Golden Globes Crisis: Actors Refuse to Attend

In a statement Friday January 4, 2008, Alan Rosenberg announced that SAG actors and their representatives are hesitant to cross WGA picket lines. In his statement, Alan Rosenberg stated "After considerable outreach to Golden Globe actor nominees and their representatives over the past several weeks, there appears to be unanimous agreement that these actors will not cross WGA picket lines to appear on the Golden Globe Awards as acceptors or presenters."

Since the beginning of the strike on November 5th, SAG has stood in solidarity with the WGA. Some SAG actors refused to cross picket lines during filming. Others have joined writers on the picket lines. The WGA strike will directly influence the deal that actors will be negotiating when their contracts expire later this spring.

In this same statement, Alan Rosenberg also announced SAG's stance on actors appearing on late night talk shows. He is quoted as saying "We urge our members to appear on the two programs that have independent agreements with the WGA, The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. However, actors who are asked to appear on the struck network talk shows will have to cross WGA picket lines, creating the same situation that has led to the consensus among actors to skip the Golden Globes."

Most writers and actors alike sympathize with late night talk show hosts. Most returning hosts are themselves WGA members. At Jay Leno's opening night back, his writers choose to not picket at his location out of respect for Jay. Both Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien made statements on air supporting the writer's plight. David Letterman and Craig Ferguson were in a unique position because they are produced by Worldwide Pants, David Letterman's production company. Because CBS had no say in the independent deal Worldwide Pants was able to negotiate with the Writer's Guild, these two shows returned to air with the WGA's blessing.