Ellen Can't Win

(Getty Images) Aaah, the dog controversy. Seems like just yesterday that people were calling in those silly death threats to Moms & Mutts on Ellen's behalf after she used her talk show as a platform to try and right her and Portia's doggy disaster. And now here we are, two weeks later, and Ellen has crossed another line...the picket line.

Apparently Ellen is the only comedy/variety show host to have done so. Leno, Letterman, Stewart, Colbert - all the fellas have honored the striking Writer's Guild of America and stayed home. But Ellen, the only female host among the group, has opted not to stay home. Perhaps too many animals running around the ol' homestead?

I've been trying to keep up with all the back and forth statements from Ellen's camp and the WGA. In a statement from her publicist, Ellen claims that she has to continue to work because of contractual obligations with her distributor, and that if she does not show up to work, the stations that carry her show can opt to move the program out of its time slot or ultimately hold her in breach of her contract.

I'm sorry, but don't they show repeats of her show for like four months out of the year already? It is one of those shows that each time I turn it on I have to press the "Info" button on my tv to see when it was taped, because there's no way Cameron Diaz shows up to talk to Ellen every two months. And isn't her show one of the more successful daytime comedy/variety/talk-shows? She hosted the Oscars, for god's sake. They aren't going to move her program or freakin' sue her.

But for the sake of argument, let's assume her publicist is being totally sincere. Is Ellen being made an example of by the writers? Is it really fair to lump her in with the big boys of late night rather than compare her situation to her daytime rivals, ie. Oprah, Martha, Tyra, etc...all of whom continue to work? These shows, like Ellen, are all in sydication, and presumably do have to play by other rules.

Fact is, Ellen is an easy target. Not for being gay, but for being a complete lunatic regarding the Iggy fiasco. Even the WGA couldn't resist referring to it in their statement denouncing Ellen's decision to work: "We find it sad that Ellen spent an entire week crying and fighting for a dog that she gave away, yet she couldn’t even stand by writers for more than one day - writers who have helped make her extremely successful." Ooooh, snap.

She is her own worst enemy, and at this point should find a way to make some sort of concession. The WGA noted that she is continuing to perform comedy on her show, thereby violating the strike rules as this material would normally be written by the striking writers. If she does want to be treated as part of the syndication gang, rather than the comedy/variety one, stop doing "comedy" (does anyone else find it ironic that there are actually people who write jokes for Ellen, and that they are out of work because of a strike, not because they suck?) and stick with celebrity interviews and dancing like Erkel. Use your show to make a statement, Ellen - this time one that isn't entirely self-serving - and you may still have a chance to win back an increasingly disenchanted public.

Comments

[Christopher]

disenchanted public? or disenchanted writers, Personaly, as a member of the public I say "GO ELLEN!" I think she will do fine and I think eventualy these writers will realize that they are lucky they have a job in the first place and the real tallent is not going to give up their obligations becuase of someone elces discontent with their level of compensation.

[Mustang guy]

Considering the number of typos in CHRISTOPHERS comments it's obvious he's uneducated inthe ways of corporate business today. "BE GLAD YOU HAVE A JOB" is the rallying cry of those who have sorked low level positions without union protection all thier lives. So many forget it's a 2 way road. Yes Ellen has given the writers success and provided them witha good livings but they ahve provided her with memorible lines, status and wealth. Management needs to do what's right and share in the rewards. What's the point of having a job if it doesnt pay the bills and the only one profiting are those at the top? Disagree? Then try making ends meet by working at your local WALMART.

[Jerry]

If Ellen's show is a union production show they have to abide by the union rules of the writers guild union and the screen actors guild union. If Ellen is in the writer's guild union she has to abide by the rules of the writer's guild union or be fined and a risk to be terminted from the writer's guild union. If she is only a screen actors guild union member they have told us screen actors guild member to keep working. If it is a union production the production company is signed with the writers guild union they are breaking their contract they have signed with the writers guild union. Many shows have like 2 months pre recording of their show for situations like this, so hopefully their wouldn't be a disruption in the show, hoping a new contract will be resolved. If Ellen is only a screen actors guild member she is not doing wrong, she just not respecting the other unions strike for a new contract. If Ellen is a writers guild member, then she is doing wrong. If the production company is trying to bust the unions and Ellen is accepting what they are trying to do, then she is wrong for not standing up to protect the union's rights.

[Dan]

uh, MUSTANG GUY? you had a few typos yourself, buddy. don't stoop so low to call someone uneducated because you disagree with them.

[Patrick]

Go ELLEN!!! I could give a rats ass about the writers union. I'm so sick of unions, they have served their purpose - it's time to enter a new era of labor relations, one without the stranglehold of unions. Go ELLEN!

[muzyqman]

I seem to remember a mention that Ellen has a contractual obligation to deliver shows regardless of such strikes or similar occurrences. It's not a question of good or bad, right or wrong. If that's what her contract says, that what she has to do.

[brant]

wow, how fun is this? what difference does this all truly make? can't we find more suitalbe things to concentrate on, or are we just so boring within our own lives we must fixate on that of others?
I say, " go ellen!" just as the other commentater said. we can't merely sit around and expect that EVERYONE feels the same way we do about things, i.e.-gay marriage...what difference does it truly make...same rights is all I care about. let her be, scab or not she is an amazing woman, to say otherwise...you're merely jealous. just thought I would step up close to but not on my soap box. cheers all.
ciao

[Adam]

In all honesty, this article is crap. That's all I really have to say about that. Ellen has a legal obligation to fulfill her contract. As in, she gives it all, or she loses it all. It doesn't really get much more basic than that.

To Mustang Guy: a little spell check wouldn't do you any harm either.

To Patrick: Down with unions? Uh, try being an at-will Silicon Valley corporate monkey for a while. You'll learn to appreciate the benefits and royalties that unions provide for the low to middle class brackets.

[Alec]

I think Ellen has lost it. She needs to shut up and chill for a while.

[Andrew]

The WGA does not hold authority over actors/actresses, and should not hold them to standards of striking or jeapordizing their own pay. Bottom line - regardless of who says what - is that Ellen is a professional who put her John Hancock on a legally binding document. I admire Ellen for sticking to her word (a.k.a. contract) and giving the signers of her paycheck what she promised to deliver. Likewise, doing so does not mean that Ellen is not emotionally invested in the efforts of the WGA strike. She has to make a choice, and one that WILL affect her career - both in the now and later.

Plus, Ellen is damn good at doing what she does. If anyone is going to pull off lost writers, it'll be her!

[kuntrysukker]

I agree with the sentiment about targeting Oprah and Martha and Tyra. These are all syndicated programs and all have some level of written patter in them. It seems strange that some gay people would pile on Ellen for this or the damned doggy thing. I am a card-carrying Democrat, but I find some of the stuff like the dog dustup to be a symptom of far-left liberalism that gives schnooks like Hannity, Limbaugh, O'Reilly and the like fodder for their mindless and mean-spirited commentary. As for being rid of unions, I grew up in the coalfields of Virginia and know first-hand just how labor unions benefitted people. And also just how fast living standards would drop in the absence of them. TV is a business and it is about money. If the strike drags into late winter or early spring, all those movie stars needing to flack their latest flick will be sitting right there with Ellen. If Ellen is wrong, then so are Oprah and Martha and the like. Gay people should try to stand up for visible and successful examples from our communities, not be helping in tearing them down. Maybe we should be suggesting to Ellen that she find new PR people and legal advice. She could have defused the puppygate thing by going to a nice pet store or a breeder and buying a dog for the hairdresser's kid. That would have mollified the kid and the agency would have had their puppy back and Ellen's cat could live in peace. Why that agency went so far over the top, I don't know. Surely they have injured their cause in all this. The way they acted afterward, like all of it was life and death, would prevent me from dealing with them. Ellen's "people" could have short-circuited this latest problem by using different language in some of their public statements. Pointing out that Ellen,"...has worked too hard and for too long..." to let this strike bring it down, while truthful, made it sound like Ellen was only concerned for herself. Ellen needs new "people."

[Scotty]

She is doing what her daytime talk show rivals are doing. Don't compare her to what the night time shows are doing.

[Denny]

Who cares about the Unions, if they feel they aren't making enough money get another job! Good for Ellen, whether or not it's contractural doesn't matter to me. If she wants to cross the picket line, good! A person should do what they want as long as it's not illegal. I don't think crossing the line matters at all. For every action (the Union picket lines) there is an equal reaction (Ellen crossing the line).

[djc]

there are hundreds of other employees to think about other than the writers..she is following orders, when it comes down to it, she doesn't call all the shots people -

[djc]

there are hundreds of other employees to think about other than the writers..she is following orders, when it comes down to it, she doesn't call all the shots people -

[dude_girl]

The rights of laborers were fought for by working queers as much as anyone else. And queers (as evidenced by the ENDA crap) are vulnerable employees. Why can't queers see that supporting labor is supporting our rights as workers. Its time for coalition-building. Ellen's first obligation is to humanity, not to some contract that says how much money she would make.

[her royal highness]

Ellen can do just as well writing her own jokes and stuff... remember she's a stand-up comic?
and she improvises real well too... who needs writers to make her show work when she can do it herself?

[DC]

Typical. First Rosie, now Ellen. The gay community in this country eventually turns on their own. Its no wonder gay equality in this country is so far behind so many other countries. Lets, see who should we attack next? Oh silly me, there are so few of us who have made it as big as Ellen and Rosie have, there is practically no one else to bring down.

[relicfinder]

Poor Ellen! Just another disfunctional gay person.I havent payed attention to her in years.She is frightening as a woman and a lesbian.

[relicfinder]

Hey dc not everyone is out to get a lesbian,its all publicity....and im proud Ellen went to work to support all those hungry animals she cares for.Shows she has some morals.

[mossantski]

Why not pick on Oprah, Martha Stewart, Tyra Banks? All of these ladies shows are in syndication. Yes syndicated shows do play by different rules. I like Ellen and yes she did host the Oscars and other shows but that doesn't mean much in this business. You're only as good as what you've done lately. She's being singled out, just like Wal-Mart was in not paying a living wage. K-Mart, Target and others are just as guilty or even more guilty then how Wal-Mart treats its employees. I feel bad for the union members who are not working at this time. Hopefully both sides come together and the elite executives open their purse strings and let the other guys have a piece of the pie.

[mossantski]

Why not pick on Oprah, Martha Stewart, Tyra Banks? All of these ladies shows are in syndication. Yes syndicated shows do play by different rules. I like Ellen and yes she did host the Oscars and other shows but that doesn't mean much in this business. You're only as good as what you've done lately. She's being singled out, just like Wal-Mart was in not paying a living wage. K-Mart, Target and others are just as guilty or even more guilty then how Wal-Mart treats its employees. I feel bad for the union members who are not working at this time. Hopefully both sides come together and the elite executives open their purse strings and let the other guys have a piece of the pie.

[ltlblkbook]

Ellen is nothing more than a scapegoat in this situation...period!

[Kirk]

LOL is all i gotta say. Nevermind wait I have more. Is GAY.COM ditchin dirt on Ellen? That woman is amazing. I hope I have the opportunity just to meet her. She's done outstanding things for the community. I'm really getting tired of gay.com....pick a new domain aka BITCHY.COM or FLAMING.COM..... gay.com needs to get its act together, cause I gotta tell ya...I canceled my membership because of tedious bull shit in chat rooms and this column puts the icing on the cake.

Ellen I love you!!!!!

[Kelly]

I think the point they are missing in this argument is that Ellen actually is funny, and is not totally dependent on writers. And the story fails to point that out; or how many writers she has compared to the other guys; as well as her salary compared to the ones she's being scrutinized against. But that's easy to understand since all they care about is getting to talk about that f***ing dog again anyway.

[james]

who gives a d*amn. tv sux anyway and so does ellen. now eat me.

[Nick]

PLEASE, Give me a break. Ellen keep up the work. This, one voice of an ever growng disenchanted public, is behind you.

After working my 9-5 then a couple other 9-5's I don't want to sit at home watch reruns, because, someone is nto happy with the royalties they get from I-Tunes sales.

Maybe I can stop answering 911 calls because I don't like how my boss treats me, or, I do not make a dime on every call.

Keep it up Ellen, one voice is behind you.

[Bob]

I realize the importance of union benefits but also realize how unions have changed too. Unions have benefited the worker but having worked a union job in the northern part of the country and seeing firsthand, the union in the southern part of the country...I must say there is a clear difference. Worker rights were honored and fought for in the north and while in the south, the union was merely an extention of management and this was the same union. I was a union member for over 20 years and my union still does not offer any benefits or rights for partners. I cannot speak for all unions as I am sure there are ones that have fought for those rights. However without unions, we are at the mercy of management. Unions do have their place in our society and have benefited the working class. But I also realize their diminishing value in the US and the is proven with the US's standing when compared to other countries. We are behind in having time-off, free time from work...our healthcare standing is pathetic even though the US is supposedly the richest country...we are sliding ever lower in comparison to many other countries in on many fronts, including gay rights. All of this is due to the stranglehold of business in control and the proliferation of the service industry as the main job sources for americans at minimum wages and no benefits and the loss of good jobs due to free trade. It's time for a change of focus by our goverment to stop catering to business and focus on the middle class and the common working man and the human rights issues facing our country, ie gay rights. We are becoming in third world country in many ways and if the religious right have their way, gays will never be recognized. So there is plenty of blame to go around.

With that said, unions do have their place and are a necessity. They are necessary, if they concern themselves with fighting for worker rights and honestly ascribe to those goals but they are guilty of the same mindset as big business and lack the foresight of those goals. Sure wages are a number one concern and should be. Unions are loosing their power once they become a business as many have, they have lessened their effectiveness. But I do not think that Ellen continueing her show without writers hurts the writers guild. She in dealing with different circumstances, ie her own livelihood and the rest of her staff's livelihoods also. Now if she were hiring writers to replace the writers lost due to the strike, that would be another story. She is not from what I have seen, so I say go Ellen, keep up the good work. I enjoy her show. Of course I am not one to tear-down a fellow gay person who has made it simply out of jealousy or for not liking some incidental actions I may or may not agree with but of course that is just me. Unity has become lacking among the gay community. Maybe that could be why the AMA has a category of men that do not think they are gay but enjoy sex with men...

[Danny]

As a president of a union I find her actions troubling. After all aren't the striking workers also putting their jobs on the line.(picket line)When Reagan fired the air traffic controllers who went on strike he set unions back greatly as are you Ellen.If it weren't for unions protecting our workers some of these company's would do anything they want to our workers with no recourse.

[Danny]

As a president of a union I find her actions troubling. After all aren't the striking workers also putting their jobs on the line.(picket line)When Reagan fired the air traffic controllers who went on strike he set unions back greatly as are you Ellen.If it weren't for unions protecting our workers some of these company's would do anything they want to our workers with no recourse.

[Rob]

I have a few comments to all of this. I think the big picture here is blurred. First of all, Ellen is not watched only by gay men and women, although the writer of this article certainly seems to think it is.
The point has been made repeatedly about contracts and the union, so let's skip that.
Next, what talk show host doesn't use their show to push their own agenda, I mean even the writer of this article is pushing his own agenda (talk about hypocrisy).
Finally, having worked in Animal Welfare, the WGA is very much out of line. Taking an animal out of a good home is not acceptable, fining Ellen would have been. Using that animal for a political endeavor, instead of getting it into a home and stop messing with the dog's emotional security, is also wrong. Honestly The WGA is a small time animal shelter using Ellen to gain celebrity status (which is evident by it's attack on here regarding the writer's strike). They care more about their agenda, then the welfare of the dog (Do we see a pattern?.) However, in the end it makes the WGA and all other shelters look very bad amongst the general public. Having heard more negative things about the WGA then Ellen, I make those statements. One thing I think we forget as a society is, that issues like this happen to every talk show host, every celebrity, and definitely anyone in the public's eye.
In conclusion, what can we do about it any way? Let's let Ellen be imperfect and human.

[Kelly]

first! i am a writer who has been hurt by this strike.

second!we have to remember who the real culprits are in this situation. The big boys! Writers and the like get the shaft from the big wigs. so what we should be talking about is how to resolve this situation and why it hasn't been resolved already.

Third! Ellen seems pretty tight with her writers, so i don't think she would do anything to disrespect them. And i haven't heard any of her writers make any statements. if they have let me know. Otherwise maybe she has all the right in the world to be on the air.

fourth! That whole dog thing was ridiculous, but Ellen is human and is allowed to make mistakes. So people should really let it go.

fifth! if Ellen was smart she would make a statement...

okay this all the time i'm going to waste on this subject.

GO WRITERS!!!!!!!

[Chris]

Actually Ellen is part of the writer's union along with the screen actor's union. So technically she is a scab.

The purpose of this strike is so the writer's, who are the one's who are actually creating all the shows, get their fair share of revenues. Especially with online and piracy concerns that are effecting alot of the industry.

Also Ellen was suppose to be filming in New York, and has since canceled those plans because the east coast chapter of the WGA were planning on protesting the show.

Plus wasn't she under contract obligations when she took off that week for the dog.

Just a thought. Oh and I apologize if there were any spelling errors

[Brad]

Go Ellen!!! You stay fast to your contractual agreements and screw the Union, furthermore the writers that are on Ellen's show probably understand her position and don't fault her in any way. I know that I support Ellen's decision 150%!

[Lisa]

The ONLY one who knows the WHOLE true story about what's going on would be ELLEN herself and anyone one she has given privelege to know. Just because it's in writing doesn't mean it's true, so we can all give our opinions on what may not even be true information. As said B4 ELLEN is a talented comedian and I would hardly think she would need much help with her writing. As far as the contractual issues who knows what they are except ELLEN herself, as popular as she is I hardly think she would do something that would hurt her career. Strikes...BAH! As a low income individual I have a hard time when NE1 goes on strike demanding MORE $ in a world where things are getting more costly I would think that NE1 in the industry; sports or otherwise would consider themselves BLESSED to have the job and talent they have. The money is a PLUS, there are MANY people in this world who would take the income that NE striker is saying is NOT enough.
People affected by Katrina or the people in the recent California Fires that lost their homes and livelyhoods. People need to get off their own drama and consider each day given to us as is, a gift. Listen to Carrie Underwood's song
"So Small" it's exactly what I'm trying to say, there are BIGGER things in this world to concentrate on. Are the writers starving? Probably not, Everyone just wants more IF they can get it. That's just not the writers it goes for actors and sports people. Enough of my dribble. ELLEN you go girl, you have done the gay community a BIG justice and have paved the way for many to share their own feelings! Glad you are still own the airwaves=)

[Mikey]

Shame on all of us (unfortunately including myself!) for wasting even one second of time on this trivia! All of us in this country need to give up our celebrity worship and start paying more attention to the important things that are going on in this world. Our young men and women are dying in a pointless war. The campaign to replace the dunce currently occupying the White House is under way.
And we spend more time discussing the latest exploits of Ellen or Britney or Brad & Angelina than topics like these--it's positively disgusting.

[Jennifer]

The bottom line is Ellen made a fool of herself on her show and let everyone see what she's really like (OOPS) when she talked about the dog incident, and I don't feel sorry for her at all. She opened the door herself to being made fun of and criticized, and now she has to live with it. And quite frankly, Ellen's been around long enough to know better than to let your true self be seen on national television. This was a huge error in judgment for her, and she has no one to blame for all the flack but herself.

[Jean]

Ellen, the one I feel sorry for is Portia, as a lesbian myself and a masters degree professional and being in a healthy relationship no matter how busy I get in my work I could not imagine forgetting my partners birthday. Makes me wonder which is more important, her job or her relationship.

[Joy]

Ellen, you are a union member, I assume. You should not cross any picket line like this one with friend seeing you pass. It is un american to cross a legal picket line and management can not 'punish' you for honoring the rights of a contrat.
Its also emabarassing to be the only one of her stature crossing. I am sad to say I lost respect for her and her advisors. \\
Gues I didn't understand the dog 90 days(one week or whatever,,,, is not long enough. Sorry I love you but this is wrong on so many level. Joy

[randy]

Looks like ellen has done it again. She just had "President" Bush daughter on her show promoting her book on aids. Considering her father and his party has done all kind of things to hamper the u.s. efforts to help it own citizens and it's aid to foreign countries and the lack of this daughter to say anything on the behalf of gays..why have her on? Then what really went bad is that ellen had her call her parents. And guess who got on...George. And ellen says "hi" all nice and sweet !! This to the man who has attacked gays and said we are not worth to be an equal citizen or to adopt or to be protected from being fired just because we are who we are. Come on Ellen!!! Thats what i call an back stabber.

[Jenni (Aries, the warrior for the greater cause)]

Ellen,
I think you Rock!! I just hope all of this writer strike stuff comes to a peaceful and fullfilling end for them. They Deserve a Raise and Then Some! Until that happens, I think you are doing a Fantastic Job, and have enjoyed you for over 20 yrs, am 44 yrs old, A Gay Woman, now retired from the military, and think you are a sweety and I know that you support your writers, but are crippled in
being able to help them....Just like I was in not being able to help my fello gay soldiers in our fight for equality in serving our country....I have faith, even tho I am not a religious gal, but am full of faith, that this too shall pass and work out ok...So Rock on Ellen!! And May God (her wisdom, love and endurance) shine on you all!! Love, Peace and Harmony to you all!! Jen

[Jenni (Aries, a warrior for a just cause)]

Ellen,
I think you Rock!! I just hope all of this writer strike stuff comes to a peaceful and fullfilling end for them. They Deserve a Raise and Then Some! Until that happens, I think you are doing a Fantastic Job, and have enjoyed you for over 20 yrs, am 44 yrs old, A Gay Woman, now retired from the military, and think you are a sweety and I know that you support your writers, but are crippled in
being able to help them....Just like I was in not being able to help my fello gay soldiers in our fight for equality in serving our country....I have faith, even tho I am not a religious gal, but am full of faith, that this too shall pass and work out ok...So Rock on Ellen!! And May God (in her wisdom, love and endurance) shine on you all!! Love, Peace and Harmony to you all!! Jen

[Jenni]

Ellen,
I think you Rock!! I just hope all of this writer strike stuff comes to a peaceful and fullfilling end for them. They Deserve a Raise and Then Some! Until that happens, I think you are doing a Fantastic Job, and have enjoyed you for over 20 yrs, am 44 yrs old, A Gay Woman, now retired from the military, and think you are a sweety and I know that you support your writers, but are crippled in
being able to help them....Just like I was in not being able to help my fello gay soldiers in our fight for equality in serving our country....I have faith, even tho I am not a religious gal, but am full of faith, that this too shall pass and work out ok...So Rock on Ellen!! And May God (in her wisdom, love and endurance) shine on you all!! Love, Peace and Harmony to you all!! Jen