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Seems like Ozzy Osbourne has come out of whatever hole he last dug himself in since The Osbournes ended a satisfying pop culture death to make a variety show. Of course, probably under the assumption that he doesn’t need someone to write his lines (”Uhaghndjnnnn…SHAAARON!!”) the show’s producers have sought to make the program “half-scripted,” according to the New York Times.

Basic translation: We really do need to script the old man, but don’t feel like paying for it.

Of course, this does not please the Writer’s Guild:

Such a contract would pay reduced fees to guild-represented writers of skits, interview material and scene outlines, said the letter, written by Patric M. Verrone, president of the Writers Guild of American West and Michael Winship, president of the Writers Guild East.
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The guild said that Fremantle offered to “pay greatly reduced writing fees” to writers of skits, interview material and introductions, while other portions of the show would not employ guild-represented writers. Jeff Hermanson, an assistant executive director of the guild’s western branch, said that the guild had traditionally covered 100 percent of the work on programs like the proposed Osbournes show, which he called “a completely straightforward, traditional comedy-variety show.”

The tentatively titled The Osbournes: Loud and Dangerous would act as a possible companion to American Idol when it returns in 2009. No surprise that FremantleMedia North America is producing both shows.