Several weeks ago, about 40 publicists gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel for an unusual meeting to share information about the strike talks and to hear from veteran publicists about how they weathered the last big actors' strike in 1980. Leno is also a member and would support the guild, sources added. A spokesman for Letterman's show said the late-night host has gone on record saying that as a longtime WGA member he would support the guild. As for Oprah and Rosie O'Donnell, those shows go on hiatus during the summer months and would, presumably, not be immediately affected by an actors' strike. Since the last SAG strike paralyzed the town two decades ago, Hollywood has seen an explosion of TV, magazine and Internet outlets devoted to covering show business.
Stars move magazines.
That eases my mind somewhat. For the record, SAG has not yet made a determination whether to allow its members to publicize their movies and TV shows. That uncertainty has caused publicists in Hollywood to advise their clients to proceed as normal until they receive the official word. Pat Kingsley, whose agency PMK handles roughly 130 clients including many top movie stars such as Tom Cruise and Al Pacino, said her firm won't make any contingency plans on what to advise clients until they hear what SAG has to say. Some things we need to do now because the timing is now.