writer’s strike – The Comedy Bureau

The Comedy Bureau Field Report Ep. 252: Pilot Season & Growing an Improv Show Out of the Writers’ Strike

April 2, 2025

improv, pilot season, ucb, writer's strike

At a time where AI is threatening writing jobs and Trump is mercilessly dismantling all the DEI initiatives that he can, a hybrid improv/writers show, Pilot Season, rises, phoenix-like, from the rubble of the WGA Strike. Hosts/creators Chris De La Cruz and Saleh Karaman lead a packed improv show that creates a freshly baked before the audience eyes and ears where some of the most accomplished TV writers around collaborate with UCB’s best and brightest. Also, very often, as it would happen, the panel of writers and cast of improvisers are from almost every background imaginable. This week’s TCB Field Report talks to De La Cruz and Karaman in how they built this juggernaut of a show and exceeded any expectation they had.

Follow Pilot Season @pilot_szn on IG and get tix for 4/6 show UCB LA here. Follow Chris @chris_dlc_ and Saleh @cirquedusalad.

Produced by Jake Kroeger
Music by Brian Granillo
Artwork by Andrew Delman and Jake Kroeger

Pick of the Day: Summer School: Entertainment Community Fund Benefit (in LA) 6/1

May 31, 2023

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adam conover, andrew dismukes, jenny yang, katrina davis, los angeles comedy, mike o'brien, Sophie Delaney, virgil, wga strike, writer's strike

We’re almost at a month since this current WGA Strike began and all signs point towards it continuing for more weeks to come. As such, anything supporting the Entertainment Community Fund is crucial right now as many of those on the picket line are of humble means and are currently living off of reserves in their bank account.

There already have been a few comedy benefits supporting the ECF already in LA and NYC and there are sure more to come including the one, Summer School, happening this Thurs. Jun. 1st at 7PM at the Virgil that will double as a benefit for the ECF and People’s City Council Mutual Aid LA Fund.

The likes of such comedy stars (as well as a couple SNL folks) will be in attendance including: Andrew Dismukes, Adam Conover, Mike O’Brien, Jenny Yang, Katrina Davis, and Sophie Delaney along with hosts Aly Dixon, Elizabeth Schantz, and Jess Uhler.

Tickets are only $15 and admission is free for WGA members. Go get tickets and support the ECF/PCC Mutual Aid/WGA Strike here.

Pick of the Day: WGA Strike/Entertainment Community Fund Comedy Benefits (in LA & NYC)

May 16, 2023

News

dynasty typewriter, entertainment community fund, los angeles comedy, new york comedy, planet showbiz, ucb, wga strike, writer's strike

All signs point towards the Writers’ Strike lasting for quite some time. Don’t be surprised if this one goes as long as the last one (more than a couple months) or even longer.

As such, more support will be needed for many TV/movie writers who primary source of income will be on, shall we say, on hiatus for quite some time. Many a comedy writer is affected in this strike and, thankfully, there are plenty of benefits for the Entertainment Community Fund that will be supporting said comedy writers and writers of all ilks coming up.

Three in mind have caught our attention between LA and NYC.

On Wed. 5/17 at 8:30PM, UCB Franklin in LA will have writers from the likes of A.P. Bio, Ted Lasso, Never Have I Ever, The Sex Lives of College Girls, Loot, and New Girl do an improvised writers room. Cast includes Beth Appel, Phil Augusta Jackson, Kassia Miller, Zeke Nicholson, Mike O’Brien, Lamar Woods. All profits go to Entertainment Community Fund. Tickets are $15.

For Tues. 5/23 at 8:30PM ET, Planet Showbiz in NYC will be putting on a special showcase of Tonight Show writers bringing you their best jokes with all proceeds goin to the Entertainment Community Fund. More specficially Mike Drucker, Martin Urbano, Kylie Brakeman, Becky Krause, Brooks Allison, Zahid Dewji, and Mike Hanford are all on the bill. Tickets are $15.

Later this month, the cast and writers of dark horse reality/game show secret Jury Duty will be assembling to do a blend of stand-up and improv for the Entertainment Community Fund. That includes Susan Berger, David Brown, Kirk Fox, Marcos Gonzalez, Pramode Kumar, Brandon Loeser, Sheedz Olayiwola, Kerry O’Neill, Ben Seaward, and Ron Song all coming to Dynasty Typewriter in LA on Fri. May 26th @ 10:03PM PT. Tickets are once more $15.

Also, on 5/26, will be a stellar showcase of fantastic NYC comics who pay their bills as TV writers including Emmy Blontick, Karen Chee, Cole Escola, Larry Owens, Jes Tom, and Jeff Wright as well as music from Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner. Called Writers… On Stage?! No Way, it’s set for 7:30PM and tickets are $25.

Please Enjoy (and Stand in Solidarity with) Rachel Kaly’s Ten Minute Special on the Writers Strike

May 9, 2023

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rachel kaly, wga, writer's strike

As the WGA Strike enters its second week, the reality of the long battle ahead might be just setting in. It’s a lot to have picket lines constantly going at studios and networks day in and day out.

As such, the hilarious Rachel Kaly couldn’t join in over the last couple days due to getting sick and, in lieu of marching, did a fresh ten minute special of jokes all about this Writers Strike. Kaly certainly touches on the crucial issues at stake here, but also, as you would hope, puts her special absurdist dry humor spin on everything.

Essentially, it’s a great reminder of the livelihood that writers are fighting for (and a great reason to watch Kaly do jokes you’ve never ever seen before). Too bad the AMPTP don’t have any writers to do anything fun or clever in response.

So, please enjoy Rachel’s ten minute WGA Strike special here

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A post shared by Rachel Areola Ellen Kaly (@rachel.kaly)

WGA and AMPTP Reach Deal Avoiding Another Strike and Late Night, Your New Favorite Comedies, and More Actually Won’t Be Brought to a Grinding Halt

May 2, 2017

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amptp, deal, wga, writer's strike

WGA and AMPTP Reach Deal Avoiding Another Strike and Late Night, Your New Favorite Comedies, and More Actually Won’t Be Brought to a Grinding Halt

Past the deadline when the previous contract had expired, the WGA and AMPTP did indeed agree on a deal that prevented a strike (which was made to seem inevitable in the days leading up to this) from happening.

If you remember from a decade ago, Conan O’Brien was spinning a ring on his desk as a segment, The Office was never quite the same, and the whole of the industry biz was shaken as a result of the last WGA Strike for both creators and consumers to a degree no one had anticipated.

Thankfully, your favorite peak TV, bashing Trump for whatever he said that day, and a new comedy that’s perhaps waiting for word on more episodes ordered on the back end are now all safe. It might be hard to appreciate the gravity of this as it the worst scenario was avoided, but you should have, at the very least, a brief, demonstrative sigh of relief.

Now, go back to worrying about all the “other stuff” (North Korea, Obamacare, the Wall, civil unrest in Europe and South America, POTUS seeming dumber than ever, ISIS, etc. etc.).

WGAW Expels ‘Fashion Police’ Scribe For Writing During Strike

October 14, 2013

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e!, fashion police, writer's strike

WGAW Expels ‘Fashion Police’ Scribe For Writing During Strike

Not only is this writer being expelled, but having a hefty fine tacked on as well for writing for Fashion Police during the show’s writers’ strike.

Don’t say that striking Fashion Police writer Eliza Skinner didn’t warn you about being a scab.

Joan Rivers Resolves WGA Dispute by Not Rending Writing Services

October 7, 2013

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fashion police, joan rivers, wga, writer's strike

Joan Rivers Resolves WGA Dispute by Not Rending Writing Services

From the fallout of her writers at Fashion Police and their strike, Joan Rivers was up for a possible expulsion at the WGA, but has thus decided to support the writers by not rendering any writing services in hopes that the striking writers will return.

Currently, amongst those striking writers, Eliza Skinner currently writes for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell and Bryan Cook tours with his Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction.

As of the time of this article, there is no word if the writers will return yet.

WGA East Charges Joan Rivers With Violation in ‘Fashion Police’ Writers Dispute

July 11, 2013

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fashion police, joan rivers, wga, writer's strike

WGA East Charges Joan Rivers With Violation in ‘Fashion Police’ Writers Dispute

A WGA East council took a vote and determined to send violation charges to Joan Rivers over the Fashion Police Writers’ Strike. According to Rivers’ manager, the issue is between the writers and E!, which has been one of the only remarks sent down from Rivers in regards to the whole matter.

The writers of Fashion Police are still on strike and developments towards a resolution are still to be seen.

Striking Fashion Police Writers Speak on Joan Rivers’ Absence of Support

July 9, 2013

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e!, fashion police, joan rivers, wga west, writer's strike

The WGA West YouTube channel posted this video this morning of all the striking Fashion Police writers commenting on star of Fashion Police Joan Rivers’ complete lack of backing them in trying to get fairly compensated from E! Entertainment.

In case you were wondering and it wasn’t obvious from the video, not much that was being disputed has been resolved from almost four months ago.

The Fashion Police Writers Will Be Picketing This Thursday

May 22, 2013

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fashion police, picket line, writer's strike

Their benefit at the Laugh Factory went off without a hitch and yet the writers of E!’s Fashion Police are still on strike. They’ll be picketing tomorrow at 5750 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA from 11:30AM-12:30PM and they’re calling on all who are in support of them to march and rally with them tomorrow.

Click here for more details.

So, There Was No Sabotage at The Fashion Police Writers’ Strike Benefit

May 16, 2013

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e!, fashion police, writer's strike

Rumors that sabotage of the benefit for the Fashion Police writers currently on strike have been circulating over the past few days.

However, we attended the show last night at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood and no such hijinks occurred and it was just a packed room with a crowd that simply had a great time watching Bryan Cook, Eliza Skinner, Todd Masterson, Dante, Baron Vaughn, Bobcat Goldthwait, and more.

Though, it turns out that while it was indeed true that E! executives did purchase a majority of the tickets, pretty much no one showed up on their behalf to not laugh or whatever was planned, which means the crowd in attendance had paid individually at the door to get in.

Thus, the benefit generated much more money than originally possible that went to the writers that needed it.

Something Strange Is Going to Happen at The Fashion Police Writers Strike Benefit Show

May 14, 2013

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e!, fashion police, writer's strike

Something Strange Is Going to Happen at The Fashion Police Writers Strike Benefit Show

The writers of Fashion Police, many of whom are very funny comedians featured here at The Comedy Bureau, are still on strike for unpaid wages. In solidarity of their strike, they’re holding a benefit show at The Laugh Factory, then this insane thing is apparently happening where E! is possibly throwing a wrench in the benefit.

One thing to keep in mind when you read the full story at the link: Almost no show at The Laugh Factory is sold out days in advance, no matter who is playing there.

The Writers of ‘Fashion Police’ Have Gone on Strike, So Don’t Scab

April 17, 2013

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e!, fashion police, writer's strike

The Writers of ‘Fashion Police’ Have Gone on Strike, So Don’t Scab

As reported by much bigger organizations than us, the writers of Fashion Police on E! have gone on strike for not being properly compensated in the overtime they’ve been working for the cable network program. The link above is a post by Fashion Police writer and great comedian Eliza Skinner urging aspiring writers and comedians to not scab during this strike, a message we definitely support.