Comments on: EXCLUSIVE: Conan O'Brien To Pay Staff

By: Sandy Daley

Sandy Daley — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:26:54 +0000

So much for Jay being a nice guy.

Next week, his staff is out of a job. No pay.

I knew there was a reason why I preferred David Letterman.

By: gimme a break

gimme a break — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:21:16 +0000

Working Stiff: You should look up the meaning of “conspiracy theory.” Try Wikipedia. Also, it was smart of you to add “unverified” since most conspiracy theories are verified.

When Leno and/or Letterman goes back but Conan stays off the air to “show his support” then I will post here about what a big stupid wiener I was. In the meantime it is you who is naive and childlike about this.

By: editor's wife

editor's wife — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:30:32 +0000

To me, it sounds as if Leno is trying to support his writers in his own way, and it could be that he’s doing nice things behind the scenes that we’ll never hear about.

Also: I have no way of knowing whether Conan has picketed or not. If he hasn’t, maybe that’s because of the stalking issue. If you had so many stalkers that even deranged Catholic priests were after you, maybe you, too, would be careful about picketing.

Finally, a Late Night writer, Chris Albers, is an immediate past president of the WGA East. Who knows what Conan thinks about the strike, but he certainly isn’t anti-WGA.

By: CelebrityD&D

CelebrityD&D — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:29:21 +0000

Paying your writing staff during a strike is a great move. The financial pressure is really on this time of year and payment is just the type of support and respect the writers are striking to gain in the 1st place.

What I really wanna know is where these Carson bashing websites are. I personally cannot believe that this guy’s show has been on for as long as it has.

By: NBC Striker

NBC Striker — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:11:46 +0000

Hey Working Stiff,
Leno has been out there every day (with one day exception, but our group may have missed him). He has put his face in front of the cameras, has spoken to the press several times and continues to show up on the picket line. He is taking the hit like every picketing writer is doing. So, if you criticize him, you criticize all of us!

NBC is the owner of the Tonight Show. Zucker is the one NOT paying the staff.

By: person 2

person 2 — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:49:35 +0000

Conan IS a member of the WGA, but he just wanted to make sure that the staff that was not getting paid during the strike, while the writers are for each rerun that airs, got taken care of.

He is a show runner so he is in an awkward position but i think that this is a good move.

By: Working stiff

Working stiff — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:19:14 +0000

Hey Gimme -

Whoa to you and your unverified conspiracy theories.

When it comes down to it, what’s more important - handing out doughnuts in a photo-op or making it possible for your staff to pay their mortgages? Who cares how Conan and Jeff Ross got it done? They’ve managed to keep the staff from being laid off AND show CONTINUED SUPPORT for the writers by refusing to bring the show back without them. What the hell more do you want?

By: gimme a break

gimme a break — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:53:32 +0000

Dear “Person” who wrote: to gimme a break–Conan has supported the writers by STAYING OUT OFF THE AIR FOR 4 WEEKS!!!!!

the only reason conan has stayed off the air is that letterman and leno have stayed off. if you think he would stay off the air for even one day longer if leno and/or letterman went back, then you’re clueless.

where is he on the picket lines??? he was a WGA member and working writer for years. where is his support? I’m still waiting.

By: person

person — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:41:52 +0000

to gimme a break–Conan has supported the writers by STAYING OUT OFF THE AIR FOR 4 WEEKS!!!!!

By: DH

DH — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:57:50 +0000

Conan and Jeff Ross are very rare people in this phony showbiz
world. Many thanks to you both and your ethics and for fighting for
your day laborers!

By: gimme a break

gimme a break — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:26:10 +0000

someone wrote:
Anita, Ever think about the fact that Carson might be looking out not only for his job, but for the hundred or so people on his staff

“Fact”? I think the word you were looking for is “improbablity.”

By: Semper Fi

Semper Fi — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:49:43 +0000

Julie better check her facts. Her comment is absolutely untrue about Leno, Emmys, and his relationship with his writers.
Semper Fi

By: for anita

for anita — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:47:12 +0000

Anita,

Ever think about the fact that Carson might be looking out not only for his job, but for the hundred or so people on his staff, including striking writers, who wouldn’t have a job to come back to if he gets fired supporting the strike of a union he’s not even a member of? You know, the people who probably really are hurting for cash?

By: Carla

Carla — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:57:33 +0000

I really think it’s Jay’s turn to step up and pay his staff, considering he makes WAY more than Conan does.

and i dont know what “julie” is talking about a few posts down, but the tonight show has submitted for the writing category in the emmy’s every single year. they’ve just never been nominated. and if jay wanted people to think he wrote his own jokes, he wouldnt have 15 writers’ names in the credits.

By: Gimme a break

Gimme a break — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:28:47 +0000

Whoa everyone, let’s slow down a bit with the Conan praise. Leno has been out to the picket line almost every single day since the strike started. Has Conan been to the line once? I’m asking you, once? And of course it’s CONAN who was the WGA member for years before he was in front of the camera. Where’s his support for the writers?

It’s great that his staff will be paid, but don’t think for a second that Conan’s people won’t get that money back from NBC. They’re banking the next 20 years on Conan, they’re not going to sour their relations with him by refusing to reimburse him. In fact, I’ll bet they’ve already agreed to reimbuse him and they’re letting the announcement be made this way for pro-Conan p.r. reasons.

Let’s all try to be a little less naive, okay?