– John Oliver criticizes Hollywood studios for their treatment of writers
– Writers should be offered a fair deal from the beginning
– Studios and networks should not wait until strikes to resolve issues
Returning from a strike, John Oliver lashes out at Hollywood studios for not providing writers with fair deals from the beginning. In the latest episode of his HBO series, “Last Week Tonight,” Oliver fiercely expresses his disapproval of the industry’s approach to resolving disputes with writers.
In the episode, he states that writers are “the lifeblood of Hollywood” and that studios should recognize their value. “You shouldn’t need the threat of a strike just to get people a fair deal on Day One,” says Oliver, adding, “They should have had that from Day F—king One!” He emphasizes that issues between writers, networks, and studios can be easily prevented if they are addressed correctly and early on.
Oliver recalls his experience of being on strike during 2007-2008. “Back in 2007/2008, I was there in the writers’ strike every day and at no point did people start offering deals immediately,” he claims, further reinforcing his point that Hollywood’s treatment of writers should improve.