By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com
While film and TV mogul Tyler Perry partied with a who's who of Black star power at the opening of his Tyler Perry Studios in
BV Buzz reported on Friday that the gospel playwright had come under fire for unfair labor practices and the WGA filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), claiming that Perry had four writers from 'House of Payne' (Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson and Lamont Ferrell) unlawfully fired because they wanted the union involved in their contract negotiations with Perry's company.
(Read 'Tyler Perry Protested: Man Behind Madea Accused Of Unfair Labor Practices' for details.)
Despite the shocking news about Perry terminating writers after refusing to pay minimum industry rates, health care, pension and residuals making headlines at the start of the weekend, the man behind 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' and 'Why Did I Get Married' hosted the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier, Cicely Tyson, Will Smith and Patti LaBelle at his new studio complex.
The 39-year-old New Orleans native, who has become one of modern Hollywood's most wealthiest moguls after allegedly being homeless and sleeping in his car, purchased 30 acres of land and a facility that once housed the Delta Air Lines' business center to open his multimillion-dollar TV and film studio.
While Perry celebrated his rags to riches story during the two-day complex opening, the WGA issued their open letter and the likes of Shonda Rhimes ('Grey's Anatomy'/'Private Practice'), Marc Cherry ('Desperate Housewives'), Tina Fey ('30 Rock'), Steve Peterman ('Hannah Montana'), Rene Balcer ('Law & Order'/'Law & Order: Criminal Intent'), Warren Hutcherson ('Everybody Hates Chris'/'The Bernie Mac Show') and 66 other show runners united to speak out against his actions.
Below you'll find the reprinted letter in its entirety.
*****
Dear Tyler Perry,
This season, scripted television programming will consist of about 150 shows employing 1,200 writers.
Of that universe, 149 shows and 1,193 writers will produce shows covered by the Writers Guild's Minimum Basic Agreement. The MBA guarantees minimum compensation, residuals, health coverage, and pension in addition to other benefits.
The big except 
ion? Tyler Perry's 'House of Payne" and the seven writers who, collectively, played a key role in producing over 100 episodes of one of television's most successful sitcoms.
Right now, these seven writers are in a struggle with you, the producer of 'House of Payne,' to extend Guild coverage to the show. This past Monday, after months of negotiations with the Guild, four of the writers were abruptly and illegally fired because of their efforts to secure the same minimums and benefits as their peers.
We all know that producing television is a tough and uncertain business. But some things are simply not acceptable.
We have a simple ask – reinstate the writers and make a fair deal with WGA.
Respectfully,
Rich Appel, 'The Cleveland Show'
Lee Aronsohn, 'Two & a Half Men'/'The Big Bang Theory'
Rene Balcer, 'Law & Order'/'Law & Order: Criminal Intent'
Alan Ball, 'True Blood'
Carol Barbee, 'Swingtown'
Carter Bays, 'How I Met Your Mother'
Ed Bernero, 'Criminal Minds'
Jenny Bicks, 'Men in Trees'/'Sex and the City'
John Bowman, 'Frank TV'/'Martin'/'In Living Color'
Shane Brennan, 'NCIS'
Marc Cherry, 'Desperate Housewives'
Alan Cohen, 'Held Up'
Elizabeth Craft, 'Dollhouse'
Bob Daily, 'Desperate Housewives'
Elias Davis, WGAW Secretary Treasurer
Gary Dontzig, 'Murphy Brown'/'Suddenly Susan'/'Becker'/'Hannah Montana'
Sarah Fain, 'Dollhouse'
Kevin Falls, 'Journeyman'
Michele Fazekas, 'Reaper'
Tina Fey, '30 Rock'
Larry Gelbart, 'M*A*S*H'
Mike Gibbons, 'Talk Show with Spike Feresten'
David A. Goodman, 'Family Guy'
Glenn Gordon Caron, 'Medium'/'Now and Again'/'Moonlighting'
John Gray, 'Ghost Whisperer'
Walon Green, 'Canterbury's Law'
Marc Guggenheim, 'Eli Stone'
Hart Hanson, 'Bones'
Warren Hutcherson, 'Everybody Hates Chris'/'The Bernie Mac Show'
Michael Jamin, 'Glenn Martin'
Al Jean, 'The Simpsons'
Mike Kelley, 'Swingtown'
Anne Kenney, 'Greek'
Bill Lawrence, 'Scrubs'/'Spin City'
Michael Leeson, 'Bill Engvall Show'/'The Cosby Show'
Steve Levitan, 'Just Shoot Me'
Chuck Lorre, 'Two and a Half Men'/'The Big Bang Theory'
Bill Martin, '3rd Rock from the Sun'/'Grounded for Life'
Chris McGuire, 'Mind of Mencia'
Carol Mendelsohn, 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'/ 'CSI: Miami'/'CSI: NY'
Ted Mulkerin, 'Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'
Peter Murietta, 'Wizards of Waverly Place'
Marti Noxon, 'Mad Men'/'Private Practice'
John Peaslee, 'Operating Instructions'
Steve Peterman, 'Hannah Montana'
Clyde Phillips, 'Dexter'
Judd Pillot, 'Operating Instructions'
Bill Prady, 'The Big Bang Theory'
Matt Pyken, 'Knight Rider'
Michael Rauch, 'Love Monkey'/'Beautiful People'/'Life is Wild'
Andrew Reich, 'Friends'
Shonda Rhimes, 'Grey's Anatomy'/'Private Practice'
Shawn Ryan, 'The Shield'/'The Unit'
David Sacks, 'Lewis Black's Root of All Evil'
Steve Skrovan, ''Til Death'
Mike Schiff, '3rd Rock from the Sun'/'Grounded for Life'
Robin Schiff, former WGAW Board Member
Gary Scott Thompson, 'Knight Rider'/'Las Vegas'
Chris Sheridan, 'Family Guy'
Amy Sherman-Palladino, 'Gilmore Girls'
David Simkins, 'Warehouse 13'/'The Dresden Files'/'The Book of Daniel'
Robert Singer, 'Supernatural'
Dan Sterling, 'The Sarah Silverman Program'
Matt Tarses, 'Worst Week'
Alison Taylor, 'Just Jordan'
Betsy Thomas, 'My Boys'
Eric Tuchman, 'Kyle XY'
Marc Warren, 'Cory in the House'
Michael Warren, 'Happy Days'/'Family Matters'/'Hanging with Mr. Cooper'
Matthew Weiner, 'Mad Men'
Dan Wilcox, 'M*A*S*H'/'Newhart'/'Growing Pains'/WGAW Board Member
Larry Wilmore, former WGAW Board Member, 'The Bernie Mac Show'
Six Degrees of Tyler Perry
Six Degrees of Tyler Perry
In just three years, Tyler Perry has become the toast of Hollywood. Could you name another director black or white who can boast of having released six feature movie projects within a three year period? Nope. Not only did the New Orleans native write all of the storylines for the films, he starred in four. Combined, five of the films have grossed upwards of $250 million worldwide, some within budgets below $6 million. And with the major money train also comes associating with some of the biggest names in and out of the entertainment business. BlackVoices.com takes an introspective look at how a former homeless man turned chit'lin circuit theater czar has connections to the likes of Michael Jackson, Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston and Will Smith, to name a few. Check out Six Degrees of Tyler Perry.
Tyler Perry
The best-selling playwright turned Hollywood hot-shot (real name: Emmitt R. Perry, Jr.) was born Sept. 14, 1969 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ray Nagin
Another New Orleans native, Ray Nagin, Jr. was elected into the office of Mayor of the Crescent City on March 6, 2002.
Labelle
Known as the music capitol of the Gulf Coast, New Orleans was also the setting for 'Lady Marmalade,' a hit song from 1970s glam-soul trio Labelle, comprised of Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sara Dash.
Lenny Kravitz
Modern day rock & roll demigod Lenny Kravitz is one of the top-notch talents chosen to produce Labelle's long-awaited reunion album, 'Back to Now,' due out later this year via Verve Records.
Lisa Bonet
'The Cosby Show' and 'A Different World' star Lisa Bonet eloped with Lenny Kravitz in November 1987. Their daughter Zoe Isaballe Kravitz was born the next year. The couple separated in 1991.
Gary Dourdan
'C.S.I.' actor Gary Dourdan played Cree Summer's character's love interest Shazza Zulu on the NBC sitcom 'A Different World,' which was originally developed as a spin-off vehicle for Lisa Bonet. The Philadelphia native appeared on 13 episodes from 1991 to 1992.
Janet Jackson
Gary Dourdan also played the love interest of Janet Jackson in the music video for her chart-topping ballad, 'Again,' in 1993.
Tyler Perry
Janet Jackson starred in the lead role of Tyler Perry's box office smash, 'Why Did I Get Married?' The twice divorced pop star won an NAACP Image Award for her performance.
Ruben Cannon
One of the most respected executives in Hollywood, Ruben Cannon has served as a casting director of film and TV projects dating all the way back to 1977. He co-executive produced Tyler Perry's 'Why Did I Get Married?'
1. Jawn:
Thanks for keeping us informed.
Sandra
Sandra Varner at 6:57PM on Oct 6th 2008