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Golden Globes Seek Deal with WGA

It seems that another group is seeking an interim agreement with the WGA even if AMPTP continues playing "hard ball" outside of their bargaining room. The SAG Awards grabbed a deal early on to have WGA's stamp of approval for their award show though it should be noted they sought their interim deal long before the current strike mess. When some late night talk show hosts announced their imminent return to the airwaves (sans writers), late-night-host David Letterman decided to strike up an official deal with the WGA through his company Worldwide Pants so his two talk shows, his show and the later broadcast of Craig Ferguson, would have WGA writers on board. Letterman's actions seem to have inspired the HFPA judging by their latest statement but it may not find the same net results as you will see below.

Here's the statement that HFPA (Hollywood Foreign Press Association) President Jorge Camara gave out yesterday, which says that they are seeking an interim deal with the WGA so they can provide The Golden Globes in just 10 days...

I am happy to announce that on Saturday morning, December 29, 2007, our attorneys began discussions with the Writers Guild of America to enter into an interim agreement similar to that entered into by the WGA and Worldwide Pants, which permits writers guild members to go back to work writing for "The Late Show with David Letterman." We feel that the "Late Show with David Letterman" agreement is very reasonable, and hope and expect the WGA will agree to the same terms and ultimately permit the "Golden Globe Awards" to be broadcast as scheduled, without picket lines, on Sunday, January 13.

Sounds good, right? What's the problem?

Well, Mr. Camara may have bit off more than he can chew by releasing this statement judging by reactions inside the WGA community, people who don't see eye-to-eye with Camara's statement of the Globes being anywhere close to groups like the SAGs and Worldwide Pants. In the latest news over at Hollywood Reporter, you can see that HFPA may not get that deal even when the show is only 10 days away. Basically, the guilds are very pessimistic on a 11th hour reprieve for the Globes and surprised by Mr. Camara's confidence in the statement above..

The writers guilds, though, seemed taken aback by the announcement. Asked on the picket line outside "The Late Show with Conan O'Brien" about the HFPA missive, WGA East president Michael Winship seemed almost surprised about the contents of the letter. "There have been some informal conversations but really nothing more than that," he told The Hollywood Reporter.

The WGA West followed soon after with a statement that also sought to put distance between itself and the HFPA letter. "Dick Clark Productions is a struck company. As previously announced, the Writers Guild will be picketing the Golden Globe Awards," it said.