EXCLUSIVE: Here’s Draft Of ‘Opposition … 
Adam Scott Joins ‘The Secret Life Of Walter … 
Report: News Corp May Face A U.S. Lawsuit On Hacking 
Midnight Madness For ‘Breaking Dawn’ DVD 
BAFTA Awards: What ‘Artist’, Dujardin, Streep … 
64th BAFTA Awards Winners: ‘The Artist’, Meryl … 
BAFTA 2012 Preview: Very British Affair Takes On … 
RECORD-BREAKING WEEKEND! 4 Films Open $20+M: ‘The … 
Remembered: Jennifer Hudson To Perform Whitney Houston … 
Live From NY, It’s Jean Dujardin On 
R.I.P. Whitney Houston 
TOLDJA! Indomina-BET Buy Sundance ‘LUV’ 
Saoirse Ronan Bigger Teen Action Queen 
WME Signs Writer-Director Jon Kasdan 
‘Glee’s Jane Lynch Joins Indie Film Comedy 
Universal Revives ‘Dracula Year Zero’ With … 
Jodie Foster Sending Mel Gibson Film ‘The … 
‘Roseanne’ Reunion: John Goodman To Co-Star In … 
UPDATE: Closing Arguments Conclude In Golden Globes Trial; … 
Series Adaptation Of ‘Legion’ With … 
Lionsgate Calms Investors With Talk About Charlie Sheen, … 
UPDATES Go Inside ‘The Wanda Sykes Show’ Packet
You may recall that I wrote about how job-hungry comedy writers were strung along with the hopes of being hired on the writing staff of the Wanda Sykes Show after being asked to put together a massive packet. Well, I’m told that those who labored to send in current events monologues, field bits, and skits, eventually received this email in return from the Fox Entertainment Group:
“On behalf of the Wanda Sykes Show, we want to thank you for your submission of literary material. Based on concerns expressed by the Writers Guild of America, we want to assure you that it was never our intent to claim ownership of said material.”
Loading ...
I think the producers of the Wanda Sykes Show that people only sent their “disposable” material in the packet, because who wants to give away their “A” material for free.
Besides, I’m not sure anyone outside of the producers have much faith in the show. I’m getting a strong whiff of turkey off the whole project.
The problem with (what this) and what other shows become is not necessarily the writing. The problem usually stems from the top. Journeyman Exec Producers who hire the same friends over and over and over and over and over again.
Sykes is a caustic comic voice. She’s interesting in small bits, but her persona is not very likable. She’s a good supporting player, but her schtick is grating over time. The host has to be likeable on a talk show.
I read that statement as: “According to our lawyers just because we claimed ownership to your work doesn’t mean we get to keep it. Maybe next time.”
Considering how dreadful the examples were, I wonder what they actually got in way of submissions? Michael Vick goes pet shopping? Best of luck in booking that, folks.
As someone who has had to play the ‘packet’ game for various shows, I applaud the guild for finally getting involved in this sham. If you want to hire a writer, read her previously produced or sample work, interview him or her, and make a decision. I’ve seen too many of friends’ (and my own) ‘packet’ material end up on air without a hire on the show, or receiving any compensation for their work.
As someone who has had to play the ‘packet’ game for various shows, I applaud the guild for finally getting involved in this sham. If you want to hire a writer, read her previously produced or sample work, interview him or her, and make a decision. I’ve seen too many of friends’ (and my own) ‘packet’ material end up on air without a hire on the show, or receiving any compensation for their work.
These A-Holes knew exactly what they were doing…asking hardworking writers like myself for a ton of free ideas without any intention of hiring anyone.
Screw them. Hope this one goes down in flames.
Who cares about Wanda anyway? At the TCA for her show, reporters were out of questions..with 25 minutes remaining.
Her show’s already done.