Support striking writers, don't watch American Idol

[Hugabear]

There really doesn't need to be a whole lot said about this. I've never really been a big fan of the show, as it symbolizes everything that is wrong with the music industry - propping up someone as the latest 'big thing'. It's more about how polished the contestants are, how good they look, how well they dress, etc; and not so much about the actual talent itself. And there's also the humiliation factor, as scores of hopefuls are trotted out so the judges can make scornful comments about them, and Americans can laugh at them.

But this season, more than any other, FOX is desperately depending on this show. With the writer's strike in full swing, the networks are having to rely on reality programming more than ever before. AI has always been a big rating bonanza, and FOX is counting on this show to help them through the strike. So if you've been a fan of the show before, please seriously consider not watching at least this season. If you already don't watch the show, try to get a few other people to not watch it.

[Radical Activist]

1. I support music that doesn't suck ass.

So I've never been a fan of the show or the touring corporate pop acts it produces.

[Initech]

17. Yeah, there's something about "Pop Tarts Presents American Idol Live" that, um, isn't kosher.

AI and the residing tours, etc are stuff I tend to avoid like the plague.

[Mythsaje]

2. I don't watch it anyway.

That's no sacrifice.

[Mountainman]

3. I wouldn't watch it if they weren't on strike. There is something good on the History channel

tonight but I forgot what it was. Also the Free Speech channel always has something interesting.

So instead of rotting your brain, learn something new.

[Hugabear]

5. It's not another one of those shows about Nazi Bigfoots in prison, is it?

If there's something actually decent on History tonight, I'll check it out.

I think 'The Universe' also comes on Discovery tonight.

[Hellenic_Pagan]

25. You mean the Hitler Channel?

isnt that why they have a big H as their symbol?

I wish i had the free speech channel - a friend used to have it on cable, but he moved :( now i dont have any cable or satellite access! I guess thats what you get when all your friends are all anti-capitalist anarchist or socialists!

[benddem]

4. No problem

I wouldn't watch it anyway!!

[Mojambo]

6. Support good taste. Don't watch American Idol. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. No problem

I've never watched it anyway.

[DangerDave921]

8. addicted

My wife and I have been addicted since Season 2. Sorry folks.

And I can't seem to come to grips with a writer's strike. For all I care, they can all stay off work. Are we really missing anything by not having more episodes of . We're not talking about auto workers or teachers or janitors, or anyone else who actually does hard work to make our lives better. We're talking about flatulence jokes and tired old sit-com jokes (uh-oh, stupid man of the house lost his wife's ring and has to pretend it's out being cleaned, etc.). Consider me jaded, but I don't really care if the television industry takes some casualties.

[Hugabear]

13. This is one of the most callous posts I've seen on DU so far

We're talking about people's livelihoods and worker's rights. You can decide whether or not you want to support certain shows - and I'll agree with you that the vast majority of them are crap. That's not what the issue is here.

[DangerDave921]

18. Excuse me???

One of the most callous posts on DU? Where have you been? Have you read any thread that takes place when anyone on the right side of the aisle dies? Or even a family member of someone on the right side of the aisle dies? You will see callous there, my friend.

Of course writers have families and I sympathize with them as a human being. But to equate hollywood writers with those workers who actually contribute to society is a stretch in my mind. Do you really equate the social justice of the coal miners of the 1920's with the hollywood writers?

Forgive me if I'm not broken up over not having new episodes of According to Jim.

[kimmylavin]

34. Um, it IS callous.

Because not everyone affected by this strike is a writer.
Because not everyone out of work is a writer.
And because a large part of "society" here in Southern California revolves around "the industry".

My husband's a grip, and I'd been processing dailies.
My husband has been able to scrape together our mortgage payments because of reality shows, but my company's been shuttered since November.
Most of my friends out here have been out of work since November, as well.
We're all still with the writers, though.

If you don't like to watch the stuff on tv, that's fine - don't.
But to say there's no societal effect is pretty much dead wrong.

[DangerDave921]

37. My apologies

I'm sorry for what your family is going through. I was not thinking about the entire scope and reach of the problem. I was really getting into a diatribe against tv in general. Again, sorry for what you're going through.

I will say, however, that people on here are pledging not to watch American Idol. If I'm not mistaken, that show also employs a lot of staff to get it on the air. So apparently, all those DU'ers who said they'd never watch that crap fail to realize that their actions impact a lot of other people too.

[Hugabear]

41. You're still missing the point

If enough people stopped watching American Idol and other crap shows, they'd replace them with other shows. Hopefully better shows. Point is, the writers and other industry workers would still have jobs, just working for different shows.

[Romulox]

60. I don't see how that follows at all. Most of us are choosing products not made in Hollywood.

Just like most Californians drive foreign cars.

[martymar64]

45. It includes movies as well

I agree that there is a lot of crap on TV, the worst crap being those odious reality shows. But remember that the WGA includes screenwriters as well. There a re a lot of bad movies out there too, but there are many good ones, and some are even great.
Writers are the first part of the filmmaking process and we're seeing a shitload of people in the other cinema crafts that are suffering as well as the the businesses in LA that support the film industry, like restaurants, stores, etc.
I'm boycotting going to the movies until the strike is over and I hate it (unabashed movie freak).

[kimmylavin]

63. I appreciate that.

I'm actually a little torn on this one.
Reality shows are not signatory to the WGA, and there is no strikebreaking going on - its just that they're making a LOT of crappy television.

But haven't they always made a lot of crappy television? :)

I'm torn because my husband got work on American Gladiators - pretty much one of the cheesiest things I've ever seen! But as I've been telling people, "I don't care if it is a sign of the Apocalypse, their check cleared and we can keep our house another month."

Having said that, no matter how many people like how many reality shows, this can't keep going on: a steady diet of reality television will eventually have a lot of people just shutting of their tv sets anyway.

[ruiner4u]

89. dont worry...DU is a fickle place...

you will get bitch posts when someone assumes you have more then them.. its a DU-certainty... anyway,i agree with you...

[Sherman A1]

21. Agreed & Well Said

Most writers are working stiffs just like the auto workers mentioned in the comment. Writing is indeed hard work, I do a little of it from time to time and it requires real effort. So as my old football coach said, to a Wise Crackin' C Team Freshman who had a very bad sense of timing ..... "If You're so good, you can come up and play Varsity". Where upon the smart *ssed Freshman was the team punching bag for the remainder of practice.

So off to the ignore list with you.....

[Hellenic_Pagan]

28. Youre more diplomatic than me

I had to tone my response down from "fuck you" to "screw you".

I hate whenever ANYONE denies ANY worker from recieving the just fruits of thier labor.

But i'm not gonna ignore him, he might say something that needs another good f bomb.

[Sherman A1]

44. Well, we try to be as polite as possible

Even to those who most likely have never walked a picket line wondering if they will get to go back to work or not and if so just how lousy the deal will be. I had the opportunity to do so for 25 days in 2003 in the St. Louis Grocery Lockout and didn't really enjoy the experience too much. The point was driven home all too well, that no one on the picket line really wants to be there. That said, I would be happy to do it again, if needed.


Union and Proud To Be.

[Romulox]

58. LOL. Check any thread that speaks about UAW workers! nt

[mnhtnbb]

69. He's right. It's about sharing the profits created by the writer's WORDS.

Unions in the entertainment industry are among the last, strong, unions in the country.

Besides, writers are getting less work with all the 'reality' shows that don't require scripts.

[Hellenic_Pagan]

27. Screw you if you dont see writing as "hard work" or something that makes life "better"

I guess Bush has won you to illiteracy over the past seven years?

[DangerDave921]

32. writing is work

Of course writing is work. Never said it wasn't. I love reading and highly value literature.

My original point - perhaps poorly made -- was that I really couldn't care less if 90% of what's on television went away tomorrow. Almost all sitcoms, Law & Order and all the "true crime" spin-offs, all the game shows. Most of it is crap. So no, I don't really equate the writers of these shows as essential workers in the same vein as laborers. Yes, they work hard and provide a service, albeit a service that is contributing to the worsening of our society.

So the hollywood writers produce junk. But I guess if they're going to produce it, they should be paid fairly for their efforts. Although I still wouldn't mind 90% of TV going away.

[Skittles]

49. you watch IDOL

your credibility to judge "crap" is SHOT

[DangerDave921]

64. guilty pleasure

You don't have any guilty pleasure in the world of television? It's all Masterpiece Theater?

Be honest! :)

[Hugabear]

77. I prefer to sit in the park and laugh at the homeless and handicapped

It's about the same thing, at least with the auditions. And isn't that what they always hype in the promos leading up to each season? There are tens of thousands of people who audition every year. The producers pick those who they feel are either competitive or those who are truly horrible, for the country to laugh at. It really is a pathetic statement on the state of society today.

[Skittles]

78. I don't watch anything approaching the crap of IDOL

absolutely not and I am being HONEST

[LanternWaste]

65. There is simply no human way

There is simply no human way to counter your argument.

...and no-- I'm not being facetious at all. :hi:

[Skittles]

48. well

you have generously provided us the midset of an Idol Addict :puke:

[Missy Vixen]

52. You're free to take up television writing at any time, DangerDave

Writers are the people who come up with the idea IN THE FIRST PLACE. There is no project without writers.

They deserve to be paid for their work, just like you are.

Julie

[DangerDave921]

55. Of course

Of course they should be paid. Who said they shouldn't?

[RB TexLa]

85. The thing is, we don't really need their work, it doesn't serve any purpose

If there was snow and static on television screens and movie theaters closed a few nights a week, how are we worse off exactly?

On edit: Many a candle worker was put out of their livelihood when electricity came along, industries go away or get reduced, it happens.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

9. Support your brain. Don't watch any of this crap!

Reality T.V. is like reality Bush. All Bullshit and, it causes brain cancer.

[MonkeyFunk]

10. If you're not a Nielsen household

it won't matter one whit.

[DangerDave921]

26. apparently

It's the thought that counts.

[LanternWaste]

66. Practically? Probably not.

Practically? Probably not. But there are many people who will do it as a matter of conscious.

For example, I live in TX-- my vote in the G.E. won't matter one wit, but I'm still going to. :)

[focusfan]

11. I have never watched it anyway.

[RB TexLa]

12. That's pretty easy, never seen it

[Eurobabe]

14. Not an issue, never watch reality shit anyhow. n/t

[Hugabear]

33. There are a few reality shows that are good to watch

Not many, but a few. Shows like "Deadliest Catch" and "Everest: Beyond the Limit" are pretty good.

Would those be considered 'reality shows' or documentaries? I'm not quite sure...

[Eurobabe]

46. Dunno, but they are usually on Discovery

which I don't consider a reality "channel," for me that's the difference. Yeah, Deadliest Catch or Ice Road Truckers was cool. I like themes with endurance and sport. :hi:

[onyourleft]

15. This is really easy to do.

We never watch that show. :)

[Catherine Vincent]

16. Don't worry.

I don't watch it anyway. Of course it would be very hard to get my mother to not watch it. She's obsessed with it.

[Javaman]

19. Like I need an excuse to not watch that steaming pile of a tv show. nt

[warren pease]

20. Easiest way to honor a strike I've ever heard of. n/t

[AlCzervik]

22. no problem, i was in on the ground floor of this a long time ago.

[Hellenic_Pagan]

23. I dont watch that crap anyway

:puke: thats what i think of american idol and all that FOXBS

But if i can make that a protest statement, COOL!

:woohoo:

If only there could be a strike of dumbass crap! :eyes:

[bunkerbuster1]

24. Couldn't pay me to watch 95% of all reality shows.

the next Iron Chef being the one exception. (hey, I'm only human.)

[nonconformist]

29. Sorry, but that won't make a damn bit of difference

The only thing it will accomplish is to allow people to self-righteously proclaim that they "don't watch that crap anyway".

[malaise]

30. That's not hard

I've never watched an episode. :D

[Desertrose]

31. Never watch that crap.

[ecstatic]

35. sorry, but that is going to be my only outlet for a while

In between studying. No can do.

[citizen snips]

36. Thank you writers

Just what we need is more bullshit reality tv shows because of your strikes.

[Hugabear]

40. I hope that was sarcastic

Because if not, I'm sorry if the writers looking out for their livelihoods somehow inconveniences you.

[citizen snips]

43. I was being sarcastic

But come on how many survivors and american idols can they make before everyone goes ape shit?

[Missy Vixen]

54. The question is, how many $50 million ad revenue givebacks can the networks

absorb before they get serious about negotiating with the writers?

The biggie's on the horizon -- the Oscars. If the Oscars are cancelled, it's a financial meltdown in that industry.

Julie

[LanternWaste]

67. You really think so?

"it's a financial meltdown in that industry."

You really think so? Do you work in or around the industry? (I'm NOT being snarky, I'm actually quite interested...). Are you talking about the T.V. entertainment industry in particular, or Hollywood as a whole?

(Got any juicy insider links about the possible consequences of the strike?)

[Missy Vixen]

71. There have been multiple articles about what's happening right now in the entertainment industry

and how it's been affected by the strike. The LA area runs on entertainment, so does New York (to some extent). The fact that networks are now having to fork out $$$ for ad buybacks can't be making them happy. It's not just the writers losing money -- it's all the peripheral industries that are supported by television and movie production that are at a halt.

The Oscars is hundreds of millions of dollars lost -- not only those who work putting on the ceremony, dressing and coifing and driving and feeding the celebrities before and after, the studios count on the post-Oscar "bounce" for additional revenues re: people who are running out to finally catch the Best Picture, best actor, whatever. It's "free" publicity for them.

To answer your question, I know a woman who produces a network show that was due to start broadcasting this month. I'm not sure how many episodes they got in the can before the strike happened, and the show isn't on the schedule, so there must not have been enough to go forward. I'm sure she saved, but at the same time, LA's an expensive place to live. She's a good Democrat, though, so I'm betting she supports the writers.

Julie

[bigwillq]

38. I won't be watching (nt)

[Warren DeMontague]

39. Who knew, I've been supporting it all along.

You couldn't pay me enough to watch that dreck.

Science channel, discovery channel, a little HBO now and then.. that's about it for me. As near as I can tell, most of the shit the supermarket tabloid buying Merkin masses watch on television is moronic, warmed over ass sandwich.

[benld74]

42. Have never and will never

[Heidi]

47. Wait. Are you saying that AI is SCRIPTED?

:wow:

I don't even wanna know what you think about Santa Claus.

[pleah]

50. I don't watch these kind of shows. I, personally think they are for the brain dead masses.

[LanternWaste]

68. The Brain Dead Masses

I watch TV (Lost and The Office), so I'm not really in a position to say who is or is not member of the Brain Dead Masses as I'm probably one myself

Brain Dead Masses.... sounds like the name of another cookie-cutter, garage band who thinks they're going to be the Next Big Thing... :)

[lonestarnot]

51. No worry bout that! LOL

WTF is American Idol? :shrug:

[Liberal In Texas]

53. Believe me, there is NO danger of me watching "American Idol". n'/t

[gollygee]

56. LOL - I'm another one for whom this will not be any problem or sacrifice.

:D

[ProfessorGAC]

57. Come On Gollygee. We'll Not Watch It Together

Watched only snippets of two episodes. Never again. Like you said; not much a sacrifice.
The Professor

[Missy Vixen]

62. I'll join the two of you

We'll have something good to eat and drink and some wonderful conversation instead, huh?

Watched it once, NEVER again.

:toast:
Julie

[Greyskye]

80. It's a movement!

And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in
singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out. They may think it's an
organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day,I said
fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice's Restaurant and
walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement.

And that's what it is , the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement, and
all you got to do to join is sing it the next time it come's around on the
guitar.

With feeling. So we'll wait for it to come around on the guitar, here and
sing it when it does. Here it comes.

You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant
Walk right in it's around the back
Just a half a mile from the railroad track
You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant


I'll see y'all there. :hi:

[Missy Vixen]

83. Woo-hoo!

Think of the fun we'll have. It's waaaay better than sitting in front of the tube, isn't it?

:hi:
Julie

[Romulox]

59. I will support the writers just as much as they supported the UAW during their last strike.

In other words, what's the matter? Honda payment due? :eyes:

[LanternWaste]

70. How do we found out...

How do we found out which writers supported the UAW strike? The three professional writers I know: a twenty-five year old Ford Escort, a bicycle (so that one's a definite scab, right?) and the third bums rides from whomever (regardless of nationality of car or driver).

[Nailzberg]

73. I'm sick of "Stop Runaway Production" bumper stickers on foreign luxury cars

Can't be seen driving an American car, but when studios shoot in Canada, it's "Go USA!"

[Romulox]

82. Yep. "Solidarity" seems to be a one way street for Hollywood types. nt

[spanone]

61. american what?

[Ignis]

72. Support brain cells, don't watch American Idol! (nt)

[AnnieBW]

74. No worries there

I never watch "American Idle" anyway. :puke:

[SeattleGirl]

75. Not a problem for me, because I never watch it.

Their definition of "music" sucks.

[NYCGirl]

76. American Idol is NOT AFFECTED by the strike, you know. Only scripted programs.

:eyes:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

79. I'm Gonna Watch It And Find The Reasoning Not To To Be A Bit Ridiculous.

[Mike03]

81. The life of a writer in Hollywood is not easy. I speak from experience. NT

[Hoof Hearted]

84. Proud to say I've never watched a single episode. Ever.

Not even if I am trapped alone in an empty room with nothing but white walls to look at.

I'd rather give Babs Bush a bag bath. Ok, maybe that's going too far but you get the idea.

[Whisp]

86. Survivor in Iraq...

how's that for a real reality show?
I don't watch American Idol - it's a bit oxymoronic to me in these interesting times where a piece of idiot like * could be CiC and the supposed good guys/gals go along with his heinous crimes with smiles and pats and doncha worries.

I watched yet another new Boston Legal tonight (one of the only things worth it on the tube except the weather channel and doing gestalt exercises when I see toilet brush Wolf Blitzer).

I'm wondering how many episodes BL had in the can before the writers strike? because even tho I really enjoy that show I will NOT watch it (whatever the hell that makes a difference in except for myself) if they are scabbing writers.

[Greylyn58]

87. I've never watched this show.

Something about the premise bothered me from the get-go. I've felt like it was going to be a popularity contest (and I've been proved right) and the people who had some real talent would get kicked off because they didn't appeal to the masses.

Plus, I've never been a fan of corporate, put together music. Also it appears even the ones being booted in the later stages are getting record contracts, so what is the point of the contest.

[LordJFT]

88. I wouldn't watch that stupid, worthless show anyway