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Reaction by actors to the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike
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The 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike has been met largely with widespread support from actors, particularly in the Screen Actors Guild, many of whom have voiced support, paid their staff out of pocket, and picketed with writers.
List of actors picketing
* Amy Acker
*Cassie Scerbo
* Jason Alexander
* Morena Baccarin
* Roseanne Barr
* Richard Belzer
* Jim Belushi
* Zach Braff
* Brigid Brannagh
* Nicholas Brendon
* Amy Brenneman
* Sterling K. Brown
* Kaley Cuoco
* Wendy Davis
* Eliza Dushku
* Lisa Edelstein
* Diane Farr
* Tina Fey
* Sally Field
* John Finn
* Gilbert Gottfried
* Dana Gould
* Currie Graham
* Clark Gregg
* Laura Harris
* Ian Hart
* Katherine Heigl
* Jordan Hinson
* Ron Howard
* Oliver Hudson
* Archie Kao
* Juliet Landau
* C. S. Lee
* Rex Lee
* John Leguizamo
* Paul Lieberstein
* William H. Macy
* April Matson
* Edie McClurg
* Brian McNamara
* Matthew Modine
* Patton Oswalt
* Anna Paquin
* Ellen Pompeo
* Sally Pressman
* James Remar
* Ron Rifkin
* John Stamos
* Wanda Sykes
* Keith Szarabajka
* Tuc Watkins
* Robin Williams
*B. D. Wong
* Justine Bateman
* Steve Carell
* Glenn Close
* Jenna Fischer
*Tom Hanks
*Angelina Jolie
* Alicia Keys
* Jay Leno
* David Letterman
* Eva Longoria Parker
* James McAvoy
* Viggo Mortensen
* Conan O'Brien
* Robert Redford
* Jon Stewart
* Kristen Bell
Talk show hosts
Ellen DeGeneres stated she supports the strike, but crossed the picket line, though she decided not to do a monologue on her show during the strike, explaining that she did not wish to lay off the 135 employees from her staff. The WGAE issued a statement condemning DeGeneres, stating she was "not welcome in NY." DeGeneres' representatives asserted that she did not violate the WGA's agreement, arguing that she is competing with other first-run syndicated shows like Dr. Phil and Regis and Kelly during the competitive November sweeps period, and that DeGeneres must fulfill her duties as host and producers, lest her show lose its time slot or be held in breach of contract. In addition, a statement defending DeGeneres was subsequently issued by American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), pointing out that DeGeneres also works under the AFTRA TV Code, which bars her from striking. The WGAE then issued a response pointing out that DeGeneres is also a Writers Guild member, and that any writing work she does on her show during the strike constitutes struck work.
Early in the strike, it was rumored that Jon Stewart was continuing to pay his Daily Show writers out of his own pocket, but a spokesman later denied the rumor was true. However, The Daily Show temporarily changed its name to A Daily Show to show its support of the strike. Nikki Finke announced that David Letterman would pay his entire staff's salary out of his own pocket through the end of the year. She later announced that following NBC's firing of eighty staffers on the Tonight Show, Jay Leno would continue paying them out of his own pocket as well. Conan O'Brien has also promised to pay the salaries of his non-striking staff through the end of the year.
Some comedy shows have performed live shows in order to provide money for the striking workers in a series of ON STRIKE! performances at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. The first two shows to perform were Saturday Night Live on November 17, and 30 Rock on November 19. On December 3, The Colbert Report held a similar performance.
Host Bill Maher, while offering support to writers, vocally criticized the movement as the wrong time to carry out such a strike.
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