FremantleMedia North America, a production house not known for a friendly attitude towards the writers union, said that they would hire WGA writers for the Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne variety show planned for Fox mid-season, but not pay them full fare, saying that they wanted the show "half-written"--the WGA says no way and has put Fremantle on their "Do Not Work" list:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/arts/television/09guild.html?ref=television Rumors hint that the show was originally planned to be a traditional variety format with the Osbournes as Sonny-and-Cher types, but there is talk that Fremantle (or Fox mad prince of reality Mike Darnell) wants game and competition segments similar to Univision's "Sabado Gigante" added to the mix that supposedly would not need WGA writers. The WGA has had a "truth squad" bus trailing Fremantle's "American Idol" during auditions saying that the show has scripted material not written by WGA members. Also, several WGA members quit Fremantle's game show "Temptation" last year when their salaries were cut and they were demoted to "segment producers." --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Like TV only smarter. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
