Actors strike explained — in 10 dramatic memes
Two strikes, they’re out.
The 160,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists walked off the job yesterday in solidarity with the already-striking Writers Guild of America, taking to the picket lines to demand a fair deal from studio executives.
And while that may mean almost a full stop to show business as usual until further notice, the dramatic turn of events hasn’t put a damper on everyone’s ability to make jokes on social media, in an attempt to explain what it all means — or, rather, what it memes.
As the historic action begins — actors and writers have not been on strike together since 1960, when the media and labor landscape looked very different — apps like Twitter have been burning up with the jokes of both observers and out-of-work creatives looking to highlight the hilarious in a less-than-funny situation.
What follows are 10 of the snappiest and most striking takedowns and observations posted in reaction to the news.
Solidarity, sister!
Twitter users are having a field day with the idea of A-list hotties and magazine cover stars joining beleaguered writers.
In a viral tweet, one user compared the troops getting reinforcements to a mash-up between Demi Lovato vehicle “Camp Rock” and “Star Wars.” All we’re saying is Mitchie could lead the Rebel Alliance, but Han Solo couldn’t win the Final Jam…
What Barbenheimer walking out looks like
In a stroke of genius, one Twitter user compared this summer’s hottest double-ticket — Barbenheimer — to the teaming up of writers and actors as SAG-AFTRA joins WGA on the picket lines.
Under the wire
Watching stars serve looks on the red carpet is easily one of the most fun parts of movie promo — but with SAG about to be on strike, these actors were on a deadline.
Before the “Oppenheimer” cast left their premiere early in support of the strike, stars like Florence Pugh and Emily Blunt gave their best Blue Steel.
Two strikes & a home run
“Yep, it’s six guys who have literally been named Sexiest Man Alive, and me, who ate popcorn out of my own bra,” one WGA member quipped.
Whether the studios will be intimidated into a fair deal by Marvel stars’ 400-megawatt smiles remains to be seen, but the addition of statuesque stars to the strike has not gone unnoticed.
Our worst nightmare
Remember that girl in 11th-grade math class who wouldn’t stop singing from the “Into the Woods” soundtrack? She’s on strike now — feel old yet?
Strikers on Twitter couldn’t help but wonder whether studios thoroughly considered what they were unleashing when they spurned every grown-up theater kid in Los Angeles. One can only hope that the sun will come out tomorrow…
CAT-AFTRA on strike
One Twitter user is committed to staying on her side of the picket line — and making sure her cats do, too.
We may have to give the CAT-AFTRA bylaws another read to see if feline interference is a violation — The Post reached out to the cast of “Cats” (2019) for comment. (Not really.)
Don’t be a Muppet!
As one Twitter user pointed out, inciting the wrath of thousands of writers and actors puts you in bed with people who went against Kermit the Frog and his pals.
While the joint strike is just getting started, I think there’s one thing we can say with confidence: Anyone who lifts a hand against Miss Piggy is not long for this world.
Hell, Nolan, he won’t go
Throughout the “Oppenheimer” press tour, fans have become attuned to the fact that the film’s lead, Cillian Murphy, is a little less than comfortable doing publicity.
This led fans to guess that the A-lister was happy to make like a banana and split the second that the actors’ strike was announced on Thursday afternoon.
Disney left flounder-ing
With studio execs left floundering in the wake of the double-strike announcement, people were vocal about exactly how much Disney CEO Bob Iger’s words were worth.
After chiding writers and actors to be “realistic” about their expectations, Iger was brutally rebuffed with the mere image of Flounder from Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid,” which over 26,000 Twitter users agreed should stay under the sea (and far away from us).
Vote Nanny Fine in 2024
You know her as “The Nanny,” but Fran Drescher took on the role of president of SAG-AFTRA in late 2021.
If history repeats itself (and we all know that it tends to), then the “flashy girl from Flushing” might be inching toward the Oval Office, considering that the last time SAG struck in conjunction with WGA, Ronald Reagan served as union leader.
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