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Rumor Mill on Overdrive

Yes, we are hearing the same rumors you're hearing. Repeat: rumors. And last time we all got too excited by such unsubstantiated expectations, well, you know.

So as you get your third email and/or phone call from the guy who knows somebody who talked to the woman who heard from a person "who knows people who know," take a deep breath and read Ray Richmond's column yesterday on The Huffington

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  • We've had the phones ringing off the hook today, with people telling us they've heard that "a deal is imminent" and "both sides have agreed to the deal points." This rumor has picked up so much steam in such a short time that it's a little scary.

    We're in a news blackout. So we can't get confirmation or denial from the WGA. But here's what we do know: last time we all got excited about a rumor

  • So, I guess everyone got tired of all the Rachael Ray divorce rumors and decided to get a little creative. This time, the rumor is that Rachael Ray threw a fit on a commercial set, refused to drink Dunkin' Donuts coffee (for which she is a spokeswoman), and demanded Starbucks coffee.

  • Tonight, I received a call from Larry Gelbart. Technically, it was Robot Larry Gelbart, via an automated call system. (During the strike authorization process, I received a call from Robot Stephen Gaghan.) Larry's message dealt with the rumors and media reports of the past 48 hours. His advice: "Lay them aside and pick up a picket sign."

    We will try to bring you the full text of his message. (

  • Monday, we reported that rumors were swirling claiming the DGA had made a deal with the AMPTP. While admittedly unconfirmed, the whispers were coming from so many corners, we felt we had to at least tell folks what we were hearing.

    But stop the presses (or at least don't hit the blog "Publish" button just yet).

    Based on off-the-record information from two credible sources we contacted in order

  • This was sent today by WGA Presidents Patric Verrone and Michael Winship to membership:

    To Our Fellow Members,

    While fully mindful of the continuing media blackout, we write you to address the rumors and reports that undoubtedly you have been hearing.

    The facts: we are still in talks and do not yet have a contract. When and if a tentative agreement is reached, the first thing we will do is

  • Why all the Rachael Ray divorce rumors again? I've started to assume that every time this rumor resurfaces, it's just because some tabloid needs a little extra cash, and they know it will sell papers. People magazine says that Rachael has decided to rebut the rumors one more time.

    People informs us that "During a taping of her talk show Monday, the normally bubbly cook said that constant reports about the state of her marriage to John Cusimano are starting to upset her, an observer tells PEOPLE."

  • Why oh why do the tabloids have to make up stories? Well, I guess selling papers is their main motivation, but you'd think they could come up with something better than the latest story, which is that Oprah and Rachael Ray are feuding.

    MSNBC debunked the rumor by citing an interview with Rachael and Oprah's best buddy, Gayle King, which aired yesterday. In the interview, Gayle says: “I read something that you two were fighting. I know that’s not true.” King told Ray.

    Rachael commented that when the rumors stared back in January, she and Oprah "hadn’t even spoken in months." And when they did speak, it was all sunshine and happiness: "Ray told King that when the news broke, 'we had written each other sweet notes, it was her birthday and I sent her snack of the day and she sent me a note.'”

    So, yet again, there's no truth to this rumor. Oprah and Rachael Ray are still buddies!

  • We've been hearing a lot of procedural questions in the last few days, so in an act of serious selflessness, we decided to do a little paging through the WGA Constitution so you don't have to.

    Here are the questions we've been hearing most:

    Can the Board lift the restraining order (meaning the strike) without a general vote of the membership?

    Yes. In Article IX, Section 3b, it states that the

  • Ok, here we go again -- this is just a rumor, folks, but this time we do have confirmation from a couple of sources that seem reliable.

    People close to the DGA negotiations are telling us and others that the deal is done, and will be announced in the very near future.

    Once again, I want to stress this is a rumor. If it's true, the most important thing we can all do is stay calm and evaluate the

  • First time novelist Jay Asher debuts with a fantastic read! We meet Hannah Baker thru a series of farewell tape recordings. These aren't just any recordings, they are the last words of a suicidal teenager. Hannah is an ordinary high school student with all the problems of a teenager, when one boy starts one rumor. It snowballs from there. Her life is turned upside down when that one rumor becomes her entire reputation. We catch Hannah's story while Clay Jensen is listening to her tapes, which were mailed to him 2 weeks after her death. Hearing the voice of his high school crush is so hard, but Clay has to know why he one of Hannah's 13 reasons for leaving this world. I can't believe the concept of this book. It's one of those ideas that makes you wish you had thought of it first. It's a fantastic read and the characters are so real. If I recommend one book to anyone this year, it will most definitely be this one!

  • FireDogLake has launched a web site that makes it click-through-easy for a fan to email the studios behind their favorite shows.

    Other sites joining FireDogLake in the campaign are Daily Kos (4,050,000 hits/week), Raw Story (2,833,500), Crooks and Liars (1,850,000), AlterNet (1,500,000), and Democratic Underground (1,500,000). Carried on all those sites, almost 12,000,000 visitors/week will have the opportunity to click and send a complaint to the studio of their favorite show.

  • I'm feelin' it. Along with some other negative emotions. I so want to be the person in the crowd who is never bothered by anything. You know the one... you forget their birthday and they don't seem to notice. A month later you realize it and they shrug and say "no worries" and they really don't look worried about. If I could buy that, along with a helping of self control, I'd pay big bucks for it. There's a market for it! I have at least downgraded from all out angry outbursts to silent seething disgust, which I do think is progress. On an upnote, I have a new crush and he can do no wrong becuase he's dreamy. : ) AND he talked to me today. He said "oh, looks like rain," to which I replied "grunt" and shuffled off for a walk in the impending rain.

    Same old stuff going on, so not much point detailing all over again. Time for ONE (single) glass of wine and then down to bidness. Though a nap would really be ideal. Oh! Had a horrible nightmare last night:

  • Supposedly, to be officially announced today, Jay-Z in conjunction with the equally entrepreneurial Steve Stoute will be opening an ad agency. Translation Advertising, as it will be known, will focus on "helping marketers reach multicultural consumers."

    It makes sense he would do something like this. He considers this "part of the natural growth" of his career. I mean, come on, dude's resume includes just about everything: Hustlin', Grammy-Winning, Owning NJ Nets, Clothier, Budweiser Select Brand Manager, Def Jam CEO (a position he just resigned). He's a brand manager - more specifically a perception manager. Always has been. He gets it. "There are people who don’t understand the culture," Jay said, referencing a commercial for a wireless carrier “that shows guys break-dancing in the phone store...It’s just not something we do.”

  • Hey, folks. Long time no blog. But I just had to add something to the WGA official response to this lovely piece of... disinformation.

    As per AMPTP President J. Nicholas Counter III today:

    "The WGA is using fear and intimidation to control its membership. Asking members to inform on each other and creating a blacklist of those who question the tactics of the WGA leadership is as unacceptable today as it was when the WGA opposed these tactics in the 1950s."

  • Things have been rather quiet this winter for the Red Sox, and it's probably been the most stress-free off-season for them that I can ever remember. (Winning World Series and signing your key free agents can do that.) There are a few questions still to be answered, and most are concerning the bench.

  • The DGA deal looks great. At least that is what everyone in the press is saying. And the writers better be grateful and take it... or else.

    The “or else’ part has been well reported. Even before the DGA came to an agreement with the studios, we were hearing about the ramifications of not taking their deal. It would be catastrophic. It would split the WGA. I read it again in the trades Friday

  • UPDATE: WGAw membership meeting this Saturday, February 9, at 6:30 PM. Shrine Auditorium, 649 W Jefferson Blvd 90007.

    Last Friday, WGAw President Patric Verrone gave this interview to United Hollywood's Jeff Berman. When asked about rumors, Verrone says flatly, "They're never true."

  • A quick reminder that the Councilmembers are meeting in committee tomorrow -- send your emails today to tell them you support the WGA, and want the conglomerates to come back to the table and negotiate in good faith.

    Go to the post for cut and paste emails and addresses to send them: http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/12/call-to-action-email-los-angeles-city.html

    And come with us to the meeting tomorrow morning --
    7:30 am at Los Angeles City Hall Main Chambers (3rd Floor).
    200 N. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012.

    Wear your strike t-shirts or red shirts -- come help us pack the room!

  • Yesterday marked the eighth time that Chris Simon had appeared at an NHL disciplinary hearing and number eight was certainly going to be a memorable one.

  • The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) issued the following statement regarding the Golden Globe Awards today. So despite rumors to the contrary, it certainly does look like the Globes will be held behind a picket line.
    Personally, I am still voting for the black tie pickets, and coverage on the Internet of anyone who choses to join us. Of course, since the Internet is so new-fangled and

  • Last night, I popped a new, refilled ink cartridge into my printer to find it wouldn't work. I called the Walgreen's technical service number on the cartridge and was greeted with a thick, but delightful female British accent. I began by explaining my problem, telling the lady my printer type, etc. but was soundly cut off with "Just a minute, love, I'll ask the questions." And then she proceeded to ask my name, address, telephone and email address. I could hardly keep laughing as I dutifully answered her questions before she told me that a technical services person would call me back shortly.

    They didn't call back last night, and hadn't as of early this morning. Nevertheless, it was an interesting example of bad service that left me with a smile on my face. She was entertaining and I didn't expect to get a good answer anyway. I guess that's what happens when you go in with low expectations.

  • I'll be recovering from my double cooking weekend (bday party for my best friend and Halloween), so I see a tremendous amount of television in my future. However, both parties went off without a hitch! The Turbo Classics menu for the birthday party was a hit, even with the picky eater in the bunch.

  • New from the guys at Barely Political, just over 112K views since it was added yesterday. The haters will hate, but BP and OG still do appear to be drawing at least a few eyeballs for their efforts.

    Some of this one in particular is just painful to watch (like hearing Gravel stumble his way through an already lame rhyme) or the attempt at some sort of Soulja Boy steps near the end.

    But whatev- its a Thursday afternoon and around that time when people start to hit the wall. It's good for a few laughs.

  • I used to have one of those arm-length, Zach Morris-style cell phones. You know, the ones that are essentially guaranteed to give you eye cancer or brain cancer or testicular cancer, even though the thing barely fit in my pocket anyway. But then again: tight pants. I say "used to have" because at some point last week, between temp jobs and shows and overall sloth-dom, I lost it. No small feat, considering the fact it was slightly larger than a baby's torso, but then again, I've lost keys, guitars, permanent teeth. It's a super power, really. The Bush administration calls regularly when it wants memos misplaced. You should read the shit they send me.

  • While the weekend and Monday saw rumors of "the strike's over," some caution has finally entered the dialogue. Here is the opening of Variety's main strike article today:"As the lawyers work overtime to hammer out the details, scenarios are emerging that could -- underline could -- bring an end to the WGA strike by as early as next week.
    Insiders are strongly warning that many aspects remain to

  • Details magazine's April issue (on newsstands now) includes a very interesting article about Rachael Ray's husband, John Cusimano. The article mostly focuses on John's membership in The Cringe, where he is the lead singer. He discusses how the rumors regarding their marriage have affected him: "My initial reaction was shock," he says. "But I guess it's an occupational hazard, you know? The more I get used to my position, I just kind of roll my eyes and say, ˜Whatever.' If this is the worst thing I need to contend with, I'll be okay." A short pause. "We'll be okay."

    The article goes on to talk about what Rachael and John's home life is like:

  • The WGAw's general membership meeting will be held at the Shrine Auditoriumat at 7pm (NOT 6:30pm as we reported earlier) on Saturday night.

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    As of Thursday afternoon, we are all still waiting on specific contract language. Lawyer and blogger Jonathan Handel has pulled together media reports of alleged WGA deal points on his Digital Media Law blog. But none of the rumors or media

  • Here we are at another Friday. But Thanksgiving is less than a week away! We still don't know we're doing this year, so I could or could not be making a big dinner. We'll just have to wait and see. I hope you can handle the suspense. What are your Thanksgiving plans? Any Rachael Ray dishes on the proposed menu? Check out my post from earlier this week if you're still looking for ideas.

  • Patric Verrone and Michael Winship just sent this message to the membership. The WGA is determined to stay at the table until we have a deal. If the AMPTP wants to negotiate in good faith, and end the strike, we are at the table.

    Dear Fellow Members,

    Before we head into negotiations this morning, we want to give you an update on where we stand.