UPDATE: The Writers Age Discrimination settlement

A lot of people have asked me this Friday question. This is an update and actually a reversal on my original position. Why? Read on.

Here’s Tod’s question --

Ken, I'm sure you've received a packet in the mail recently concerning a "Notice of Settlement of TV Writers Age Discrimination Cases". It's a class action suit where, apparently, quite a few major studios and agencies have agreed to pay $70M to writers over 40 for alleged age discrimination, and I'm wondering:

a. What's your take on this? I joined the WGA in 1988 and have never seen anything like it.

b. Are you going to participate?

This update is based on some of your comments (see? I actually do read them) that have caused me to change my position. My initial reaction (as I posted) was that it was great. This discrimination does exist and it was nice to see the writers get an acknowledgment and money. But it was pointed out by some of you that the settlement explicitly states that all writers - ALL WRITERS, whether you join the class action or not - give up their right to sue the same studios/agencies in the future over the same issue.

If that's the case, I'm much less enthused. If that's the case we just rolled over.

I feel like Sam Malone in the episode where he's a sportscaster. He gives a strong opinion and then two minutes later gives a strong opinion in the opposite direction. But again, if this means that we've sold out on that issue I'm not in favor.

To salvage a couple of points from my original post:

The claims are certainly justified. Especially now when networks essentially have approval of all writers who get hired on shows. I know a case of an older writer who helped out gratis on a pilot that was in trouble. He did a yeoman’s job – came up with a lot of story fixes and contributed many great jokes. As a result, the show got picked up. Then the show runner attempted to hire him and the network wouldn't approve him.

Another long time veteran TV writer wrote a book that was optioned by a network. But they didn't trust him to write the adaptation of his own book, which was mostly autobiographical. And this is a writer who had created series for that same network.

I personally do not plan to file a claim. I might be entitled to a few dollars, I dunno. But I was one of the truly lucky older writers who did get work during that period. And I was not dropped by my agency. So I don’t feel it’s right to take any money when other writers are much more deserving.

I'm happy for those who benefited by this but not at the cost of the Guild's future.

Check back. I may change my mind again in ten minutes. But thanks to you commenters.

The AMERICAN IDOL open auditions

Since all the open auditions are pretty much the same I thought I’d lump them all in one post. Call it AMERICAN IDOL IN A BOWL.

The guest judges varied in quality. Neil Patrick Harris was terrific. I’d like to think he didn’t become the permanent new judge because he’s got that day job and not because Simon realized he’s too good.

Shania Twain showed some personality and paid one hopeful the greatest compliment any singer could ever receive – she liked his ass.

By the way, have you noticed that whenever there is a good guest judge Kara just disappears? This is a huge improvement over incredibly annoying. More good guest judges please!

Mary J. Blige looked like she’d rather be in Iraq.

Katy Perry was refreshingly candid. She had no problem ripping people. If only she wasn’t a worse singer than the contestants she crushed. She did have the best moment of the season so far when she called out Kara for liking some sad sack because of their hard luck story, not singing ability. Katy said, “This is not a Lifetime movie, sweetheart!” Too bad we didn't see Kara's withering retort: “I know you are but what am I?”

Didn’t catch Kristin Chenoweth’s turn. I’m guessing she was perky.

Avril Lavigne was God awful. How can she judge talent when she can’t even spell her own last name? It’s L-e-v-i-n-e. She wore a devil hood. C-r-e-t-i-n.

For what inexplicable reason did they bring the vacuous Victoria Beckham back? They didn’t have to pay for a meal per diem? She wore her hair back and in a bun and looked like Olive Oyl after a rough night with Bluto.

But the worst EVER was Joe Jonas. Proving his only talent is being in the Lucky Sperm Club, he merely sat like a slug. For the longest time I thought he was just Kara’s blow-up doll. But then I always figured Kara was just Simon’s blow-up doll.

The auditions were what you expected. Does every 23 year old contestant have an 8 year old child? Is it possible to get put through to Hollywood if you haven’t had at least one near death experience?

If this is a singing competition why did Ms. DioGuardi and Ms. Oyl make one contestant take his shirt off? If they’re going to do that, just put Tallulah Morehead on the panel.

And while we’re on the subject, I don’t think the judges gave the guy wearing a bikini fair consideration.

One recent contestant was asked to tell the judges something interesting about himself. He said, “I like cheese”. When pressed, he also casually revealed that his mother had kidnapped him as a child and they spent his formative years running and hiding. But I want to get back to that cheese thing.

One night a hopeful just wailed painfully. No lyrics, no melody, just screeching. Posh complimented him on his choice of song. No wonder they want her to guest on THE VIEW.

Note to the 10,000 hopefuls in Los Angeles who desperately yearn to get a trip to Hollywood – you’re fucking IN Hollywood!!

Meanwhile, a girl from Florence, Italy flew all the way to Denver for an audition. She couldn’t go to the ones in Boston and New York? Anyway, she is off to Hollywood – probably with a layover in Taiwan.

They better get to Hollywood Week fast. I hear the other Jonas Brothers wanna guest judge.

HSBB - our long wait is over?

Following the not so suprising(LOL) article (click) in The Malaysian Insider last year..
i finally see the hype coming.
though still pretty unsure when exactly is the official launch but at least this billboard below shows that it will not be long.



FYI HSBB is a High Speed BroadBand project which is a public-private partnership between Telekom Malaysia and the government. Residents of Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Bangsar, both in Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam have been promised broadband speeds of 10 Mbps under the HSBB project.

true or not? well hope for the best..but i dunno, we've been so long with TM that we couldn't put much expectation..but at least it should be better than any of what we have been using..heh
whatever it is, hope it will be affordable and worth it and that it will end all the SCREAMs we heard from the users who use screamyx..lol~

Guys are not going to want to f**k her

My heart always goes out to actors during pilot season (which this is). Here’s how hard it is to become a cast member of a hit series:

When a writer/producer gets the good/bad news that his pilot has been greenlighted the first thing he does is hire a casting director and together they prepare a list of possible worthy candidates for each part. They then meet with the network casting person. She responds to your list. “No, no, hate him, uch, no, no, no, uch, no.” If one of those “uchs” is you you’re dead.

The network casting person will then present her list. One name sticks out. The writer/producer tells her he won’t cast this guy because he killed his grandmother. The network casting maven says, “Well, he didn’t kill a member of your immediate family. Read him anyway.” Basically writer/producers are expected to pursue the names on her list. If you haven’t already been eliminated you’re now at a huge disadvantage if you’re going up against one of these golden names. (By the way, it is very easy to go from this list one year to "uch" the next. Beware.)

Now comes the reading process. Out of all the pilots there may only be a few roles you’re right for. There are also a few more you’re not right for but you apply anyway. You can play Asian if you have to, no sweat.

Your agent submits your name. The casting director may not think you’re right or not be a fan and you’re dead. Assuming you’re over that hurdle you’re invited in to read. There usually are a hundred or more actors reading for every role. Great odds, huh? In these initial sessions you’re usually reading for a committee – the writer/producers, the pod producers, a couple of studio representatives. All you need is one of them to not like you and you’re toast. And by “not like” that could mean “too tall”, “good but we’ve seen him in things”, “he was my waiter last week at the Daily Grill and was terrible”, and “guys are not going to want to fuck her”.

Now there’s a new wrinkle. Networks insist the auditions be recorded and sent to them for perusal. Let’s say you’re reading for a part you’re not right for. Or you just didn’t do well. Not only are you dead but now the network gets to see your bad audition and you’re now on the “no, uch” list for other projects. So for the seven pilots you’re going up for, that one audition just cost you four of them.

Ready to go back to Michigan and teach 5th grade yet?

You make the cut. You get a call-back. By that time you’re not sure what you did that they liked so much? Can you do it again, whatever it is?

You’re on a roll. You kill at the call-back. You’re now a finalist. Your agent makes a deal contingent on studio and network approval.

You read for the studio. Another committee, mostly made up of non-creative types. All it takes is one to hate you.

They don’t hate you. You move on to the network test. You and four other candidates are led into a screening room one at a time where you audition for the network president (and a committee but when the network prez is there their opinions mean nothing).

Talk about pressure. Let’s say you were up for the role of “Rachel” in this pilot called FRIENDS. How different would your life be depending on whether or not you got that part?

You can hit it out of the park and still not get the part. The network president may be partial to a name on his golden list. He may have no ability to judge talent. He may not want to fuck you.

By some miracle he likes you. But there’s a hang-up. He still wants a bigger name. So you hold your breath while the producers make an eleventh hour plea to Paula Marshall. She passes. They settle for … I mean “cast” you.

You’re in, right? Not so fast.

During the week of production there are network table readings and runthroughs. You could get fired at any one of them. And it’s not necessarily your fault. The material could be awful, the director gave you bad direction, they never really wanted you in the first place.

But you survive the week of production and film the pilot. Now comes research and test screenings. I’ve observed these focus groups. One woman says she hates you. Why? She can’t believe you wore those shoes. (That’s a true story.) The network says if the show goes forward you’re to be replaced.

That’s IF she show goes forward. You could give the performance of a lifetime but if the show doesn’t get picked up you’re dead. And again, there are sooooo many factors that go into that decision that have nothing to do with you... although your life depends on it.

There is a God. The show gets picked up. You’ve tested okay. You’re home free now.

Uh, no.

There may be an actor from a pilot that didn’t get picked up that the network really loves. They want to make a place for him. That could well be your role. Again, you’re dead.

But that doesn’t happen. Not in this case. You get on the air. I’ve seen actors replaced after three or four episodes (although it’s fairly rare) but chances are you’re safe…

IF the show becomes a hit. How many shows get canceled? About 90%.

You can understand why my heart goes out to actors. I just can’t imagine facing that level of constant rejection. So congratulations to all the actors who do make it. Savor each and every moment. Go to the parties. Be in the parades. Do the photo shoots. Fly in the company jet. You’ve won the lottery. Also, print this out and read it in three years when you start wondering if the show is holding you back.

Good luck this pilot season, thesps!

I see I've got a lot of first time visitors reading this. Welcome. Please bookmark and come back. Occasionally by accident I post something mildly worthwhile. Thanks.

LOST is back!!!

My favorite show is back! LOST returns tonight for its final season. We’ll finally get the answers to all of its many delicious mysteries.

Is Terry O’Quinn playing Locke or Jacob or Vin Diesel this year?

How will Sun and Jin patch up their marital problems now that she’s in 2004 and he’s in 1977? Might Jin cheat on her knowing she’d never find out because she hasn’t been born yet?

Is FLASH FORWARD just a blatant rip-off?

Will all the cast members who have died come back for a talent show episode?

Would my inflamed cornea be instantly healed if I were on the island?

Will it turn out “the numbers” are just the miles over the speed limit Michelle Rodriquez was caught driving during her various arrests?

Will Kate stop fooling herself and hook up with Hurley already? The sexual tension is killing us!

When some developer built that housing project, how did they expect anyone to come to the Open House when it’s on an island that may not even exist? Where do they put the signs and flags?

Will the hydrogen bomb blast transport series regulars back from the past into the present? Will they be killed? Or will they all be scattered about on other ABC series the way Elizabeth Mitchell wound up on V?

Will Disney try to get the most out of the franchise and mount a Broadway musical of LOST?

Isn’t it time to introduce twelve new regular cast members?

Will someone finally pull that stick out of Jack’s ass and is the stick itself significant?

Why did the ABC President who greenlit and picked up LOST get fired?

Why doesn’t Richard Alpert age? Is he really Catherine DeNeneuve?

Can the polar bear do tricks?

Is Ben also responsible for the latest Supreme Court ruling on campaign contributions?

Why wasn’t Sayid on Oceanic’s no-fly list?

Why does the statue only have four toes? Was this a budget thing?

If Ethan is dead how come I see him all the time at the gym?

If the Others thought they were the only ones on the island why did they call themselves “the Others”?

Why hasn’t Kate Hudson dated Sawyer yet?

Is Claire really Jack’s sister or his former wife, also named Claire now married to Phil on MODERN FAMILY?

Does Oceanic charge extra for check-in luggage?

What will I do with my life when LOST finally goes off the air?

I can't believe I actually won!

I'm coming out with a book next month entitled "Acceptance Speeches I Never Got To Give", but today I won the Best Sports Talk Show Host award from the Southern California Sports Broadcasters. Thanks to many people, most of whom I acknowledged in my speech (which was supposed to be page 411 of my book). But a special thanks to my partner, Josh Suchon. It's really a two-man show and I share the award with him.

Update: Thanks so much to everyone for your well wishes and lovely comments. They're MUCH appreciated.

Ken

HWCM 1st Anuual Dinner!

Last night 31st Jan 2010 was the 1st ever HWCM(Hot Wheels Club Malaysia) Annual Dinner.
though not all the members managed to be there but still a lot of us turned up to the event..
glad to meet some of the members for the first time too.
(click for bigger images)


Group Photo


Boneshaker's and Danielh's poisonous garage


Danielh's awesome custom cars


track race participants list


track view


the awesome dinner car and club cars..big thanx to the customizers!

overall a very enjoyable gathering it is..hopefully this wont be the last and perhaps a bigger crowd next time!
come and join us at HWCM! :D