E’s Fashion Police is under hot water, and this time it has nothing to do with Joan Rivers' inflammatory comments. If you think those lovely ladies and the one dude are just spitballing their own material, you’d be mistaken. There are writers for that task and for coming up with segments, but currently a slew of those writers are on strike.
The last time I can remember a writers strike was the huge ordeal in 2007. I’m sure there have been some disgruntled writers since then; however, in the Fashion Police writers strike's case, 12 employees have come together to strike, filing an official complaint with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. According to Deadline, the group is seeking $1.5 million to pay for unpaid overtime hours.
The real goal, however, is a little more convoluted. Apparently, the writers would like to become a Guild show with Guild regulations. Fashion Police writer Ned Rice made a pretty clear statement regarding the matter earlier on Wednesday.
“This is very simple. We have earned the right to be a Guild show, we deserve to be a Guild show, and we want to be a Guild show. The ball is clearly in E! and Rugby’s court right now and we’re ready to go back to work on Fashion Police just as soon as they sign a WGA contract.”
Fashion Police became a regular program on E! beginning in 2010 and has run for two seasons on the network. The series stars Rivers, as well as George Kotsiopoulos, Kelly Osbourne, and E! favorite Giuliana Rancic. While the Guild status is figured out, the group is urging non-Guild members not to sign on for the show.
