Carson Daly Heckled…

Much to the delight of everyone here on the Carson Daly Taskforce, we were thrilled to hear the news that Carson Daly was heckled by “covert op” strike supporters at a taping of his show on Wednesday night. Heckle away amigos!

Apparently, the heckling began just after Carson introduced his first guest, former NFL great and “Dancing With The Stars” season two regular, Jerry Rice.

After the applause died down and Daly started talking, someone in the crowd shouted out: “This isn’t that funny, where are the writers? Did a writer write that shit? Did you guys have a writer write that shit?” Stunned, Carson discontinued taping and the man was promptly ejected from the audience by security.

Clearly unsettled by the outburst, Carson asked Rice if he’d mind starting the interview over again from the top. Rice agreed and left the stage for Carson to reintroduce him to the crowd. Almost immediately after the second interview began, another writer in the crowd stood up and said: “I feel bad about the writer’s strike, can I go?” Nearby two others chimed in: “I feel bad too. Do you?” “Yeah, I feel bad. Can we go?”

Taping stopped again and security, who was still ushering the first heckler from the building, hurried back inside to whisk these three away as well.

Literally speechless, Daly stared out at the shocked audience as Rice reportedly asked him: “What’s going on?” Nodding, a troubled Daly replied: “I know what this is about.” Really, Carson? You do? Then why’d you go back, dude?

At this point in the show, someone from security reportedly took the stage and warned that audience that: “Anyone else interrupting the show will be prosecuted.” This same person then went on to say that: “Any striking writers in the crowd should leave right now.”

According to sources, over twenty people in various seats in the audience stood up and exited the building as the audience gasped. Ironically, one of them had just moments before been awarded an El Pollo Loco gift certificate for “being such a great audience member”. Ha, spend it wisely dude, times are tough this holiday season.

Visibly rattled, a ghostly pale Daly — who probably only really paled to a lighter shade of orange — asked a shaken Rice is he’d mind starting the whole thing over again from the top. Rice agreed and taping resumed on what was to be the second to last show of the year for Daly. Wow, though, crazy stuff huh? Almost make you feel bad for Mr. Mystic Tan…almost…

To hear a very badly (we’re talking “Blair Witch” quality) recorded audio-only clip of the heckling captured via someone’s cell phone, check out: CarsonHeckled

WGA files “unfair labor” charges!

Wow…just learned that earlier this evening the WGA filed “unfair labor” charges against the AMPTP with the National Labor Review Board.

According to the memo (pictured below in a screencap from Nikki Finke’s rocking blog) the WGA is claiming that the AMPTP’s usage of an ultimatum as a tactic to break off negotiations is a violation of federal law. Whoa! If that shit is enforceable in court, then hold onto your pants Nick Counter, because you’re about to get served, big time!

In an e-mail to our membership, WGA President Patric Verrone said that “the only legal way for the AMPTP to remedy the Unfair Labor Practice charge we have filed is to return to the bargaining table.”

Verrone went on to say that: “The WGA Negotiating Committee and leadership are working hard on many fronts to bring the AMPTP back to the table. The companies walked out of talks for the second time last Friday, and are using every possible tactic to attempt to divide our members and create ill will.”

“They have recently employed a team of highly-paid spin-doctors to take attention away from the fact that it was the companies who unilaterally and illegally broke off negotiations, and to make it seem as if the WGA was more interested in reality and animation than in new media compensation and jurisdiction. I can assure you that is not the case. The Writers Guild’s proposals remain reasonable and affordable.”

“The companies’ refusal to bargain in good faith is a callous and cynical act, denying paychecks to thousands of families this holiday season. The WGA strongly urges the AMPTP to return to the table and begin good-faith negotiations, so that our members and the rest of the community can get back to work as soon as possible.”

That’s right, you tell it, Patric Verrone! I’m sorry, but we’ve tried dealing with the AMPTP fairly and have been disrespected, manipulated and cast aside time and time again. I say, calling in the Federal Government is a stroke of genius. They might own the media in this country, but I’ll be willing to bet that even those greedy bastards at the AMPTP are afraid of the Feds.

So, rock on WGA!

2008 Golden Globe Nominees

This morning in Beverly Hills, the unholy trio of “Heroes” cheerleader Hayden Panettiere, Ryan Reynolds and Quentin Tarantino (huh?) announced the nominees for this years Golden Globes. Don’t know how they picked that group of presenters, but either way, the awards season has officially begun! Yeah!

I should be glad that so many of our favorites made the cut this year — “There Will Be Blood”, “No Country For Old Men”, “Eastern Promises”, “Persepolis” and “Michael Clayton” — but I can’t help wondering how the Hollywood Foreign Press overlooked what was probably one of the freshest, most original movie musicals ever, “Once”, in favor of the guady, overcooked “Hairspray”.

I mean, did they see the same movie I did? Yikes. I haven’t seen a John Travolta picture this bad since…oh, wait, they usually suck don’t they? He is so over-the-top hammy in this role that I’m sure the original Edna Turnblat, the late, great Divine, could smell the burning bacon from beyond the grave. Really, I just hated him in this movie. Yikes…

And to totally ignore “Into The Wild” (save for a song nomination for Eddie Vedder’s rocking “Guaranteed”) and the truly amazing performances of Emile Hirsch and an Oscar-worthy Hal Holbrook really is just madness. The raw power of this movie is really something to behold, and though it was overlooked here, I guarantee it will make a huge impact on Oscar voters next year.

OK, so what about the nominees I’m rooting for? Loved Ellen Page in “Juno”, Viggo Mortensen rocked in “Eastern Promises” as a conflicted Russian mobster, Tilda Swinton dazzled in “Michael Clayton”, Amy Adams was luminous and downright magical in “Enchanted”, Cate Blanchett was fantastic in both her nominated roles “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” and “I’m Not There” and as you know, loved “No Country For Old Men” big time. But where’s the Globe love for Kelly MacDonald and Tommy Lee Jones? Jeez, man…

Also, while “Atonement” swept all the major categories, I can’t tell you how bored we were by this empty jewelry box of a movie. Beautiful cast at the top of their games? Check. Great period clothes? Check. Lush music and cinematography? Check. Any trace of real, earned emotion? Uncheck. I’m not saying the movie totally sucked, but, snooze…

Also overlooked by Globe voters was the hilarious Israeli film “The Band’s Visit”, the Spanish-language fright fest “The Orphanage” and Wes Anderson’s masterful “The Darjeeling Limited”.

On the TV front, I was really jazzed to see ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” snag a few nods. We added this show to our Season Pass list late in the season and have been hooked ever since. A really great little show that can only be helped by the awards heat. So, congrats!

Anyway, could go on forever, but if you wanna check out the complete list of nominees for yourself, please visit the Euro-tastic homesite of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at: http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/