‘Ridiculousness’ Writers Achieve First Contract After Unionizing Under WGAW

Katie Campione
·2-min read

The writers of MTV’s Ridiculousness have officially bargained their first contract.

After the writers voted to organize under the Writers Guild of America West last year, the union announced Wednesday that they had achieved a deal covering all writing staff including creative consultants, supervising producers and the showrunner.

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“The writers of Ridiculousness have shown incredible unity, courage and resolve throughout their organizing campaign for a Guild contract. I’m proud to welcome them into our union,” WGAW President Meredith Stiehm said in a statement.

According to the WGA, the deal includes:

  • Minimum compensation per the WGA Minimum Basic Agreement

  • Residuals in basic cable and other reuse markets

  • WGA pension and health benefits, including paid parental leave

  • Full season employment guarantees

  • Regulation of the use of AI-generated written material in accordance with the MBA

  • A grievance and arbitration procedure

  • Holiday pay

Additionally, all staffers will receive retroactive back pay, pension and health contributions, and residuals from October 23 to the present.

“We’re all thrilled with what we’ve won by sticking together and to finally be recognized for the value of our contribution to the show,” Ridiculousness writer Ryan Conner said in a statement. “We are excited to join the WGAW and look forward to continuing to do the work we love, alongside host Rob Dyrdek, whose support was instrumental in getting us this deal.”

The Ridiculousness writers held an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in September 2023 to unionize under the WGA. At the time, they were seeking better working conditions, including improved pay and residuals.

Ridiculousness has aired over 1,200 episodes across 34 seasons since its launch in 2011. The clip show is hosted by Dyrdek and co-host Sterling ‘Stello’ Brim. It essentially shows various viral videos with Dyrdek and his panelists mocking and reacting to them.

The show has had a number of spinoffs including Amazingness, Deliciousness, which was hosted by Tiffani Thiessen, Adorableness, hosted by James Davis, and Messyness, featuring Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi, Tori Spelling, Adam Rippon and Teddy Ray.

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