Strike: the Governator sits on the fence

It seems that California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, won't be taking on the role of peacemaker during the Hollywood writers' strike, even with awards season looming and the estimated loss to his state's economy at $135m a week. Since the first days of the strike in November, the governor and former film action hero, has stayed out of the fray between his former industry colleagues on both sides of the strike.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Schwarzenegger's ability to be an honest broker could be hamstrung by his personal and professional ties to top studio executives - from whom he received significant financial contributions during his campaign for governor - on the one hand, and his active membership in the Screen Actors Guild, a staunch ally of the striking Writers Guild, on the other.

For its part, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) would "welcome any help" from the governor, if he told "the companies they must negotiate seriously with the guild," said union spokesman Neal Sacharow.

Negotiations broke down on December 7. As the strike enters its third month, WGA officials promise a showdown on the sidewalks around the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where the Golden Globes ceremony is set to be broadcast by NBC on January 13.

Panicked at the prospect of having to confront strikers as they waltz up the red carpet, celebrities have sent what Hollywood publicity executives describe as a near-unanimous signal: If striking writers show up, the stars won't.

The New York Times reports that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hosts the Globes, is considering plans to scratch the telecast in favor of either a Webcast or, more likely, a purely private event. The ceremony, in its 65th year, was last staged without a broadcast in 1979.

The group's goal, says the New York Times, is to call off the pickets and clear the way for Tom Hanks, or Keira Knightley, or George Clooney - if they think it's worth their while, minus 20m television viewers - to appear without fear of being tagged as a scab.

"Of all the years, it has to happen this year," said Marvin Levy, a spokesman for Steven Spielberg, who is scheduled to receive an award for his overall contribution to entertainment at the Globes ceremony. Levy said the filmmaker would likely not make a final decision about whether to attend the event until after January 1.