E!'s "Fashion Police" writers go on strike

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CBS

By Lesley Savage

Writers for E's "Fashion Police," which stars Joan Rivers, Giuliana Rancic, Kelly Osbourne and George Kotsiopoulos, are going on strike two weeks after filing a complaint that could result in the cable TV network having to pay more than $1 million dollars in back wages.

The strike against both E! and Rugby Productions -- Rivers' production company -- is sanctioned by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), whose East and West branches urged both members and non-members not to work on the program.

"'Fashion Police' is one of the network's top-rated shows," said WGAW President Chris Keyser and WGAE President Michael Winship in a joint statement. "Its writers are an integral part of that success. To deny them the basic guarantees that are the right of all writers is not only unjust, it is also a counterproductive business practice. All WGA members are now prohibited from working on 'Fashion Police.' This order will remain in effect until E! and Rugby do what is right."

"Writers on E! Network's comedy-variety show, "Fashion Police," walked off their jobs today to gain Writers Guild coverage and to protest the company's unfair labor practices," explained a WGA letter posted online Wednesday.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57580070/e-s-fashion-police-writers-go-on-strike/

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Joan Rivers has made millions upon millions thanks to her multiple union memberships. She should allow her employees the benefits of a contract!

[freshwest]

1. Does this mean less snarking about thrift clothes in general?

Sorry, I never watch shows like this. and I actually do like these individuals, but wish they'd find better series to work on. Other than that, please kick the greedy management in the tail.

Just sayin'

[JoePhilly]

2. WOW, the Sequester really had far reaching impacts!!!

Even the police of fashion are taking a hit.

[olddots]

3. My wife's favorite show and I like it too .

Not good ,if the writers are getting screwed this won't end well and good bye show ---they'll just show reruns like all TV now.

The bizz seems like it's too big to fail but it isn't ---more people pout of work in this town that got trashed during Reagan will destroy
whats left of a front.

[azurnoir]

4. on strike my gosh

how will their families ever survive the income loss

[Moosepoop]

6. I think you misunderstand...

It's not the hosts (Joan Rivers, etc.) who are going on strike -- it's the WRITERS who write the show's scripts for them.

"Although 'Fashion Police' is one of E!'s highest-rated shows, its writers lack health and pension benefits, residuals, and industry-standard compensation. When the writers began to organize earlier this year they were met with threats and delaying tactics," the letter continued, and encouraged "non-members to respect the strike and support these writers, who are taking a stand against substandard wages and conditions."

Earlier this month, "Fashion Police" writers filed claims with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), alleging that E! has broken state labor law by not compensating them for all of the regular and overtime hours they've worked. Since the show is a comedy-variety show, it is not covered by a WGA agreement.

Their families could probably use the deserved pay and benefits that the writers are striking for.

[Posteritatis]

7. TV writers are screwed with appalling consistency. (nt)

[azurnoir]

8. correction noted

but apparently snark is not

[Earth_First]

13. With all due respect...

Your response to the OP did not differentiate who your snark was intended for, the hosts or the writers.

At any rate any attack on labor is an attack on labor and I hope that The Guild gets behind the writers.

[azurnoir]

14. ah so now I'm attacking unions is that your claim?

well note below Joan Rivers is also a union member, if you really want to go that route

or else accept that it was snark let know mmmmkay?

[Earth_First]

15. That's a leap...

If your response was snark, it was lost in translation which often happens on fhe internet.

Have a good evening.

[Ken Burch]

5. Joan Rivers is a union member, but she's also been a Republican for over thirty years.

She was 'pug enough to tell a JFK joke at the '84 GOP convention...which was held in Dallas.

[Lasher]

16. And Reagan was President of the Screen Actors' Guild.

I'm sure that gave great comfort to the air traffic controllers. I agree with your point. Unions are better off without some union members.

[sakabatou]

9. If only the show went off air

I hate that show.

[SummerSnow]

10. Dude has on yellow pants...he cant be a fashion police

[Lasher]

17. And what about Kelly Osbourne?

I like the show but I don't get it about Kelly. I guess Joan figured more people would tune in to see Ozzie's girl. Watching her make fun of the way other people dress is like listening to Tonya Harding preach about sports ethics.

[SummerSnow]

18. Oh yea horrid outfit as well

[olddots]

11. okay for everyone in front of a camera there are anywhere from 50 to 100s of people behind it.

the show is scripted and not a "reality show " Rivers is Rivers etc..... but every job lost effects 10 people the math is simple and sad.

We can rank out the entertainment bizz all we want but it's one of the only businesses we have left in this corporate hell hole that would have us watching digital dog shit made by slaves in the next slave state.

[valerief]

12. That's okay. They can outsource to H1Bs, like all the other American jobs. nt