The List (You Know, That List) is Growing -- Oprah, Will and Jada, Sidney Poitier, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Whitney Houston, Barry Bonds, and Hank Aaron

Without exception, every one of these people is the member of a union, whether it be AFTRA, SAG, the MLB Players Association or the American Guild of Variety Artists. They should be ashamed of themselves.

In fact, those unions should be punishing these people.

And you, Tyler Perry, you are at the top of my list. Don't you know what the union movement has done for this country? You should do penance by writing a movie about it.

You're a guy who came from abject poverty and made it, and you're a member of the WGA, which protects you and people who want your same dream, from getting taken advantage of by the suits. So now you're a suit and you're gonna take on their abhorrent behavior?

Really?

So often people are all gung-ho for social change (and the union movement is part of that) until it costs them. Hey Tyler, you don't have enough money? We know what you're worth. Start ponying up the union cash and get the contract signed.

(And the same to you Fremantle, re the Osbourne variety show.)

 NY Times, October 2:

The Writers Guild of America West said Thursday that it had filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Tyler Perry's production studio after it fired four writers for the popular TBS situation comedy, "House of Payne" who were seeking union representation.

Jeff Hermanson, an assistant executive director for the Writers Guild, said that the four writers, who were based in Los Angeles, were fired earlier this week after negotiations between the Writers Guild and representatives of Mr. Perry's production company, which is based in Atlanta, broke down.

The four writers also were working on the development of a new comedy being produced by Mr. Perry, "Meet the Browns," a spinoff of his recent film of the same name that is scheduled to premiere in January on TBS. The four writers who were fired include more than half of the seven writers working on the new series.

NY Magazine Vulture blog:

On Friday, the WGAW filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Perry's production company alleging that he told the scribes, "Be careful about pushing the WGA deal or you could be replaced." But how did the controversy affect the opening of Perry's new Atlanta film and TV studio over the weekend?

 WGAW president Patric Verrone released a statement on Thursday calling attention to Saturday night's opening of Perry's new production studio in Atlanta, announcing plans to protest the event and asking all invited guests "not to cross our picket line in a show of solidarity with the fired writers." Oprah, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Sidney Poitier, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Whitney Houston, Barry Bonds, and Hank Aaron must not have checked Deadline Hollywood Daily, though, as they all showed up and looked like they had a very nice time.

Shame on you every one of you, especially you Obama supporters.

Compartmentalize much?

And Henry Aaron, I wore your number in Little League, and now you're making me regret that.

But, what should I expect, if you'll shake this guy's hand (image right) you'll shake anyone's hand.