Should we attend The Daily Show while the strike's still going on?

January 8, 2008 12:02 PM

Months ago, my wife and I got tickets for the Jan 17th episode of The Daily Show. She's unlikely to cross a picket line - is there likely to be one? Either way, should we go?

We live in NYC and could go some other time when the strike is resolved, on the other hand her schedule is very busy and she has this afternoon free. It's also my birthday weekend, and we were going to use this to celebrate.

I'm personally ambivalent about labor economics in general (still resent the union dues I paid at the grocery store in High School) but am very sympathetic to the writer's point of view. On the other hand, it seems like TDS is doing all it can to help the writers.

Anyway, if there's going to be a picket line it may well be a moot point, I'm not going to drag her across it. Will there be?

posted by These Premises Are Alarmed to work & money (27 comments total)

I read there were 20 picketers outside last night's taping. I imagine they'll keep it up through at least the 17th.
posted by Item at 12:07 PM on January 8

There are likely to be a few picketers at least. Also, even if there is no actual picket line it would still be considered (eg by the Guild) crossing the picket line. Just as if a writer went to work, even if there happened to be no pickets there, s/he would have crossed the picket line and broken the strike.
posted by cushie at 12:17 PM on January 8

I always thought that "crossing a picket line" was meant in a symbolic rather than literal way. It really makes a difference to her whether or not people are physically picketing at the time?
posted by jpdoane at 12:22 PM on January 8

I'm with cushie -- I think "crossing the picket line" is more of a figure of speech referring to supporting the management position (either by working at or patronizing their business) during a strike, than the physical act of walking past workers on strike.
posted by Doofus Magoo at 12:23 PM on January 8

If by "She's unlikely to cross a picket line" you mean that she is supportive of the unions' position, then no, you should not attend the show. Let those seats sit empty. Solidarity!
posted by mumkin at 12:41 PM on January 8

Those seats won't sit empty. Someone on standby will take them.

It's up to you, but someone's going to the show, and it is your birthday celebration. She can suck it up for you for one day.
posted by cmgonzalez at 12:47 PM on January 8

No, crossing the picket line is not a "figure of speech." If you support the strike, you don't crossor attend the show or participate at all. I'm not watching the daily show or colbert until the strike is settled for the writers.
posted by history is a weapon at 1:01 PM on January 8

She can suck it up for you for one day.

Perhaps you don't understand the issue here. This isn't about, say, going to a football game with him even though she doesn't like football. For her (as for me), not crossing a picket line is an ethical issue, and it's not a good thing to try to get people to violate their ethics. (Note to poster: It might be time to let go of your high school resentments. Unions are a basic protection that should be available to many more workers.)
posted by languagehat at 1:14 PM on January 8 [7 favorites]

It is a figure of speech in that there doesn't need to be a physical picket line in order to "cross the picket line". There could be no line outside, but if there's a strike, and your presence undermines the strikers, then you are "crossing the picket line" anyway.

Which is why, if your wife cares about these things, then the presence or lack thereof of strikers doesn't matter. By going, she'd be crossing it if the strike is still going on.
posted by DrGirlfriend at 1:16 PM on January 8

Yes, I actually do understand the issue here perfectly.
posted by cmgonzalez at 1:35 PM on January 8

Anyway, if there's going to be a picket line it may well be a moot point, I'm not going to drag her across it. Will there be?

Yes. As previous answers have noted, there most likely will be. As for whether you are "crossing the picket line" if there isn't an actual picket line, why don't you ask your wife whether her unwillingness to cross the picket line is one that extends only to actual physical picketers standing or walking in a line, or to a symbolic picket line?

In spite of what some of the folks above might think, there are people who won't cross a physical picket line, but will cross a symbolic picket line. For example, I remember years ago when the librarians at my local library went on strike right around final exam time, many students who wanted access to the library but didn't want to "cross the picket line" simply went to the library before the picketers got there, and stayed in the library until after the picketers left.
posted by jujube at 1:52 PM on January 8

Teamster will cross a symbolic picket line but not a physical one.
posted by smackfu at 1:54 PM on January 8

If you don't go (and I wouldn't), I'd send the tickets back with an explanation about why you aren't going.
posted by craichead at 2:08 PM on January 8 [3 favorites]

If she supports the strike, then you could suck it up for just one birthday, Stay home and listen to Pete Seeger & Woody.

My dady was a writer,
And I'm a writer's son,
And I'll stick with the union
'Til every battle's won.

They say on Basic Cable
There are no neutrals there.
You'll either be a union fan
Or a thug for Viacom.

posted by RussHy at 2:08 PM on January 8 [3 favorites]

Teamster will cross a symbolic picket line but not a physical one.

Perhaps because a symbolic picket line can't beat you senseless with a lead pipe.

To answer the question: Yes, there will likely be a physical picket line. There will also likely be a figurative picket line in the form of an ongoing labor dispute. If your wife is strongly siding with the writers, you probably shouldn't pressure her to cross that line, real or symbolic.

If, on the other hand, her reluctance to cross a picket line is less about solidarity and more about not wanting to give the outward appearance to the actual people picketing and possibly be yelled at about it, then I would suggest that you just go. Some people care about supporting one side or the other of a labor dispute, and other people just don't want to look like a jerk crossing a line.
posted by The World Famous at 3:17 PM on January 8

Perhaps she and you could wear pro-WGA t-shirts to the show?
posted by Asparagirl at 4:01 PM on January 8

That'll probably just get you not seated.
posted by smackfu at 4:10 PM on January 8

Wait. Wait. Wait. Do Daily Show tickets cost money? Are you paying anything to go? Are home viewers paying anything to watch it? Is everyone who sits at home and watches the show also horrible to american labor? Do audience members have some greater significance than home viewers? Are you, as a watcher, preventing the writers from making what they want? Is not the point of the strike to piss off advertisers because there's no new episodes and so they don't want to pay 200 grand a spot? If you buy from those advertisers who continue to advertise with the film companies while the writers strike are you a bad person who's the antichrist to labor?

Assuming the answer to all those is "NO", then go. We're heavy with unions here, heck, my mom's an AFL-CIO company rep, but "crossing the picket lines" is, in my opinion, something that is generally said when referring to "scabs", or people who go to work in place of the striking party. I find it hard to belive that the hardcore "SUPPORT THEM WRITERS" folks are people who never shop in non-unionized bigstores like Food Lion, Target, or Wal-Mart, or that they never purchase food items that have been picked, cooked, prepared, or canned by people who not only have no unions, but have no living wage, benefits, or basic protections under any law. The crazy thing about THAT, is that if you specifically DO only buy those products who meet labor-friendly guidelines, then you ARE making a difference. Not watching a show does nothing---again, because you don't pay for the show, the advertisers do.

Let's get a grip people, seriously.
posted by TomMelee at 5:15 PM on January 8

We're heavy with unions here, heck, my mom's an AFL-CIO company rep, but "crossing the picket lines" is, in my opinion, something that is generally said when referring to "scabs", or people who go to work in place of the striking party.

Your mileage may, and apparently does, vary, but I always thought that it was crossing a picket line to patronize a business that was being struck. In my family, that's a big no-no. If workers are striking, buying from the business they're protesting is kind of like spitting in their faces. So I will shop at non-union stores, although I prefer the unionized ones, but I would never, ever shop at a store that was currently being struck. Similarly, if I know that people who work for a company are striking, I won't buy products made by that company.

I'm still watching T.V. during the writer's strike. There doesn't seem to be much reason not to, since I'm not a Nielson family. I'm not downloading T.V. shows or buying them from iTunes, though, since networks know that I'm doing it and make money off of it. Everyone has to draw his or her own line, but that's where I draw mine. Personally, I'd feel really weird showing up at The Daily Show and cheering for John Stewart while he essentially scabs. (And he is scabbing, I think, unless he's making up everything he says on the spot.) I feel a lot of sympathy for the guy, because he's in a tough spot, but I'm still not comfortable showing up and applauding him.
posted by craichead at 5:35 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]

I'm a WGA (East) member since 2000. The previous poster is correct. It doesn't help or hurt anyone, since the tickets are free.

Also, when you watch TV (including news, by the way), you have no idea who's using a WGA (or AFTRA, etc) shop and who isn't. Some are not unionized at all- like Fox.

To make an impact you would have to not watch TV (except some news and C-Span) and anything on DVD.

It has nothing to do with "ethics" because it's not a "black & white" situation.

(John, Conan, Leno etc are all using ghost writers, by the way.)
posted by wfc123 at 6:45 PM on January 8

Just to nitpick w/ craichead...
Stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Food Lion, and lots of other stores are in an industry that is heavily unionized, but not only are they not union, they can't *discuss* unions. The workers cannot strike, have no power versus the company for their contract (which they don't usually have), have no recourse for dismissal, and are generally in a WAY worse off boat than those who work at a unionized store---even when they're striking. Morally speaking, it makes no sense to willingly patronize non-union stores (big stores, I don't mean mom and pop's) but to be unwilling to partake in something that does no harm to the striking party and no benefit to the Big Company.

Also, thanks wfc for the informations. :)
posted by TomMelee at 6:56 PM on January 8

It has nothing to do with "ethics" because it's not a "black & white" situation.

I wasn't aware that ethics was only an issue in black and white situations!

Morally speaking, it makes no sense to willingly patronize non-union stores (big stores, I don't mean mom and pop's) but to be unwilling to partake in something that does no harm to the striking party and no benefit to the Big Company.

Morally speaking, your position doesn't make a lot of sense. It's not like the OP is choosing between crossing a picket line and patronizing a non-unionized shop. If not going to the Daily Show would mean that he had to shop at Wal-mart, what you're saying might make sense. But he can both not go to the Daily Show and not shop at Wal-mart. The morality of shopping at Wal-mart is a completely separate issue. If you'd like to discuss that, feel free to ask your own question!
posted by craichead at 7:15 PM on January 8

What? I think we just agreed. Before this degenerates into chatfilter--just wanted to say that
a) you just disagreed with one of the people who is striking and
b) I was talking to you about your position, not his. You choose to willingly shop at non-union stores but take a stand against watching a live TV show being filmed. I understand your position, I just find it nonsensical. and...
c) I believe wfc123's point was that the strike isn't black and white---and I seriously doubt that most of us not directly involved have a clear idea about both how showbiz works from a writers perspective, nor do we know the full depth of their argument. (or the counterargument.)

I stand by my earlier point which is this: Watching the show does not hurt the strikers nor benefit the Big Corporation against which they strike. It does nothing, is morally moot, and could really be compared to eating organic lettuce on your BigMac, in terms of net effect.
posted by TomMelee at 7:48 PM on January 8

To the specific question of whether there will be a picket line: yes.

The woman who comes around with her clipboard to hand out tickets knows us and said "I can't believe you two were nervous." Were we ever. The picketers, about fifteen or twenty of them, arrived around four o'clock, but I didn't get to see them much as I was around the corner. A member of the union passed out neon pink flyers at one point but pushed no guilt about whether or not we should support the show by watching it taped. There were a bunch of people with cameras filming the protest and line.

Also note Monday's Moment of Zen and last night's John Oliver segment, both of which depict a picket line outside the Daily Show studio. So if you're worried about the physical presence of striking workers, now you know.
posted by chrominance at 3:36 AM on January 9

A fan posed a similar question at Fans4Writers.com and one of the writers answered:

You're allowed to attend, but not laugh.

No, here's the deal: You can go, but make sure you take a leaflet from the picketers and call all the numbers (or e-mail) on the back. That's the price of WGA-kosher admission.

I would add: tell them you support them as you take the leaflet.
posted by Tehanu at 4:00 PM on January 10

We did go (and were the last folks in line to get seated!). We took a flier and talked to the writers. One of the writers dropped her umbrella outside their 'pen' and my wife picked it up. The writers were explicitly cool with folks going to the taping - 'our problem is with Viacom, not Jon Stewart'.

At least the writer we talked to. Maybe the union feels differently.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 7:01 AM on January 19

From what I've read at UnitedHollywood and DeadlineHollywoodDaily, yeah, some writers are angry with Jon Stewart and the other hosts who went back on the air without writers, but I think most are similar to the ones you talked to-- focused on the AMPTP.

I'm glad you got to go and got to talk to some writers on strike.
posted by Tehanu at 12:03 PM on January 26