Known Knowns

Despite the fact that my DVR/Tivo is totally devoid of anything interesting to watch, and I’ve now seen Father of the Bride at least three times, I support the writer’s strike.

People think that the actors they watch on TV make up every line that they speak, in every sitcom or movie. They don’t realize how hard it is to write funny material, week after week, with the pressure of ratings never far away. What they don’t know is that Hollywood is a collaborative effort, just like health care is. Nurses and physicians must work together to get a patient healthy, although they have differing roles. Writers and actors also work together to make sure the shows are funny or serious or poignant or what have you. If the line isn’t funny to begin with, no actor can make it funny. Likewise, a bad actor can ruin a fantastic script. It’s a big job, and I think this strike is finally beginning to call attention to that fact, especially now that the Guild is refusing to allow certain video clips be shown at the Oscars, as well as refusing to work on the Golden Globes broadcast. Good for them.

I don’t care how long it takes and how many episodes of bad reality TV I have to watch. I will support these people till they get what they deserve.