SAG Moves Closer to Ditching Allen

As expected, SAG's national board moved closer to ousting national executive director Doug Allen as the guild's lead negotiator during an emergency meeting Monday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, "parliamentary maneuvers orchestrated by Allen's backers" prevented moderates, who hold a minor board majority, from voting on the measure before the meeting's end. Singing a slightly different tune, Variety reported that SAG spokeswoman Pamela Greenwalt had officially confirmed the ouster late Monday, but would not elaborate on whether Allen will stay for the last year of his contract or who his replacement will be.  If Allen is ousted, SAG's leaders are likely to proceed with a cancellation of the guild's disruptive strike authorization vote and resume contract negotiations with the studios, or send the studios' final offer to its membership for approval.