Ouch.
For those unaware, Hollywood is an absolute mess right now. Oh, not the typical myopic silliness, gender blah blah, Kevin Spacey getting handsy but a proper disaster with both writers and actors on strike. The issue at hand is the changing environment. “Streamers,” such as Netflix, Hulu, Apple etc. were not even a glimmer on the horizon when the last labor contract was signed and, thus, those who make and star in the entertainments are toiling under a weird, outdated yoke.
While most are publicly aligned with the worker, comedian and talk show host Bill Maher has broken with the pack and tarred the writers’ demands with the worst insult in our world.
Kooky.
In a devastating interview will fellow comedian Jim Gaffigan, Maher said, “They’re asking for a lot of things that are, like, kooky. What I find objectionable about the philosophy of the strike [is] it seems to be, they have really morphed a long way from 2007’s strike, where they kind of believe that you’re owed a living as a writer, and you’re not. This is show business. This is the make-or-miss league.”
Much like the World Surf League’s much-ballyhooed mid-season cut, I suppose.
Maher continued, “You’re either for the strike like they’re f*cking Che Guevara out there, you know, like, this is Cesar Chavez’s lettuce picking strike — or you’re with Trump. There’s no difference — there’s only two camps. And it’s much more complicated than that.”
Much like the pitched surf camps “Filipe Toledo is a sissy” vs. “Filipe Toledo has every right to be a sissy.”
Except that whole argument is not any more complicated than that.
Wild times.
But where do you stand on the matter of Hollywood strikes?
Or have you failed to care?
More as the story develops.
There is more to this than we are lead to believe.
What are the chances? Hollywood being exposed for the child trafficking exploitation etc and many of these people have been to Epsteins island etc and now the whole thing shuts down? Interesting timing. The whole system is crashing down and you dont even know it. US dollar. Stocks, politics its all over folks.
Righto.
revised H-Wood disclaimer?
you mean Gladiator with Kirk Douglas didn’t really happen?
60s…when the grommets were gremmies…
Great thread and I was either in college or ski bumming through the 80s. Then my mentors talked me into cutting my hair, getting a real job and becoming them…
Manson Fam?
Similar…a family that resides in the bowels of wall street
AARP
Bills a drop kick leftie
romaine lettuce is my new choice to absorb alcohol-like prep salad with oysters, skip margaritaville, but make up for it with bluefin tuna slices, greek yazicki, pita bread…waiting for the drugs~tequila shots…nope!
I e-biked trestles…”Did you see my wave?”
Borg/McEnroe
70’s to 80’s
Rock to Punk
Love that rivalry. Played with the Donnay Borg Pro in the late 70s, but Mac was my role model. I can still visualize Mac in Heathrow, sitting on the floor against a wall wearing a jean jacket a day or so after he beat Borg at Wimbledon in ’81. Talked to a former pro, who will remain nameless, many years later who said Borg quit mainly because he struggled with how McEnroe, Fleming and Gerulaitis could party so hard, enjoy life and still play high level tennis while he was tortured by all things tennis.
…and the 60s/70s were even better.
Too much real bigotry, racism and chauvinism still lingering in the 60/70s. The downfall of the 80s was offshoring labor to China, gangster rap, crack, and the war on drugs. Much of the problems today can be traced back to 16-18 year olds having children too early with no hope of gainful employment and the influence of ‘F the Police’. 16 yo has a baby in 88-90, becomes a grandparent in 2004-2006. A 16 yo in 2020-22 lines up perfectly with the pilfering and violence of today.
Oh, I know. I miss the 80s, too. Was on the younger side of life then, but old enough to remember a lot about them. Can only imagine how empty prime breaks were, and how off the beaten path. What’s that phrase–“If I only knew then, what I know now…” I’m doing a Canggu/Balagan run in 2 weeks, hoping to get end of season swell. Pretty sure will be crowded as shit, no matter what. Hope it will be consistent enough to keep vibes positive for all in the water.
i know. miss the 80s.thx, Connor!More crowded than yesterday, less crowded than tomorrow
Shine them rose colored shades!
Not to discount the term “sissy” either . Takes me back , getting kicked out of class in grade 2 for calling Adam Mann a sissy (45 years ago)
Haven’t seen it used a lot since then though…
bullies weren’t fashionable then…:Are you gonna cry? always got me.
You can’t script this, unless you’re a scab xox
The last Writers strike ushered in the era of Reality TV and the medium has been vapid ever since.
I wrote a piece for Pete Bowes about the transition into the 80’s using tennis’ biggest rivalry to frame all the changes happening.
So much going on, what a dynamic time.
Best part, no phones/social media. You could keep things on the down low….
Just follow a river until it meets the ocean.
Boom–3 for 3. Working for that badge!
beeper…
Great thread and so spot on
Yes, they were.
‘No such thing as historical accuracy
in Hollywood.’ Fixed it.I really miss the ’80’s.
Uh-oh…the rose colored glasses are on. Badge it up!
Nope…the ’80’s were awesome.
70s…when the kooks were grommets.
surf carnivals…need clowns
https://www.etymonline.com/….
Google is our friend Charles. Kook was a Beatnik term, probably appropriated from black jazz musicians. People like Maher are damned annoying – talking heads, basically opiniated white guys in nice suits who make a living paying people out. Fucking boring.
practice ‘moon-walking’…