Your mid-week strike report

I understand on Monday at Sony hot girls were giving out free samples of tequila in little bottles shaped like, well…butt plugs. Judging by the shape of the bottles everyone assumed it was a gift from one of the major agencies. But apparently it was not. Thanks to Barry Wernick for the photo. Taken moments before he finished the bottle.

So on Tuesday I switched over from 20th to Sony. Alas no tequila. But more shade! There's a different vibe at Sony. At 20th it's primarily a large group marching out front in a circle. At Sony there are little pockets of picketers at each of the entrances. And the groups have settled in and have become little families. Years from now the members will hear horn honks and get nostalgic.

Wednesday I'm hitting CBS Radford. I wonder if Gary Sinese is still making homemade cookies.

Members of the negotiating committee have been going to the various picketing sites updating us on the situation and answering questions. John Bowman filled us in at 20th on Monday. It’s pretty clear the AMPTP is made up of Bond villains, Gordon Gecko, J. R. Ewing, Mr. Spacely of the JETSONS, and Henry F. Potter from IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

Looking for that perfect Christmas or Hanukah gift? How about a WGA strike T-shirt or plastic bracelet? She’ll LOVE you for it! He’ll be blown away. Get your Writers Strike Swag here.

You can tell the screenwriters from the TV writers on the picket line. TV writers all know each other, say hello, march in little groups. Screenwriters are used to being alone. You see them walking by themselves, scanning the line, desperately looking for someone they recognize… who hasn’t rewritten them.

Wednesday writers are invited to attend a Teamster Rally Against Cross Border Trucking at the Otay Mesa border crossing in San Diego. If you think Teamsters are fierce looking, you should see the staff from UGLY BETTY (pictured: left).

It’s also Diversity Picketing Day at Paramount on Melrose. You don’t have to be diverse to attend but if you could, that would be nice.

Why won’t the AMPTP accept a deal where we would share internet earnings, even small earnings, based on a percentage formula? Because that would mean they’d have to open their books. We might learn that the SIMPSONS has not been a huge loss leader all these years.

I didn't know this: If the wood post sticks out above the sign on a placard it is considered a legal weapon.

I’d say boycott the Carson Daly show but really, who the hell watches it anyway?

80% of what you hear about the strike in the media and blogs is incorrect, although I’m not sure that’s the right number.

Fox is counting on AMERICAN IDOL to get huge ratings again in January. But with Jordin Sparks being the first American Idol to have her debut album tank maybe this will be the year AI starts to show its age. And Paula can follow Kellie Pickler on ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER?

Nick Counter, the lead negotiator for the AMPTP, is doing his best to not only screw us but also his own daughter and son-in-law. They’re both members of the WGA.