Rob Kutner (writer, ‘The Daily Show’) has a suggestion for the fans

He wants us to make phone calls? Hmmm…this should be fun!

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I just called NBC. I told the guy who answered the phone that I wanted to express my views about the writer’s strike, and he connected me with a voice mail kind of deally.

I told the voicemail deally my name, my age, and where I was from. I said that I had been enjoying watching NBC shows online, but since the beginning of the writer’s strike, I have quit, and I don’t intend to watch any more programs online until I know the writer’s are getting their share…or something. lol

I can’t remember what I said at the end there. It was brilliant, though, I assure you.

And since I’m sitting at home with superflu or something lame like that, my message had the added appeal of sounding like it was coming from an emotionally disturbed 12 year old boy.

So that happened.

I’m calling viacom next.

I’ve also sent emails to a few people–like Comedy Central, NBC, CBS, Netflix (seriously–I cancelled my Netflix account). And when I get to a computer I can print from, I’m going to print up some of those postcards at fans4writers.

I think it’s quantity more than quality that matters, here. It would probably be fine to just say, ‘I support WGA.’ Although, I did enjoy letting NBC know that I wasn’t going to watch any of their Target or Hundai ads until they get their crap together.

Now that I know the British writers are treated fairly, I guess I’ll start watching their tv.

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Alright, I just finished calling all the numbers!

I called Fox first (tell Papa Bear I say hi!). I was feeling kind of nervous, this, I just grabbed my cell phone and punched the first number, but I adore what these writers do, with comedy they shed light on truth better than anybody else honestly, and a fantasy of mine is to write myself if I do something creative, so I was just excited to do some little part. Well I didn’t get put on hold. In fact, about 5 rings later I got into some kind of main voicemail system.

“Hello, you have reached 21st Century Fox Studios in Los Angelos, our circuit board hours are from 8pm to 6 pm…” something like that but holy shit this was like the REAL studio number, for everyday movie folk use and not a customer relations line! I left a message, I said my name and that I support the WGA strike.

Now, when I called ABC, that was fun! I got a lady who answered the phone. I asked for Ms. Anne Sweeney. I’m 19 and sound younger on the phone, by the way. She asked, Are you asking for Anne SEENEY? I said yes, Ms. Anne SWEENEY? (I guess I should know how to pronounce the name of whomever I’m calling?) She wasn’t really saying anything, kind of surprised, (not blaming her) and I said I was calling about the WGA strike. She seemed to understand then, and then she asked if I wanted to talk to, Anne Sweeney, “S-W-E-E…”

“…N-E-Y!” I was kind of having a hard time sounding serious here.

She didn’t direct me to a WGA strike number. She connected me to Anne Sweeney (Seeney???)’s voicemail. I left a message, I followed barenjager’s advice this time (thanks!) and just left my name, age, location, told her my concerns and thanked her for giving us great shows, heading a great network, and expressed my hope that she and ABC would give writers what they deserve.

With the other numbers, I got mostly voicemail though one more human voice. I did fluke that time. The first time I got a human voice was actually with NBC, the second number I called (ABC was the third number) and I was so thrown off guard I just blurted, she sounded like a nice lady doing her job but I was surprised I just blurted what it said on the screen, about wanting my shows back. I did leave very good messages with the other numbers.

But here was no getting put on hold, no long wait, it’s like no one is calling or the studios. Very dissapointing.

Moral of the story: clog some phonelines! If anything, have a laugh AND support our writers who make us laugh every night!

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