I don't know if Portia is costing a little extra to keep happy in light of all the break up speculation, or if Ellen is just really, really money hungry. Ellen crossed the picket line to do her show yesterday and today, and is doing so despite the fact that she is the only talk show host doing so.
It is all about money. The money she will get for being the only talk show host doing a show, and therefore showing advertisers that her show is the most popular which of course it will be since she is basing her numbers against repeats. Here is what Ellen said to her audience today.
"It's sweeps. Which is a very important time in television because that's when you do your best shows, your funniest material. You pull it out and do everything you can because you want everybody watching. And now we're in the middle of a strike – a writer's strike."
What she didn't tell her audience is that sweeps is what shows use to charge advertisers and make all their money. Ellen as Executive Producer stands to make the most of anyone by staying on the air.
After realizing her true reason for staying on the air appeared callous and heartless to all the strikers, Ellen said she wanted to do the show for all the people who came out to LA on vacation to see her show. That seems like a noble idea. Fine. Here is what you do. You bring them all in to your show and give them an hour of standup. Not filmed. That is a special treat for them and you don't come off looking like a money grubbing jackass.
Since many writers are also gay, I wonder if the Hollywood Gay Mafia will put out a hit on one of their own. I hope they do because the only reason Ellen is funny is because of her writers. God knows she isn't funny on her own.
ReplyDeleteThere is a four letter word to describe Ellen and it rhymes with PUNT.
As much as I want to love Ellen, all this stuff coming out about her is starting to make her sound like any old Hollywood phoney. Such a shame.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one "TV insider" who made a comment said the show is the only thing keeping her from being doomed to a life of touring college campuses blah blah blah which is in my opinion completely untrue. People love Ellen, and she has a TBS special coming up, I dont think she'd be dunzo if she didnt have her show...embarrassing behavior and all.
I remember her first Two Drink Minimum from HBO, she was cute and really low-key funny. I loved her since then. However, I am with Ent on this. If she was under contract to continue (like the Grey's crew), I could see it, and she should have stated that.
ReplyDeleteEllen's standup is so much funnier than that crap she does on her show.
ReplyDeleteShe lost major points the first time she criticized Kathy Griffin for not being a celeb ass kisser. It's really just gone downhill from there...
Fuck the writers. Honestly.
ReplyDeleteThe only ones getting screwed are the fans. They seem to be forgetting that. And now sites like these are also drawing more lines in the sand.
I'm glad the truth about Ellen is finally coming out - no pun intended.
ReplyDelete"You bring them all in to your show and give them an hour of standup. Not filmed."
Couldn't have said it better. Bravo!
I totally get why the writers are striking and I'm happy to see most are respecting them with the strike.
ReplyDeleteLately we're seeing a side of Ellen unseen before. It makes me wonder if she's always been like this or if something else is going on (besides menopause and Portia problems). That was a great solution, EL.
First it was about the adopted dog that she gave away without letting the agency know about the switch. Now she is being so kind by being on TV. Just shows you what type of person Ellen is. Phoney!!
ReplyDeleteTwisted Sister - Ellen's rep for being a total _unt has been known in the industry for years. I'm talking back to her sitcom days.
ReplyDeleteMany writers are gay? Thanks not! I always appreciate information. Good snarkiness here. And I think you could bring the snark up a notch or two if she keeps this up. I'd say notch up the snark each day she does this. I'll refrain from any snark myself at this time. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnd stop with the menopause excuse. She can drink soy milk just like the rest of us. It's no excuse! **Refraining from snarky name-calling of Ellen now and stepping away from keyboard**
Littleoleme, really??!!! I'm so out of the loop on some of this stuff! I had no idea. Thanks for the heads up and to hell with her!
ReplyDelete_-_, sorry, it's the only thing I could think of....cuz....I'm in menopause...lol.
hey ellen...you suck
ReplyDeleteTwisted - if you hadn't said it someone else would have. Besides, she has so much more than any of us that she shouldn't be allowed that excuse. Not at all! Oh, how I want to call her snarky names for this!
ReplyDeleteDo it, _-_. You may feel better!
ReplyDeleteOh, she'll just go to Scab Rehab and everyone will forgive her.
ReplyDeleteI blame Portia & Vance
ReplyDeleteLittleoleme, can you elaborate a little? I always thought she well-liked.
ReplyDeleteWhatever..if any of you had tickets to see her and flew out there how would you feel?
ReplyDeleteAt least she gave a shit even if you all think she's lying.
If the writers are striking for money during sweeps then that's pretty dumb- hello how can you get more cash from the boss when you just fucked up his whole game?
No, Jax, she only said she gave a shit. She's only going on with the show because she'll lose money if she doesn't. She said as much.
ReplyDeleteAnd when would you want them to strike, in the summer during reruns?
Jax, they have to make an impact and a big one, to get what they want.
ReplyDeleteThe timing has everything to do when the contracts ended, not when sweeps is.
But they're LUCKY it happened during sweeps.
How are they ever going to get want if the production companies dont FEEL how much its going to hurt without their writers? You gotta hit 'em with your best shot, and right where it hurts. Otherwise, they wont take you seriously!!!
And to all of you haters on the writers out there: they DESERVE to have royalties on WHAT THEY HAVE WRITTEN and EVERY time a production company or studio profits off of it. And with good reason! Hollywood is NOTHING without its writers and people tend to forget that. All that entertainment you love so much is dependant upon them and having a little class and some sense in your head would dictate that you recognize and appreciate that.
Writing requires the most talent, out of ANYTHING that happens in Hollywood. They ARE Hollywood. Dont forget that. Writers are the ONLY ones in Hollywood REQUIRED to THINK and be creative and smart!
Besides, it must be hard enough being a writer, and seeing everyone except for yourself get all the attention and awards for their INVOLVEMENT in YOUR piece of work. Thats like the museum curators getting the accolades for a new painting or piece of pottery...and I'd know it infuriate me!!
ReplyDeleteblah blah blah who cares..sorry i don't..im an ass today.
ReplyDeleteall i know is this. if i asked for a raise and was told no there is no way in hell im going to try and 'strike' during Xmas (our busy time) and then think im getting fuck all...not saying they dont deserve it but they are shooting themselves in the foot. yes it hits them where it hurts..but hello the point of sweeps is to generate more ad dollars.
sorry but i hardly ever agree with strikes.
Why are you an ass today, Jax? Did someone pee in your Cheerios? It's Friday. That's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteOK Jax but not agreeing with strikes, is agreeing with big business. If you watch The Office video posted today, of the producers on the strike lines, you'll hear just a little of how they get ripped off sometimes.
ReplyDeleteTo think that people dont deserve to be paid in full for money that comes from what they've written, is wrong. You're not just "an ass today"--you're ignorant.
And you're missing the point--they chose to strike when THE CONTRACTS EXPIRED, NOT because it was sweeps.
While it was convenient for them, it was in no way planned that way. Those contracts were in place a long time ago.
And furthermore Jax, yes, the point of sweeps is to make money off of ad dollars--MONEY THAT THE WRITERS NEVER GET TO SEE. Why would they care about if its sweeps or not when those big ad dollars are going to straight to the network and not to them? Stupid.
ReplyDeleteWell surely there ought to be a way to work something out to everyone's satisfaction. I hate greediness. How much f'n money do you NEED, anyway?
ReplyDeleteYes, there's a way to work it out but the greedy networks don't want to pay the writers for all the money they're getting from online shows that have ads or are sold to the viewer. If you're an author, you get a percentage of every book that's sold, whether it's in paper or an audiobook. This is kind of the same thing. The networks are getting a lot of money for those online shows and the writers see no residuals for it. That's not right.
ReplyDelete"The networks are getting a lot of money for those online shows and the writers see no residuals for it. That's not right" BINGO we have a winner!!! That sums up the whole issue nicely.
ReplyDeleteThese networks are bullies...why enable them further?
They ARE bullies. That's why these people have to go on strike. If some of them complain, they're threatened with cancellation and told they won't be working again.
ReplyDeleteThe clip of The Office was a perfect example. They were asked to write webisodes for online and they wrote ten of them which are still available on NBC's site. They actually won an Emmy for one of the webisodes, but not only were they NOT compensated for them, the Network was too cheap to pay for the actual Emmy awards to GIVE to them. Meanwhile NBC is making money off the ads since there have been 7 million downloads. And what are the writers told when they complained about this? The lawyers got involved and said the webisodes were just promotional material they don't get compensated for. Bullshit!
I disagree with Ent on this one. The writers are entitled to go on strike but most of the shows have not been temporarily cancelled out of respect for the writers - production was suspended because the hosts of the talk shows wouldnt know how to run the show without someone telling them what to say! If Ellen thinks she can handle running the show without the assistance of a team of writers then all power to her!
ReplyDeleteThe writers clearly made a strategic decision to strike at the most important time of year for networks. They shouldnt expect that the whole world would stop just because they arent at work. Simple as that.
Thats where you are WRONG MissBliss--
ReplyDeletehow many times to I have to type this before people get it? If I type it in caps, will that help?
THEY DID NOT STRIKE BECAUSE IT IS SWEEPS
THEY ARE STRIKING BECAUSE THEIR CONTRACTS ENDED LAST WEEK
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SWEEPS
It JUST SO HAPPENS that the contracts ended around this time. That is not their fault.