WGA grants waiver to NAACP Image Awards; Grammys next?
NAACP Image Awards to take place on February 14, 2008, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Writers may be hired to script the show and there will be no picketing by striking writers.
The agreement will allow the hiring of WGA writers to script the show that will be telecast by the Fox network and there will be no picketing of the event by striking writers. In addition, WGA has granted a waiver permitting the use of clips from motion pictures and television programs.
"Because of the historic role the NAACP has played in struggles like ours, we think this decision is appropriate to jointly achieve our goals," guild leader Patric Verrone said at a news conference.
Meantime, the Grammys have requested a waiver for its CBS telecast on Feb. 10. The WGA has already said that it probably won't be granted (click here), but the guild may not call for a picket of the event since it's not loaded with film and TV writers and stars. WGA has granted waivers for the SAG and Independent Spirit Awards, but not the Golden Globes. The Critics Choice Awards were permitted to proceed on VH1 because its production company was not a guild signatory. Neither is Pierre Cossette Productions, which does the Grammys.
