Comment on Mayim Bialik Declines to Host ‘Celebrity Jeopardy!’ Amid Strikes, Replaced by Ken Jennings

• AngrilyEatingMuffins@kbin.social ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  You said you considered him an actor - the union that is striking does not. That seems pretty obviously relevant.

  Does that extend to the gaffers and everyone else who would get fired? I don’t really think you understand the details of this. Hollywood unions have done a very good job of insulating themselves from retaliation after strikes - everyone has to do it so it’s pretty hard to hold striking against anyone. Plus whatever is baked into contracts. Jennings would be striking alone, unprotected. It’s kind of weird that people are holding him to this when the union isn’t.

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  • FfaerieOxide@kbin.social ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Yes, in a broad sense. The fact he's not in SAG doesn't make presenters, actors, improv performers, hosts, stand-up comics any less all the same cloth—any more than the existence of non-union actors.

    I'm calling it a dick move to not show solidarity, not a violation of a specific union contract.

    Mayim Bialik chose not to present questions while the question writers were striking and Ken Jennings could have done so too.
    I judge him for that choice.

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    • atocci@kbin.social ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      But then it sounds like he could easily be retaliated against by the network since he isn't part of the union and not being covered by it's protection. I don't think I can fault him for that.

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      • FfaerieOxide@kbin.social ⁨10⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Had my opinion on his character already not been colored by his past actions I may be more inclined to accept that explanation.

        I went into this with the view that he's a dick already.

        So even if I didn't believe solidarity was even more important in the face of potential reprisal I wouldn't be very inclined to charitably read any of his actions.

        It is two things:

        1. I genuinely consider his position to be a moral failing
        2. Even if all this were not going on I would want to see him fired because I hate him (though on principal never as retaliation because solidarity, even for people you hate; his position as worker would in that scenario outclass personal animosity)

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