Leno staffers fired

[JaJae]

Shocked Leno staffers fired as strike drags on | Entertainment | Television | Reuters

Shocked Leno staffers fired as strike drags on

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A couple of days after the Writers Guild of America strike began November 5, the star of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" told some 80 of his idled staffers that they need not worry about their finances.

Leno was so adamant about paychecks being safe, many didn't bother looking for new jobs even though NBC was forecasting layoffs.

So it came as quite a shock Friday when the entire staff was told that they were not only out of a job but also that they weren't guaranteed of being rehired once "The Tonight Show" returns.

This is really bad for them. But I typically don't feel sorry for people who get fired when striking. I don't know the whole circumstance involved in their strike so I don't know who is in the right or who is in the wrong here. It sucks that Leno is the only talk show host that is allowing his employees to essentially be fired. All the other hosts are paying their staff out of their pocket and doing what they can to ensure they have jobs.

[Ardentfrost]

This depends on which staffers they're talking about. I can see the POV of the WGA, it certainly isn't fair to get ZERO cuts from profits made online using material they were involved in, however, writers are fairly well-paid individuals. Who this REALLY sucks for are the stage hands, sound and lighting people, etc... who rely on shows being produced for them to have a job. And they are NOT paid well (it's like a standard job like you or I would have). So they are the most hurt by this whole thing.

So if it's the non-writers who have been fired, that just plain sucks. Those people are falling on hard times because of this writers strike.

[RMNIXON]

I feel for the people who do actual work. I know somebody who has worked for a hollywood entertainment union. Many of them use what mental powers they have trying to avoid any kind of work. They got their wish!

[motivez]

Please define "actual work"

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by motivez

Please define "actual work"

I'm sure he means the more grunt work... gaffers, grips, PA's, etc.

[JaJae]

This has been resolved for now..
Leno to pay salaries of laid-off staffers | Entertainment | Television | Reuters

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I'm sure he means the more grunt work... gaffers, grips, PA's, etc.

I don't care what the job is. I mean doing what you are paid to do. Not sitting in the bathroom reading the paper half the day. Not standing around idle because the guy who is a certified electrician needs to turn on a light fixture, or people who brag about doing stage work for 20 years but cannot or will not do simple tasks people with a year in the private sector do in their sleep. If you think you pay $$$ for a movie just because some big star gets big bucks think again. You pay for all kinds of bullshit!

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

I don't care what the job is. I mean doing what you are paid to do. Not sitting in the bathroom reading the paper half the day. Not standing around idle because the guy who is a certified electrician needs to turn on a light fixture, or people who brag about doing stage work for 20 years but cannot or will not do simple tasks people with a year in the private sector do in their sleep. If you think you pay $$$ for a movie just because some big star gets big bucks think again. You pay for all kinds of bullshit!

I know people who work the grunt jobs of Hollywood, running cameras and setting lighting. These people are like regular workers, and their jobs rely on the writers not striking, but working so that they, in turn, have projects to work on. They are not paid a lot of money like the actors or writers, they are just regular middle-Americans with a job to do.

I have no idea what you are referring to.