking game on reruns of the old “Bob Newhart Show.”
Thanks for the tequila shot “Unemployed and Pissed!” Skol!
NBC is asking WGA to come back to the table? How outstandlingly stupid are they? The world knows the truth. Screw em, guys! We’ll do without the awards, and we’ll understand why. Focus on getting our shows back- that’s all I give a damn about.
It’s amazing the studios don’t think that actors and writers have any power. They are the people CREATING the very product the companies sell. In the NBA and NFL the athletes — you know, the guys who actually play the game — get as much as 50%-60% of the revenue. The studios are complaining that the writers want 2.5%. They are pathetic.
I’m confused by some of the comments. Why would the WGA grant a waiver for the Golden Globes?
For the people being honored? If the nominees thought the award was more important than the issues surrounding the strike, they would cross the line. They are apparently not too upset about this.
For the advertisers? Ummm…. right…
For the viewers? OK, so we’ll miss out on one night of glitz and glamor, no big deal. Seriously, it’s not like they’re doctors refusing to operate on a sick child until the hospital gives them a huge raise. The American public’s voyeuristic pleasure is not more important than people being paid a fair wage.
Granting the waiver benefits NBC more than anyone else.
Not granting the waiver puts pressure on NBC to negotiate and actually end this strike. If NBC would allow it to continue un-televised, all the parties would still go on. All the behind the scenes people would still get that income. And all the nominees would be honored. The viewers would get plenty of red-carpet interviews, pictures of the dresses, and gossip about who talked to whom. The only people hurt by not televising it is NBC.
Let’s not forget that the actors who will (or won’t) be receiving these awards are on the WGA’s side in this.
It’s not like the whole town/country is desperate for a televised awards show. Most of us couldn’t care less about the Golden Globes, but most of us DO support the writers.
Oh, and Dear Mr. Zucker,
If you really want to see the Golden Globes on TV that bad, why don’t YOU make a deal with the WGA?
Good for George Clooney, good for Tom Cruise, good for David Letterman! Its nice to see some actual smarts and integrity in these Hollywood guys.
The Golden Globes show is like one long, tipsy promo with comercials. Aside from the gossip factor and the fashion designs — I’m not goiing to miss it.
You go, WGA!!
As dumb as some of the things that the WGA has done over the course of this strike, the one they seem to realize is that the best bargaining leverage they have is the ability to withhold stars from celebrity-crazed Americans. What will America do, or Hollywood for that matter, when the covers of magazines, the evening news, and the gossip shows are no longer graced with the latest fashions, foibles, and flashy smiles of the beautiful people? We can only hope that they’ll look in the mirror and see themselves again. It’s been a long time since they’d looked, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll begin to like what they see.
Wow…I can’t believe so many of these posts are so incensed at the idea of not having any Golden Globes!
Poor DCP…what?? Yeah, poor NBC, too, fighting the good fight against the “despot,” the WGA. Poor conglomerates, having to pay their workers fairly. Poor CEOs, having to part with some of their piles of shiny, shiny money.
Someone’s been reading AMPTP.org a little too naively. Where do you people come from? I mean…it’s pretty clear that the only people involved in this matter who REALLY don’t care when anyone gets back to work is the AMPTP.
As a tv/movie fan, I can’t wait until the GG date comes and goes…the strike controversy surrounding the event will certainly be more interesting than the normal ceremony. Anyone complaining about how the WGA ruined their awards show…wow. Grow up.
I don’t know who is the bad guy in all of this, but at one corner we have the striking WGA which is saying that you don’t deserve awards because we are striking and you had your chance to save these Golden Globes. In addition, the SAG isn’t going to attend in solidarity with the WGA.
In the other corner, we have NBC which is a member of the AMPTP and wants the awards show in order to promote its lineup.
Stuck in the middle we have Dick Clark Productions which wants to produce the awards and wants a waiver in order to do so.
I am guessing everybody is the bad guy. The WGA and SAG will hurt the five fans of the Golden Globes if there are picket lines, but will be hurt if they grant a waiver to DCP for the awards if NBC promises to not air them on TV which means the awards will air on at NBC.com.
Overall, NBC is the bad guy because they have decided to not negotiate with the WGA. The lesson, if you want the awards, GO BACK TO THE FREAK’IN TABLE AND HAMMER OUT THE DAMM DEAL. THE SAME GOES FOR YOU TO DISNEY.
I think it is hilarious that people are so concerned about the awards shows. – One night of screwing up traffic – One night of people seeing “stars”. Mostly – Its a way or studios to push their profits up for nominated and wining shows ( Which They will not share fully with all the unions – because they will manipulate the accounting numbers and under pay residuals and health and pension payments.
The really sad thing That I have been picking up from the threads here is that people – in all walks of life – routinely think that as a business person, it is perfectly understandable and acceptable to cut wages, jobs and minimize pay to maximize profits – and the expense of real, live people. We routinely accept that profits and property rights (real and intellectual) are more important than Human Beings. It will probably remain the same, even after this strike is resolved – but maybe a few will start to reevaluate what we stand for and what is truly important.
“NBC isn’t allowing the HFPA to hold an untelevised awards show by arguing that the media group is contractually obligated to have the network broadcast the Golden Globes on January 13th or a pushed-back date.”
Contractually obligated? Does this mean the HFPA the only entity in Hollywood that somehow doesn’t have a force majeure clause in their contract? Because I’m thinking a 9 week running labor action would probably qualify, and force majeure works both ways.
If it’s reasonable according to NBC for DCP to cut an interim with the WGA meeting all the WGA’s demands, why oh why isn’t it reasonable for NBC to do the same?
Frustrated Bystander: “I feel bad for Dick Clark Productions. It’s rather unfortunate that this Independent Production Company stands in the middle of a predicament fostered by both the AMPTP and WGA.”
Jimmy: Dick Clark Productions is a member of the AMPTP. They are a struck company. They are not in the middle of anything.
The WGA would be happy to negotiate with dick clark productions as part of their divide and conquer strategy. Unfortunately, as stated before, airing the Golden Globes mainly benefits NBC — who refuse to negotiate with the WGA. For that reason, the WGA has declined to grant HFPA a waiver or dcp an interim contract.
I wish they would put away their differences for one night and let some one like Nikki Blonsky have their big night that might not ever happen again.
We should gather all the nominees for globe awards on the night of the 13th, stream it live with the help of google, and let the fans pick their winners live. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of big rooms available when all the GG parties get cancelled. We can sell ad time and beef up the strike fund.
What is up with NBC asking the WGA to make the same deal with dcp that it did with Worldwide Pants? Any logical thinking person must ask NBC, why not just make the same deal yourself?
You know, I keep reading comments (on here and other places) about the award shows and how the people that win won’t be honored because the shows won’t be broadcast… They’ll still get their awards if they don’t show up. It’ll be sent in the mail, they’ll get the awards, the winners will be announced to the media, they just won’t get an open bar and 30 seconds of TV time to say thanks to their agents. They still get the statue, they still get to say “Gold Globe winner” or “Oscar winner” they just don’t get that 30 seconds on stage in front of the mic.
It also means they won’t have to sit for 3 hours in uncomfortable shoes and dresses/suits, listening to tired jokes and waiting for the night to end. The only people that get hurt by this is DCP and NBC. The die hard fans of award shows (which makes up maybe 1 percent of the viewers of these things) will be hurt because they can’t watch a 20 second interview with Ryan Seacrest talking to Will Smith. The actors/directors/writers, still get an award sent to them.
As for everyone that always talks about the other unions in Hollywood that are suffering (lighting guys, sound, makeup, and the rest) All of their unions have overwhelmingly supported the writers. On top of their support, they actually benefit if the writers get what they’re looking for. All the other unions (not the WGA, SAG, or DGA) have their retirement and health care paid for out a pool of money that is provided by the big three unions. In the workers contract they have it set that if the writers, actors, or directors get more money, that they too get a percentage increase in their benefits. They may be hurt in the short term (as are the writers) but in the long term it means better health coverage, and a better retirement for those lighting, sound, catering, makeup, ect… unions.
I just don’t get people that are against the WGA on this. The majority of the writers don’t make $200,000 a year like the AMPTP says, 5 to 10 percent of the WGA make millions a year, the rest make 45k. If that. They don’t live in mansions, they aren’t set for life, they have to work hard every day to make sure they can pay the rent and pay for food. While technically the AMPTP was right to say the average income is $200,000… it’s the same logic as having a room of 10 people, each of which makes 35k a year. Then in walks Bill Gates who’s worth somewhere around 50 billion dollars. Now if you did an average, you’d think everyone in that room is a billionaire, but the reality is that one guy’s a billionaire, the other 10 are just getting by. Unions aren’t created for the millionaires, they’re for the ones that don’t make as much.
When the actors go on strike, they won’t be striking for George Clooney or Brad Pitt, but for the actors that are in commercials, or that actor who’s biggest claim to fame is saying 3 words on and episode of Law and Order. The writers have always been mistreated by Hollywood, they’ve taken their lumps, they’ve taken cuts for the greater good in the past… how long are they supposed to just go back to work without getting a fair deal? How many times is someone supposed to just role over and take one for the team? At some point you have to stand up and get what’s fair… that’s what they’re doing. It’s been 20 years in the making, 20 years of not have a fair deal, 20 years of the writers waiting to strike because they don’t want to hurt their co-workers. I think 20 years is enough, and it’s time for the AMPTP to give them the fair deal that they’ve deserved for 20 years. As someone above said, in the NFL or any other sports league, the players get 50 percent of the income, the writers are asking for 2.5 percent (if that) I think that’s more than fair… and if you want to be mad at someone because you can’t watch new episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, then blame the AMPTP for continually screwing over everyone that make their business run.
-Jason
First, it would be great if the AMTP people here could identify themselves as such. If they were here as themselves, rather than as fake fans/fake below the line people, maybe they could serve as some kind of back channel negotiating team.
Second, the idea of the WGA caving on this issue is absurd. Why on earth should or would the WGA give up a source of clout to help a corrupt, half-assed awards fee that doesn’t even provide a steady income for below-the-line folks? If Worldwide Pants can take over production of the show and get it on the air that way, great. Otherwise, no way should the WGA compromise on this issue.
Third, why can’t the Golden Globes producers just do the show at the scheduled time without all of the stars? It seems as if there are probably ways to do the shows with historical clips, montages, etc. without having many stars on hand. Personally, I would be a lot more likely to watch a weird, wacky, star-free Golden Globes ceremony than I would be to watch a boring, normal ceremony.
My favorite talk show is Late Night with Conan O’Brien, for example, and, in the short run, a writer-free, star-free show is pretty hilarious to watch.
I guess I have a different take on this story than most of the other posters, but I find the double-standards of all this to be hilarious.
First of all, everyone in this business knows that people love getting awards. And I find it amusing that all these so-called activist SAG members would turn out in droves for a chance at attending the party, as long as it was sanctioned by the WGA. And, to quote the esteemed Nikki, “Hollywood wants (the ceremony) to proceed.” Of course they do! Whether the show is aired or not, the studios will still hype the “results” in advertising. Whether the show airs or not, it’s still, ultimately, a marketing tool.
Secondly, I find the cherry-picking approach the Guild has employed when it comes to awards shows to be mildly baffling. The Spirit Awards — okay, fine, those movies deserve whatever exposure they get. And IFC, owned by Cablevision Systems, isn’t a struck company. Then again, contrary to a couple of earlier posts, neither is dick clark productions. Yes, the network that airs the show — NBC — is. But the WGA made a deal with WWP that ultimately benefits CBS. Why the double-standard?
And, lastly, I appreciate the transparent gesture of granting a waiver to the SAG Awards — a program that airs on TNT, owned by Time-Warner, a struck company.
So much hypocrisy, so much wanting cake and eating it, too. As I said, hilarious.
To all those saying “who cares about the Globes,” well the 18-20 million that watch them every year probably care. You know, the same people that prefer Jay to Dave, watch 2 and a half men, and make the un-cool CBS number 1 every year? The contempt you show for them comes through in every post you make here, nearly every new show that comes out, and the neverending stream of preachy war movies. When a deal gets made (hopefully soon for all the people out of work,) you’d do well to break out of your bubble and think about trying to entertain these people, instead of treating them with such contempt…you know, they do make up half the country. You might even be able to turn around your falling tv ratings.
For one thing, Max, Dick Clark Productions produces more than just the Golden Globes and New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. If they’re willing to make a company wide deal, then we might be willing to consider it, but only if the benefits to us potentially outweigh the cost of providing revenue to struck companies.
This is all about balancing interests. The cost-benefit analysis involved in each case is different.
The strategy involved in dealing with WWP was to put pressure on NBC to settle. NBC wants the WGA to make a deal with Dick Clark Productions, we want to make a deal with NBC. We’d really need a pretty compelling reason to do anything to benefit NBC now.
It’s counterproductive to our goal, and DCP isn’t offering enough in exchange to make the tradeoff worthwhile.
What we want to do is be strategic, not shoot ourselves in the foot by agreeing to anything proposed so you’ll think we’re sweet and fair.
God damn. I don’t know what they’re smoking at NBC, but it is definitely the good stuff. Demanding the Globes air when they are largely the one behind the AMPTP preventing it from doing so. At first it did seem like Warner was being the most radical but it now seems clear that NBC/Universal is the truest problem. It’s not like the Guild is demanding things that are unreasonable. I believe the Guild should put together a formal, long-term plan to develop new production signatories in the “new media” realm. Perhaps even offer some type of incentives to encourage people to invest in such ventures and put these broadcast asses out of business once and for all. Many of the big media companies have already made deals with the big names in the Internet space… likely in an effort to prevent them from making deals with the WGA, etc. (Oh whoops, I forgot … there’s NO MONEY in the Internet. haha) But for every (successful) Internet company who is out there, there will be ten more in just a few years. And while broadband may not yet have the same reach as the networks, that is quickly changing. Put a few smart Internet guys in a room with this as a goal and it can be done. Done correctly, it could crush broadcast television by pinpointing advertising in a way simply not possible by the networks. It would eventually eclipse the networks because of the superior targeting of advertising and opportunities for enhanced interactivity with the viewers. It should be done. For many years the Guild has only had one set of “customers” for their writers. Times are changing, and the Guild should put effort into developing these new potential “customers” in new media. Someone who comes up with a really effective platform to deliver quality content and monetize the same could be the next Google, Amazon, or eBay. The possibilities are endless for such a venture.