Comedy Writers Go for Another Hit—a Union Voice

by Mike Hall, May 13, 2007

So, have you heard about these comedy writers who walk into a union hall?

No. Seriously, this isn’t a joke.

Thirty-five writers on six of Comedy Central’s major shows—some of the laugh network’s most popular—say they want to organize into a union and join the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW).

The writers produce laugh lines for the shows The Mind of Mencia, The Sarah Silverman Program, Reno 911! and The Showbiz Show with David Spade, along with the soon-to-air Lil’ Bush and American Body Shop.

American Body Shop writer Mary Fitzgerald says:

As a large part of the creative force behind Comedy Central’s success, we writers deserve recognition, protection and benefits. It’s as simple as that. The other people working on our productions are represented by unions. It’s crazy that the writers are not.

Writers at Comedy Central’s New York-based hits The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report organized last year with the WGA East. Says WGAW President Patric M. Verrone:

As a comedy writer, I applaud Comedy Central’s success. It is a literal oasis in the current TV comedy landscape. I encourage them to sign a WGA contract so they can keep the writers working there now and attract other WGA writers in the future—lest their success become a mirage.

Now, did you hear the one about the boss who was so…? Better not. There might be kids in the audience.

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (2)