Fired 'Reba' Writer Sues WB for Age Discrimination - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 10-29-2002, 12:18 AM

http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?28636

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - A former writer for The WB's comedy "Reba" is
suing the network and producer 20th Century Fox TV, claiming he was fired
because of his age.

Gary H. Miller, 54, worked on the show's first season last year and was let go before
the start of this season, about the same time that creator Allison Gibson was
replaced as showrunner by Kevin Abbott, a veteran of "Roseanne" and "Grace
Under Fire."

Miller, who's worked on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," "Boy Meets World" and
"Bosom Buddies" in his career, claims he was told the network was going with
"greener" writers. Miller says he was the only writer over 40 working on the series.

"This is another example of the TV industry's unlawful bias in favor of writers under the
age of 40," Miller's lawyer, Steve Sprenger, tells Reuters. "This policy is unfortunately
not new to the WB or 20th Century Fox."

The WB isn't commenting on the lawsuit.

The suit claims that writers over 50 make up just 2 percent of the writing staffs at The
WB and 20th Century Fox, even though a third of Writers Guild members are over 50.
It also says Miller was recommended for a co-executive producer position on "Reba,"
but the studio refused to consider him.

"Reba," somewhat ironically, focuses on the efforts of a middle-aged, divorced
woman (Reba McEntire) who tries to keep her dysfunctional family functioning. It's the
highest-rated comedy on The WB.

shel 7296 · 11-14-2003, 01:01 PM

I know what it is like to be discriminated because of my age. Age discrimination goes both ways I was discriminated because I am young.

10-29-2002, 12:18 AM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,754	Fired 'Reba' Writer Sues WB for Age Discrimination http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?28636 LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - A former writer for The WB's comedy "Reba" is suing the network and producer 20th Century Fox TV, claiming he was fired because of his age. Gary H. Miller, 54, worked on the show's first season last year and was let go before the start of this season, about the same time that creator Allison Gibson was replaced as showrunner by Kevin Abbott, a veteran of "Roseanne" and "Grace Under Fire." Miller, who's worked on "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," "Boy Meets World" and "Bosom Buddies" in his career, claims he was told the network was going with "greener" writers. Miller says he was the only writer over 40 working on the series. "This is another example of the TV industry's unlawful bias in favor of writers under the age of 40," Miller's lawyer, Steve Sprenger, tells Reuters. "This policy is unfortunately not new to the WB or 20th Century Fox." The WB isn't commenting on the lawsuit. The suit claims that writers over 50 make up just 2 percent of the writing staffs at The WB and 20th Century Fox, even though a third of Writers Guild members are over 50. It also says Miller was recommended for a co-executive producer position on "Reba," but the studio refused to consider him. "Reba," somewhat ironically, focuses on the efforts of a middle-aged, divorced woman (Reba McEntire) who tries to keep her dysfunctional family functioning. It's the highest-rated comedy on The WB.

11-14-2003, 01:01 PM	#2
shel 7296 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 31, 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 105	I know what it is like to be discriminated because of my age. Age discrimination goes both ways I was discriminated because I am young.