I think they should all improvise until the strike is over.

Ellen is definitely making it up as she goes along -- and she has extra time to kill at the end of almost every show.

Kristen, I thought for signatory companies, if you are not a WGA member, you can only do X amount of work before being required to become a member. X being dependent on what kind of show you are working on, I think for one hour dramas you have to become a member after your second full hour script.

Not Kristen, but I think she means going fi-core. Which is something the studios were trying to tell writers was okay to do.

if you are not a WGA member, you can only do X amount of work before being required to become a member.

That's definitely true for actors. If I'm ever asked to do another White Castle ad, I'll need to join the SAG.

What has Ellen been doing to kill time at then end of shows? I should really Tivo.

Kristen, I thought for signatory companies, if you are not a WGA member, you can only do X amount of work before being required to become a member. X being dependent on what kind of show you are working on, I think for one hour dramas you have to become a member after your second full hour script.

You are correct. Sort of.

Once you've earned 24 credits, you get the "join or die" call from the WGA. Under Federal Law, however, you can choose not to join the union (or resign from the union after you're a member) and, instead, become a Financial Core Non-Member. You still have to pay dues and are covered by the collective bargaining agreement but you're not subject to the rules and regulations that govern Guild members. For example, you can work for non-signatories. You could also, if you chose to, work during a strike. (Though I don't believe the majority of people who resign from their union do it with this in mind.)

There are very few (like, 7 or 8) fi-core non-members in the WGA. I don't think the DGA has many either. (Though George Lucas is one of them.) My understanding is that SAG has a greater number of fi-core non-members. Actors who can't get work with the big studios resign from the union so they can work for the independents. Some people have resigned over credits issues. There also may be some people who resigned from their union over political contributions.

The other day she had Joey Fatone (and JC!) doing The Singing Bee, and at the end of the show, she did several rounds of it. Usually, I just notice when I go to delete that the show is definitely over, but there are still 2-3 minutes left in the recording.

Carson Daly: Even less bright than I thought.

The other day she had Joey Fatone (and JC!) doing The Singing Bee, and at the end of the show, she did several rounds of it.

Dayum, I would have been willing to watch her show if I'd known JC was going to be there (I'm assuming you mean Chasez). Because -- mrooowr.

Ha. They left in the #.