SAMANTHA WHO #11

I was in business clothes doing the usual crossing on Samantha's city streets. The only good thing about today was that I met a lady from Diamond Bar who's a hairdresser and was doing background just to make ends meet. We had good conversation and she reminded me of my ex-sister in law for some reason, probably because of her generally happy attitude.

We were going to get some vegetarian food for lunch, but craft services provided some pasta for lunch. I was pretty surprised. Sam Who normally does not provide anything to eat let alone a decent craft services area. Nearly everyone I hear who talks about Sam Who complains that they don't like working on the show.

I don't mind it, but I think the reason people complain is because the food really sucks and lunch isn't ever provided. I guess the show has a small budget or Christina Applegate is just getting most of it deposited in her bank account. One thing is certain - background doesn't get the good eats that the crew and principles get access to. One can argue that the show is just cheap, but one can also argue that if background were given access, all the food would be gone since the show hires a couple hundred backgrounders each week.

My main issue with the show is that it is notorious for not giving meal penalties. They also give NDBs (non-deductible breakfast) to non-union folks which according to Central Casting is non-existent. In other words, they're not supposed to! But anyone at Central can see that the NDB box on the form is clearly filled-out and that six hours have gone by from check-in to lunch break.

I actually contacted Central to find out about this and they called me and said I should bring it up with the casting director for the show.