Clay Aiken shows how its done

I cant believe I am about to praise Clay Aiken, but he stood his ground and refused to answer questions just because they were asked in Newsweek this week. What is with our media? 60 Mins goes to France and Pres. Sarkozy walks out when the first question for this maverick new leader is about his marriage? Good for him. News Corp wants us to be dumb. Not everyone has to play along. Media and the GP scream at celebs who exploit their personal lives, but its all they seem to care about.

Note to both: The show is on stage. If a celeb makes their personal life the story, then its fair. Otherwise, they are there to talk about their jobs and their art.

I was with O-Town one day doing a phone interview with USA Today. After the umpteenth silly question (What's your favorite Backstreet Boy song?), Jacob finally had enough. "Are you going to ask us anything about music, at all?" he shot back. Its your career, your art, your message. You don't have to answer stupid questions or indulge in gossip.

Good for Clay Aiken for being respectful, but not giving in. Bigger question is, why would Newsweek run it? Makes them look unprofessional. Then again, Naomi Campbell is interviewing the presidents of Argentina and Venezuela for GQ, so the bar has been lowered. But this Newsweek interview is retarded. Who did the interview, Chris Farley? Highlights (or read it all here):

NEWSWEEK: How's the "Spamalot" rehearsing going?
Clay Aiken: I'm sore. I couldn't even get off the toilet the other day. It hurts so bad. I don't know if it's I'm not coordinated or using muscles I never had to use before.

Like what?
My legs. Having to remember three, four, five [taps feet]. I can't move and think at the same time.

Did you know your socks don't match?
I have a bunch of striped socks. It's too difficult to match them, so now I just pick up two in the morning. Even if I wear a tux to an awards show, the socks never match.

Stay away from Joan Rivers.
Well, she probably doesn't like me. I don't have style.

Who helps you?
It's a team of highly trained professionals [who] make me look halfway decent every day. It's pretty sad I can't dress myself still at 30 years old.

Is that really how old you are? (nice preperation)
No, I'm 29. But I feel old enough to call myself 30.

Did you ever do musical theater? (nice preperation, again)
I was cut from my high-school musical, "Guys and Dolls."

What role?
Anything. Dancing bush would've been fine. But I didn't even get it.

------

How did you get into a fight with that lady on a plane?
I'm not going to talk about it.

I was just curious because you've never talked about it.
I did talk about it.

What about the Kelly Ripa thing?
I'm not going to discuss it.

Did you think it was homophobic?
I'm not going to discuss it.

What do you want to talk about?
I think we're done.

Can we talk about something fun?
No, we're done. I thought NEWSWEEK would be more reputable. I'm surprised.

But I think people are curious about it.
It was a year ago. This is NEWSWEEK. It's not the National Enquirer. I'd hate to have a job where I had to be rude to people.

We're just having a conversation.
Change the subject! I'd never take a job where I had to do something that I didn't want to do.

What about all those Ford commercials on "American Idol"?
That wasn't a job.

It was part of your job.
It wasn't a Ford commercial. It was a music video. It was a completely different thing.

I'll change the subject. What do you do for fun?
I watch the news. I read news magazines, but I'm reconsidering that now.

Are you going to watch "Idol"?
I haven't watched since season four. I compare it to high-school football--if it weren't for high school, we wouldn't be successful, but I don't need to keep going to the football games.

Its a Good Day

75*, top down... in January. And, Real Time with Bill Maher starts again tonight.


I live about 3mins from the hospital set for Scrubs. So this was what I was looking at today (very end and well worth it on a Friday). Besides the fact that this is an amazing directorial feat, the coloring is gorgeous. Just one of those details in a Wizard of Oz homage that balances the hilarious physical comedy, inspired music, writing and acting that makes this show so brilliant (on top of the stunning balance of tone between the profoundly silly and the profoundly moving). And to keep that level of quality for so long, thats great producing. Writers: If they don't get to finish this show, there will be Hell Toupee.

Rudy running low

Things sounds kind of quiet at Rudy HQ. Seems the more the public knows about Rudy, the less they like him and his puppy killer wife. 

Top Giuliani staffers are going without a salary in January, CNN has learned.
Posted: 09:34 AM ET
MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (CNN) — CNN has learned that top staff members of Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign were asked to work without pay for the month of January, and perhaps longer, so that campaign resources could be focused on the Florida Republican presidential primary.

Two sources in the campaign, speaking on condition of anonymity, insisted the campaign was not in dire financial straits. A third campaign source, however, said "things are starting to get tight" and that "it was more telling than asking" the senior staff to forgo paychecks beginning the first of the year.

But check out this spin from Rudy HQ, because they love Rudy enough to work for free:

Another source disagreed, saying it was a "voluntary" move by senior staff members "so all of our resources could be targeted toward Florida…Our campaign is not living hand to mouth right now…"

For all the positive writing I do lately, I have to admit I want to see Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney humiliated. Rudy is half there. Willard Mitt Romney, a man so lacking any sort of conviction that he changed his own name to be more acceptable, has humiliated himself.

But I still want public humiliation - the political equivalent to driving a stake through the heart of that type of division, pandering, fear mongering and just plain lying.

Are the late night shows better now?

My friend Stace asks this provocative question. Now that the late night talk shows have to rely on people who can converse and aren't just there to sell something, seems like they are a lot more interesting. The pace is slower, for sure. But the discussions seem more relatable, since they have to take the time to tell a story or give us background. When the writers come back, lets hope the producers and bookers took some notes. And the hosts have to be funny, not just rely on the schtick. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are killing themselves every night, but its funny and on target.

PBS is running a series on Great Performances of Pioneers of Television. Last nights episode was on late night talk shows. Upcoming episodes feature variety and game shows.

Pioneers of Television
Nearly 100 stars from TV's formative years bring their stories to PBS in the revealing 4-part documentary series Pioneers of Television. Each episode melds compelling new HD interviews with irresistible archival clips to offer a fresh take on TV's founding celebrities.

Late Night
The distinct contributions and unique personalities of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson headline this episode. This episode features many of the most important figures to emerge on the late-night scene. Merv Griffin gives his last interview before passing away, and Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late night sidekick to Joey Bishop. Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall provide insight into how their shows broadened the late-night audience.

It was amazing to see the different personalities of the hosts and the broad range of guests who were BIG stars AND BIG thinkers. John Lennon and Yoko Ono guest hosted a week of Dick Cavett and invited Abbie Hoffman on, while Johnny Carson's Tonight Show was the rat pack live, 5 nights a week, complete with chain smoking and booze.

It was the nations good night call and a barometer for everything from the economy to politics. It was fun and provocative and damned funny. But in the end it was about the conversation.

And the fashion. In Part 1, skip to about 2:32 for Sinatra and Don Rickles making mafia jokes that kill. Part 2 is TV history. Of course the jokes and style are so dated, but when was the last time you saw any spontaneity in the late night shows?

Why Change is THE issue.

I don’t think that the right stands a chance of nationally turning back the clock, just enough to make things difficult and hateful, again. To me, sex life and reproductive lives have nothing to do with govt, so I shouldn’t have to choose to give them up so I can battle Iran or Russia successfully. Obama might be light on government foreign policy experience, but I think the President brings his intellect to that job first. The President sets the tone, the agenda and the priorities. He can only affect so much internationally, so his reactions are the true concern.

Like many people, I want to re-establish the role of govt in the lives of americans, not find someone to fight based on the old rules. John Kerry didnt help today. I had an exchange with a friend that perhaps shows what some people, like me, are thinking in endorsing Obama (until Bloomberg enters and I get to see how he intends to run - see above):

Me: You know why I'm ok with Huckabee? His tone is important. Huckabee in particular, will NEVER turn back the tide of cultural change (gays, reproductive rights), so how he acts the rest of the time, is important. After the election and the one after that and the one after that, we have to remain a united country.

Its why I'm ok with McCain, too. He isnt part of that crazy religious right wing. Even when he is wrong (to me), he is fair about it. I disagree, but respect him. He will allow himself to be wrong and listen, even if he doesn't agree. Would I vote for him, no. I am concerned about his age and who his admin would involve. But he is a true patriot.

Exit polls asking about NOT voting based on a negative campaign, put Romney first at 40%. That's 40% who said they would not vote for him based on HOW he ran. He is perfectly the old guard Republican that is going away. Big money and that's all he cared about. Negative and lying through his perfect teeth, prepared to get as ugly as needed.

See ya.

But if the nice guy and the independent nice guy lead the right and Hillary and Obama leads the left (down in NH right now):

Will Newt get in?
Will the Bloomberg/Nunn/Hagel axis stay out of it?

Him: I expect a helluva lot more than not-turning-back. After 8 years of just hoping things don't get *worse*, i want somebody, finally, who will be a forward-pushing progressive. If the bush nightmare isn't enough to push this country back to the left for a while, what IS?

McCain is a fossil, he thinks it's okay to ban gays from the military -- despite this neanderthal policy being long abolished by all of our major military allies -- and when he became desperately hungry for the nomination, he started pandering to the nutjobs at Liberty University who he used to scorn. Absolutely nothing to like about him. i did vote for him in the 2000 primary, but that was then.

Shouldn't 'positions' come first? i think good character is frosting, and based on his evangelical flip-flopping, his character isn't that super, anyway.

Me: I’m not sure why you seem to think that every time I DON'T say something negative about Huckabee and McCain, that this is somehow support. I actually agree with you. I think in many ways you and I represent this electorate in this election. To me, positions are very important, but before we can fix the problems, we have to fix the system. The Clinton campaign was in full panic mode in NH and how she was going to slime Sen Obama was the main topic. We have to be better. The American people are crying out for it. Look how people reacted once she was real!

With Bush still holding a 30% approval and Romney, Giuliani, Hunter and Thompson campaigning as more hardcore in many ways than Bush, still spouting the hatred, fully committed to the Republican dirty tricks and campaigns, HOW the campaigns are run is important. Once the media stops swarming, the general election campaign can be about positions if 2 principled pols have to be left run so that we CAN talk positions. None of the candidates above would run that campaign and this country needs it.

More importantly, once its over, we have to remain one nation, not a series os special interest groups exploited for our fear and hatred.

Sen McCain thought he was going to be the establishment candidate when this started, so he pandered. I lost some respect for him. But he stands for what he believes, some of that might be old thinking, but its principled and he has shown he can stand for his principals AND change when needed (torture, immigration).

And Huckabee 'flip-flopping' tells me that he makes decisions based on the situation. He doesn't start with the answers and force the situations to match his political lines. Would I vote for either? No. I think both would run honorable campaigns and stand up to their parties worse elements. Gov Huckabee is not the least bit qualified to be President. But he represents a VERY large POV in this country and I think its important that he is so respectful in how he represents it.

Note: Remember in my Obama primary endorsement post I said that Huckabee was who we say we are in polls, but the party is scared out of its wits over him. He is who they say they are, why don’t they support him? Besides that they will have no control over him. Or McCain.

In case you wondered

Why I am so obsessed with politics, considering the the title of the blog, IMHO, politics will be pop culture for the foreseeable future. Entertainment and politics are converging more and more, for the good (young voters engaged) and bad (News Corp).

A carpet bagger, after all, is nothing if not opportunistic.

At the same time, with the strike on, little to no business is being done (save unscripted). Music is retarded to me right now. I work with artists, and people who sell singles aren't artists.

So that leaves me media and politics.

On the media side, the recession (it's here, deal with it) and positive turn in the country's mind, which of the tabloids will go first? Can People stay the weekly version of USAToday or have to stoop? TMZ, CelebTV, Page6, AccessHollywood - who will remain by 09?

Im thinking the O in 08 stands for Oprah. Even Fox has a new positive reality show and no one gets humiliated.

The day after and the smoke clears...

I wrote this yesterday under the headline, Is HuffPo becoming the New Drudge? Then decided it was too soon to be so harsh. But the point remained that the media are just swirling around themselves trying to fill air and space. And while their intentions may be good in some cases, their tactics are not.

Now Paul Bagala in HuffPo makes a great point about HOW reporters are doing their jobs and gives context to my exchange at the end. Also makes you ask, why would Fox do that? Easy, it fits their fear narrative that the Clinton liberals are coming back - what better way to energize the hateful wing of the Republican party?

I made some points about CNN and MSNBCs coverage yesterday, too.

HuffPo started out as a very cool blog, with a great line-up of people giving plenty of context and insight into the news across a very wide field - Entertainment, Politics, Media. Now, its got some serious news standard issues. Ads that look like content. Parodies too mingled with serious news. Only posting approved comments that dont disagree or question the authors (disclosure: Not one of my comments to Bonnie Fuller as she continues to work both sides of the street, exploiting celebrities, then pretending to have any integrity on HuffPo, have appeared).

Now the Obama slant is so obvious. Nothing but leading headlines to hurt Hillary. Thomas Edsall is running a piece with the headline "Clinton Allies May Dump Millions Into Anti-Obama Group" and "Cash Starved Clinton Considers Skipping Next Primaries"

The story goes on to feature denials by the 527 groups who would do the negative campaigning and NO sources for the primary pull out story.

Forget the Republican race reporting. I have very strong emotions about the Republican party and most of its current candidates, but HOW you win means as much as winning. Its what the Republicans forgot. Being right (in your mind) doesn't excuse you from the rules or standards.

Seems the stories have an agenda these days on HuffPo. I have emailed the author to ask his opinion on this. Lets see if he responds (or even has the time today).

Mr Edsall, I breathlessly await your posts, but the latest on the Clinton issues seems to lack any sources and the 527s are denying they are going negative. Are these just rumors or is this NEWS? It is very unclear, but the headlines definitely have a point of view and perhaps an agenda?

Respectfully,
Jay Marose
Sherman Oaks, CA

And he did. I have nothing but respect for true journalists, which Mr. Edsall is. He doesn't write his headlines, after all.

It is news. It is accurate based on direct reporting

Tom Edsall
Joseph Pulitzer II and Edith Pulitzer Moore Professor
Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
Huffington Post, Political Editor
New Republic, Correspondent

Fair enough, but I asked for further clarification at his convenience. Rumors without attribution are just that, after all. Until someone will go on the record, even on background, you can not make statements as facts. The old standard was, "If your mother says she loves you, get a second source" - but no more.

'Its true because I said so', doesnt quite do it for me, even if it does further my cause. We have to fix the whole process, even how its reported. Sure there was lots of panic yesterday, but the fact that no one went on record and the entire 'problem' went away with the results, well, in the rush to be first and have your story that matches everyone else's story up and running, is irresponsible, IMHO.

The story may very well be true. But, even as winners, we have to be better.

This mornings email chain...

Me: I love this big bang theory show. The one guy is sooo familiar.* Tonight, offended at the mess at his neighbors, "Explain to me an organizational system in which a tray of flat wear on the couch is valid? That's assuming this is a couch. The evidence suggests that the coffee table is having a tiny garage sale."   (*Cross between me and Christopher Rice)

TTT: Which one guy? the tall skinny one (Jim Parsons) I've seen... and the shorter one was David from Roseanne.

ACP: The shorter one from Roseanne played a male escort dating a TV star in a play here in NYC last season and lemme just say, brother had a nice body. It's the high hairline i can't live with. 

Me: Johnny Galecki? I'm surprised. I thought he was about a 5-series size under all those clothes. Or did you mean Joseph Gordon Levitt? Who’s adorable, and Im told is a major pot head. He and Channing Tatum just sit around when they're off all day and get high. And, Im ok with that.

'08ing CHANGE (NH Primary)

IMPATIENCE FOR JAN 2009 BUILDING
AP REPORTS: NH RUNNING LOW ON BALLOTS, PRIMARY TURN OUT IS SO HIGH.

500,000 VOTERS.
150,000 INDEPENDENTS
90,000 EXPECTED TO VOTE DEM

UPDATE: CNN Reports up to 85% voter turn out in some districts in NH (weather is particularly good).

CNN's Tom Forman: Its like a carnival outside. People usually tell me what they are voting against. Today they are telling me how excited they to be voting for a candidate. (sound familiar?)

But, Bill Schneider, showing how out of touch media is, said that Dems polled in NH said the economy was their top priority. He attributed this to them seeing todays stock market numbers.

Um, WHAT? How about wages are down. Credit it tight. Savings don't exist. Healthcare could bankrupt us. Jobs are disappearing.

Yeah, we must be worried about our portfolios.

QUESTION: Will NH's Indy's influence Bloomberg/Nunn/Hagel and their plans?

Will Obama Kill Rap?

How does that hardcore posturing hold up when the President of the United States is part of the solution and the entertainment industry is part of the problem? And when that same man has also, in ways, been through the immigrant experience as well as the Black experience, who can you blame for not being involved, anymore? Even if he doesn't win past Iowa, Sen. Obama has clearly shown that we have a common, American culture and need to work together.

I am all for free expression above all else, but just preaching division anymore, whether in rap or on your talk show, makes you culture war profiteers (and I can be reached at...).

Speaking of... This gives me hope. Young Ron Paul supporters chasing Fox News' Sean Hannity (back story). In addition to the expected, "Fox News Sucks," is the occasional, "We're Not Falling For It Anymore!" Now THATS a negative campaign I could join, with a pitchfork and torch.



CNN makes me nuts most days, to be sure. But I realized that it is sort of like a news service - it reports all the official lines and the official talking heads deliver that days clever turns of phrase. But its up to the viewer to fill in the blanks on your own. Its like the diplomatic channel, EVERYONE in media and government watches it all day long to talk to one another. Just like Fox Business can't draw an audience because business leaders don't want propaganda, neither do cultural leaders. When there is an incident, no one in government or media is watching Fox News.

When is the last time you heard of a story or interview on Fox make news for its content, rather than its confrontation?

Britney Will Eat the Papps

To give you an idea of how crazy the paparazzi thing is here, I am told that Starbucks has hired a private security firm. Certain outlets have a special number to call when the swarm attacks. This, in a nutshell is my take on the Britney thing, perfectly. From the Canadian Press (sorry for the double quote): 

Elaine Lui, a correspondent for CTV's "ETalk," wrote on her blog, Lainey's Entertainment Update, on Monday.

"Multiple sources have revealed that Britney is inherently selfish and manipulative - beyond any emotional problems. Manipulative to the point where she understands her own media influence and selfish to the point where she does not want to mother her own children. The automatic reaction to that is: well, a woman must be crazy if she doesn't want to raise her own kids ... (but) crazy people can still be bad people. With bad motives and bad intentions."

The break we see is when her version of what should happen, doesn't happen.

Soon after she left the hospital, Spears slipped out of Los Angeles with her apparent new boyfriend, a paparazzo named Adnan Ghalib who's been tailing her for months. The pair have been seen sipping champagne cocktails at 10 a.m. and holding hands and kissing while making Starbucks runs.

Michael Jackson is the only other person I could think of who thought that his version of 'reality' was a problem with the GPs perception. I met with Randy Jackson once and we discussed the tabloids and his brothers attempts to manipulate them. I told Randy that I just don't deal with the tabloids ever - period. They have no integrity. They will work with you as long it makes them money. Im not talking manipulate the truth for you, I mean just not lie about you. Doesn't work that way. Don't even pick and choose when to respond. Because, once you acknowledge them, they have some integrity. So you have to starve them.

Randy asked if I would be interested in meeting with his brother, because no one around him would ever tell him what I had. Of course, Id be a liar if I didn't say I wanted to meet him. But ultimately, he would never have listened to me.

Indeed, CelebTV.com reports that Ghalib is already shopping around photos of the two taken since her release from Cedars-Sinai. He's asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars for the shots.

I think its funny that celebrities take advice from people who agree with them - that they met at a bar somewhere. Professionals get paid if you like what we say or not, so we must really mean it if we disagree with you. Its not in our financial interest to do so. Isn't that who you should be listening to, not that Random that always seems to know more - until you sober up?


Though its oh so nice to get advice
Its oh so hard to do...

Ruh, Roh

WGA is not listening. Get me hooked on Pushing Daisies, then cut me off. You took away my Soup, man! Then try to substitute Dance War: Bruno vs Carrie Ann and American Gladiator?

(by the hammer of Thor) Now you're taking my Globes? Take the Super Bowl instead!! Reuters reports:

With most nominees and presenters expected to boycott the Globes on Jan. 13 rather than cross writers' picket lines, organizers said they were scrapping the usual gala ceremony in favor of an hour-long "press conference" to be carried live as a news event on NBC.

You take the Oscars and we are in a fight. Into the Wild NEEDS the Oscars! And Great Debaters. And No Country for Old Men. And Juno. And In the Valley of Elah.

OK, Elah needs a miracle.

I gave you 2 drive-bys. Alec Baldwin is your greatest advisor. The public is on your side. Now show the studios that YOU really do drive the art. Cause looks what's left?? It's not art.

Is George Bush the Fox Network of Politics?

GWB dumbed down politics - on purpose. He ridiculed intelligence. He bullied his opponents. He has no ethics. He has no problem denying reality. His aim was to divide the nation in order to exploit it. His only guiding principals are to money and power.

Add Christina Applegate and a laugh track and it could be Fox (Fox New-ish, Fox Business, NYPost, Page 6, etc.).

I have faith in the American people. We arent craving ignorance, we are only being fed poorly. In Canada and the UK there are hours of prime programming devoted to historic, cultural and nature subjects. And I tend to think we can make it creative and entertaining. In 1961, FCC Chairman Newton Minow famously called television 'a vast wasteland'.

1961.

In 1995 Reed Hundt, then a former Chairman of the FCC himself, said:

Children became bullseyes for the arrows of electronic advertising. We began, as one European critic has said, "to raise our kids as consumers more than as citizens."

Sound familiar? He added:

Market values aren't necessarily family values. And when the FCC commits itself exclusively to promoting profit maximizing in broadcasting, it has not done its duty under the law for the kids and parents of this country.

Fortunately, we have a second chance to figure out how TV can help us raise our kids. Our second chance might be our last chance.

1995.

Melancholy

All of this Britney stuff made me think about one day when I was with Ozzy and Sharon in New York. We were staying at the Peninsula Hotel in a series of beautiful rooms and suites. 

There were trays with teas and fruits. The smell of Ozzys cologne, the strong bergamot of Czech & Speake's #88, mixed with the pale yellow walls and little dogs running about, the scene was nearly regal. Jimmy Page had just called to offer Ozzy congratulations on one continuous year of sobriety, so it was rock royalty for sure. Ozzy walked over to join Sharon who was looking out the window at the rainy street below. 

The night before it was an amazing site. Sharon, Kelly and I were just coming in when we saw the throng of cameras and lights. We prepared ourselves and I grabbed some security to walk us into the hotel. The crowd hardly noticed them. 

Then I saw why.  The Lobby of the Peninsula is a beautiful 2-story, pale marble atrium with twin staircases wrapping either side. As I looked up, coming down the right side was Jennifer Lopez, looking every bit the glamorous movie star in all white, on her way to the premiere of Shall We Dance. From my perspective it was stunning. She stood with her white gown glaring against the bright red carpet below on the stairs. As she stepped outside the gold front door provided frames for her against a wall of light from the cameras. I thought this must be happiness.

Back in the suite, for a minute, Ozzy and Sharon considered going out, the rain perhaps providing some cover with coats, hats and umbrellas. Then they thought better.

"Remember when we used to be able to walk around the block?" he said.
It was the truest moment of melancholy I have ever witnessed. 

When celebs were cool

and celebrity news was news:

This bizarre kidnaping of Frank Jr. resulted in Frank carrying a roll of dimes around with him for the rest his life, after he was forced to use a series of pay phones in order to secure the release of his son. When he died, he was buried with a roll of dimes, a flask of Jack Daniels, a Zippo and a pack of Camels. - From TSGTV

I just like that dramatic music. I think we should have that kind of music playing around OJ Simpson and Robert Blake, who parked next to me in the rain 2 weeks ago outside our little market. TRCB stayed in the car until he was gone then felt the need to point out his presence afterwards. I had never been next to a murderer before. In Bel Air, apparently, I was out numbered. Who would think that the same little strip mall housed Britney's puppy shop, Reba's dry cleaners and Robert Blake's market?

Great Quote

I guess the ideal (Buddhist?) solution is to be political without attachment to the outcome. To act with integrity to my beliefs even as I forthrightly acknowledge the limits of my power to effect change--which would result, hopefully, in the desired equanimity. This is easier said than done, of course. The sense of powerlessness in the face of the world's problems and the inadequacy of our political system is not confined to this one voter. It's shared by a great number of us, people of good will and good conscience who want to do the best they can for their country and their fellow beings. For some, I know, that sense of powerlessness leads to apathy--a very different thing from equanimity.

Drive By PR (WGA)

Note to the WGA: If you cancel the Globes and the Oscars, the tide will turn against you in a major way. Now that the holidays are over, the general public is going to start to notice that there is nothing to watch. 

Since the studios are happy to clean house, especially now that their cash cow late night shows are back on, they can wait you out.

Its all about timing here, and the actors don't want the tradition of the Oscars to be held hostage to what the GP (thats general public and it would really help if you got that from now on - thanks) is going to see as an insider game. Plus all those great year end films that NEED an Oscar bump wont get it.

The window is closing and though your cause is a good one, any actor will tell you. Its all about the timing.

Update: Good to see Alec Baldwin agreeing with me.

To accept an Oscar is to take one's place among the greatest actors of all time. If the WGA strike continues and there is no waiver for the Oscar broadcast, I hope Mr. Elisberg has plenty of fresh quips handy. He and his colleagues are gonna need them.

Is there nothing Mr. Baldwin can't do?