Eddie Murphy was in the Pacific Palisades yesterday to film his new movie Nowhereland, but when picketers from the WGA arrived, the actor left the set and didn’t return. There were reports that this drew huge cheers from the crowd of around 50 protesters chanting on megaphones and playing music loudly in order to shut down the production. However, I spoke to writer and protester Katherine Butler, who was at the protest and said the writers were being anything but disruptive. “The press is making us sound like we were purposely being obnoxious and disruptive in order to shut down the movie. When, in fact, we were walking in a small circle, occasionally chanting. They even handed out whistles, and no one blew them.”

Butler did not witness Murphy leaving, but did say that, “Ninety-nine percent of us writers know that the problem is not with the [actors], teamsters, grips, sound guys, etc. We really should be focusing on protesting in front of AMPTP [representing the producers] president Nick Counter’s office. We’re aware that we’re not making the actors and crew’s life any easier, but all we’re trying to do is make our point. We had leaders from the protest at the film set yesterday thanking the teamsters and crew for their support and understanding, and relaying to them that our goal is not to be disruptive; it’s only to be heard.”

While it’s clear that production on the movie was suspended for the day, and the WGA is championing Murphy’s actions, there has been no official comment by Murphy’s camp on whether or not his film walkoff was strike-related or not.

Ok, first and foremost, it was a completed script. What possible reason could they have for protesting the move? Now onto specific parts of the comments made by writer and protester Katherine Butler, who was at the protest and said the writers were being anything but disruptive.

“The press is making us sound like we were purposely being obnoxious and disruptive in order to shut down the movie. When, in fact, we were walking in a small circle, occasionally chanting. They even handed out whistles, and no one blew them.”

Again, what possible reason do you have for protesting the filming of a script completed BEFORE the strike? The press is reporting your antics, they speak volumes. You might not have been yelling at this protest, but writers caused enough commotion and disturbance to close down production of Cane and other shows. The script for Nowhereland was bought and paid for BEFORE the strike, so what was the point of this protest?

“Ninety-nine percent of us writers know that the problem is not with the [actors], teamsters, grips, sound guys, etc. We really should be focusing on protesting in front of AMPTP [representing the producers] president Nick Counter’s office. We’re aware that we’re not making the actors and crew’s life any easier, but all we’re trying to do is make our point. We had leaders from the protest at the film set yesterday thanking the teamsters and crew for their support and understanding, and relaying to them that our goal is not to be disruptive; it’s only to be heard.”

Ok, so why aren’t you protesting the AMPTP offices? Hmmm, I think it because they get more press by shutting down shows than they would protesting the AMPTP. So instead of protesting the right people, they take it out on the actors and the crew who are fulfilling their contracts so they can get paid and support their families. By causing these shutdowns, the actors and crew will end up on half-pay or ultimately terminated.

While it’s clear that production on the movie was suspended for the day, and the WGA is championing Murphy’s actions, there has been no official comment by Murphy’s camp on whether or not his film walkoff was strike-related or not.

We will never know, but I don’t think that is why, perhaps he was just annoyed. I bet after all this publicity, Murphy comes out saying he did it to “support the writers”.

I support what the writers want in the way of getting paid part of the profits from online distribution. I understand and I support that. I don’t support their tactics. Causing Cane to close down with scripts left to film jeopardizes a second season pickup for the show. The writers know who they should protest but they continue to take out their anger on the actors and support crew that have nothing do with their contract negotiations.

I know people are going to react negatively to this and think I am attacking the WGA and the strike. I am not, I agree with why they are striking. I just question their methods.

There were many twists and turns that had me glued to the TV. I thought Sayid, Jin and Bernard were dead. I am glad Tom decided against it, even though he paid for it by being executed by Sawyer. It was nice to see Alex and Danielle reunited. There was just so much to take in for the finale.

There was alot of death in this episode. I was sad to see Tom get killed. And Charlie’s death was pretty heartbreaking. I really thought Cuse and Lindelof would be creative and not kill Charlie like everyone knew was coming. And the two women in the Looking Glass station we hardley knew.

Overall I really enjoyed the episode but all it left me with are more questions:

Where is the temple the Others are going to and why?
Was that really Walt or an apparition?
How did Locke lose use of his legs again and then get it back?
Who was talking to Locke in the pit before he saw Walt?
Is Mikhail really dead this time?
Who died when Jack went to the viewing? Was it Locke?
Who is Kate with (who will wonder where she went)? Is is Sawyer?
If everything on the island was a flashback, what happened between Jack making the call and the present?
What happened to Ben and the Others?
Who was on the boat and were they bad like Ben said?
Where is Penny and what happened with her search?
What happened to Desmond?
What happened to everyone else?
Why did Jack want to go back to the island?
Was everyone forced to leave or did they get a choice?

And most importantly . . . will the next season be about Jack rounded up the Losties and trying to get back to the island . . . and is anyone still there?

I am sure there are more questions I am forgetting. I have to watch the finale again. So much happened and I am sure there was a lot of subtle things happening as well. And we have nine months to think about the finale and wait and see where Lost is going.

While I agree with his point that the Discovery Channel audience is so desensitized to danger that they keep pushing their shows to be more dangerous, I don’t think it applies to this particular incident. In an article on CNN.com, Irwin’s manager John Stainton explained that Irwin’s death was an accident and they weren’t filming an Animal Planet documentary, but instead Steve was exploring and explaining coral for a kids show he was working on.

Bad weather for the past few days had made it impossible to proceed with a planned taping for the Animal Planet channel, so Irwin instead chose Monday to shoot “a couple of soft stories for a new TV show we’re doing,” Stainton said.

“He and the underwater cameraman went out to do some pieces on the reef and coral and stuff good for the kids’ show and, unfortunately, he came out over the top of a stingray that was buried in the sand and the barb went up and hit him in the chest.”

So Steve Irwin died not jumping into the jaws of danger, but in a freak accident while filming a childrens show. This wasn’t a case of Irwin pushing the limit and putting his life in mortal danger. This was Irwin not being aware of the Stingray hidden under the sand, and the animal following it’s instincts and defending itself from what it perceived to be danger. So while I agree that the Discovery Channel is pushing the danger envelope, I think it is inappropriate to assign any sort of blame to an accident like this. It was a horrible and tragic accident and Steve Irwin will be missed.

Animal Planet will be running a Steve Irwin Tribute show tonight while John Stainton, Irwin’s manager and friend, will be on Larry King Live tonight on CNN to discuss the accident as well as the footage of the attack. It will be interesting to see what happens to that footage. How much money will the Discovery Channel throw at Irwin’s family to air the last footage of the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin?