Actors join writers on picket lines for National Ice Cream Day

For today's Sunday entertainment feature, I'm updating SAG-AFTRA joins the WGA on strike beginning with MSNBC reporting Actors join writers in historic dual strike, effectively shutting down ‘Hollywood as we know it’.

SAG-AFTRA, the union representing Hollywood actors and thousands of others working in the film industry, is now on strike after talks with studios collapsed following four weeks of negotiations, joining the Writers Guild of America on the picket line. Katie Kilkenny, reporter with The Hollywood Reporter, and People Magazine Senior News Editor Nigel Smith join Andrea Mitchell to discuss. “This effectively shuts down Hollywood as we know it. I mean, the last time that both the WGA and SAG went on strike was the 1960s,” says Smith.

MSNBC interviewed the SAG-AFTRA President, who explained what the strike means when she said 'What is happening here is not unique' Fran Drescher on SAG-AFTRA strike's impact on labor.

Katy Tur spoke to SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher about the actor strike and the implications for the larger labor movement.

Drescher is right about the state of most actors in Hollywood. I grew up in Los Angeles and saw it first-hand. Our gardener growing up was an actor. The bartender at our favorite restaurant was an actor. My ex-brother-in-law was an actor, but made most of his money as a carpenter and handyman. They did not make enough money acting to make a living. Because of that, I support SAG-AFTRA's demands. Their members need them.

They and the writers also need to eat during the strike. Fox 11 Los Angeles reported on one establishment helping to feed them in Food bank giving groceries to union members.

World Harvest Kitchen is offering a free cart of groceries to striking Hollywood writers and actors. All they have to do is show their union card.

I would recommend my readers donate to World Harvest except that I haven't started yet. It's now on my to-do list.

I close with National Day Calendar reminding its viewers that today is National Ice Cream Day | Third Sunday in July.

Dish or cone? That’s all we need to know. National Ice Cream Day on the 3rd Sunday in July offers up every flavor on the menu to honor the day! The holiday also lands in the middle of National Ice Cream Month.

#NationalIceCreamDay
Thousands of years ago, people in the Persian Empire put snow in a bowl, poured concentrated grape juice over it, and ate it as a treat. Even when the weather was hot, they would savor this sweet treat. Their trick? They placed snow in underground chambers known as yakchal where the temperatures kept the snow from melting. The Persians also hiked to the mountain tops by their summer capital to gather snowfall.

I couldn't resist the space story, which I'm treating as foreshadowing to National Moon Day. In the meantime, Happy National Ice Cream Day!