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February 16, 2006
Dying is easy; comedy is hard
Well, the sexual harassment/hostile work environment lawsuit filed against the producers of "Friends" by a former production assistant has had its day in the California Supreme Court.
On Tuesday, the justices of the California Supreme Court seemed inclined to keep their fingers -- and jurors' second-guessing -- out of the creative process that helped breathe life into his sex-obsessed character, and others, on the sitcom "Friends."
The court, in a case televised live by the California Channel, had been asked to rule that writers' sexually crude comments and simulations while hashing out TV scripts could constitute sexual harassment serious enough to cause a hostile work environment, especially for women and minorities.
But the six justices on hand for oral arguments appeared uncomfortable with the thought of forcing writers to curb their thoughts, words and actions even if they often push the boundaries of sexual harassment.
It's interesting to see two normally-sympatico communities at each other's throats. Hollywood and the women's rights movement are often joined at the hip, but the creative process is the epitome of sausage making; it may taste good, but you sure as hell don't want to see how they turn pig into dinner. And, in the end, freedom of expression is at loggerheads with the assorted rights movements.
If you want all the salacious details contained in the moving papers, they're only a click away.
Posted by Mike Lief at February 16, 2006 08:27 AM