ABC's late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel guested on Jay Leno's The Tonight Show:
JAY: "Now we're both back without writers. How's it going for you? It is very hard. I miss my writers tremendously."
JIMMY: "It makes booking guests very difficult because people don't want to cross a picket line. Instead of movie stars, you get the cast from Celebrity Fat Club 5 on the show."
JAY: "But there is an advantage. You don't have to see a lot of stupid movies and pretend they're good."
JIMMY: "But you have to see stupid reality shows and pretend they're good."
Part III: SO WHAT'S THE REAL STORY? Kimmel Joined Leno Complaining To WGA
I’ve been watching Letterman and Leno. I’ve observed that night after night Letterman (the guy with the WGA contract) brings attention to the strike every chance he gets, while Leno (the one without the WGA contract) says almost nothing. In this case, words speak louder than actions (donuts). Get with it, Leno.
Comment by JT — January 10, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
After reading this article you have to ask yourself a question…
If you are getting beat in the ratings by reality TV how good are you?
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978850.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
Seems also that Leno is doing very well too.
Comment by postpordLA — January 11, 2008 @ 12:22 am
So Jay doesn’t like the product Hollywood puts out and thinks the movies (jab at the writers of said films) are stupid. He should tell that to his A-list guests face to face. Jay won’t have to complain for long since Conan is getting his job soon. And not soon enough to replace that Scabby SOB.
Comment by reelbusy — January 11, 2008 @ 12:44 am
I absolutely ADORE Jon Stewart, but can someone PLEASE tell me what the hell he’s doing for the first half of every show, cuz it sure looks like written material to me.
Either that or there’s some impeccably-timed improv going on with video clips and shopped graphics hastily assembled just in the nick of time, in which case I’m really impressed by the– oh man, I can’t rationalize it any more!
Jon, jon, jon… c’mon, man. You could just change the format of the top of the show- do a roundtable discussion… do back-to-back interviews… something… seriously, what’s up with all the writing?
Yours,
A guy walking around for hours in circles with a sign.
Comment by A WGA Writer — January 11, 2008 @ 1:14 am
Oh, and Jon– I do appreciate the moral support and the good words you have for writers at each show… but at the same time… ugh..
I hate this strike. Damn AMPTP.
Comment by A WGA Writer — January 11, 2008 @ 1:15 am
Jay said something about not buying jokes. What a liar!
Comment by Tom — January 11, 2008 @ 2:18 am
JT
The reason Leno “says almost nothing” about the strike is he’d like to avoid drawing attention to the fact that his show is a scabfest.
It’s scab written from top to bottom.
At least Stewart and Colbert (I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch Kimmel) are still paying lip service to the strike.
Just because they’re reading it from a scab written teleprompter crawl doesn’t mean they’re not 100% behind the WGA.
Am I right?
And hey, if Weinstein signs on and the trickle becomes a raging torrent that ends this strike, it will all be forgotten anyway.
Seriously, why make a big deal about a few highly visible TV Personality’s flagrant, and repeated violation of Strike Rule #1.
They’re celebrities for GOD’s sake !!
I say let sleeping Strike Disciplinary Committee dogs lie.
Comment by timbrehse — January 11, 2008 @ 4:19 am
Howard Stern was on Letterman last night, much better than Jimmy Kimmel. Howard called Jay a scab and while Dave wouldn’t go there he let Howard go on with it a few times. He also talked about Dave paying his staff and shaming Jay into doing the same thing. True enough about which is the real stand up guy, though I hear Dave overlooked some on the regular crew. Give him points for talking up the strike even if the jokes go over the audiences head. Plenty of other funny to make up for it.
Comment by bporter — January 11, 2008 @ 4:58 am
Jay is afraid of Jeff Zucker. A real man would stand up for his writers if he can’t stand up for himself.
Comment by Jaylo — January 11, 2008 @ 6:43 am
Yes, Letterman is constantly mentioning the strike & how he supports the writers.
But there’s a huge problem.
His show isn’t funny!
Does anyone think that stupid, inane gag with the phone & the guy supposed to be a CHP cop calling is in any was funny?
Slightly humorous?
Dull as dishwater, definitely!
When Leno had the guy with the snakes on, all I could think of was that if the king cobra had bitten Jay, the cobra would be renamed Patric Verrone.
Comment by Unindicted Co-conspirator — January 11, 2008 @ 6:44 am
I hear that, JT. Letterman has always been better at remembering that the best comedy is predicated on the truth, and the bigger (and more awful) the truth, the funnier the joke. Leno used to know that. But George Lucas used to make good Star Wars movies, too. Leno is doubtless pissed off at the Guild that all his chopper-delivered donuts aren’t somehow magically turning into a free pass for him. He should be pissed off at himself for not fighting to own his show. And he should be pissed off at his boss, Jeff Zucker, for refusing to return to the bargaining table. Of all the moguls, Zucker, who has a remarkable anti-Midas touch, could benefit the most from stiffing the wrinkly-faced peer pressure his fellow moguls are bringing to bear and returning to the bargaining table by himself. If NBC made a deal with WGA, NBC would suddenly go from being lower rated than Cinemax2 to a network with new episodes - which would make them the only network like that on TV. But of course this reasoning is based on Zucker being reasonable, which he clearly is not.
Comment by jumpypants — January 11, 2008 @ 7:04 am
The look of desperation on Leno’s face is becoming more evident night after night. There was a brilliant “How did it get to this?” moment the other evening when Pammy Anderson showed up to hawk her straight to DVD “Which one of us is the bigger bimbo?” Er…”Blonde and Blonder” “Movie”.
After the clip there was a moment of stunned silence from the both of them. Words were not needed. The expressions on his and her’s face said it all.
“Our careers are screwed?”
Didn’t Pammy used to be the one “Celeb” The Tonight Show would call when a “Bigger” name would drop out at the last minute. Now she’s the biggest name he can get. What does that say? Who wants to take bets that Howie Mandell will show up again within the next 2 weeks?
Comment by JasonTHX — January 11, 2008 @ 7:39 am
“I’ve observed that night after night Letterman (the guy with the WGA contract) brings attention to the strike every chance he gets, while Leno (the one without the WGA contract) says almost nothing.”
Thats becuase NO ONE CARES. Thats why you all have to come here to have your pity party. No one else cares. It doesnt affect the public. Stewart as much as said so in his second episode saying how many emails he got about his first show with people that were pissed off at a 30 min advertisement for the WGA. The WGA unwillingness to give on any of their negotiating points only hurts you. There has been 2 mentions that there is still a strike going on in the news once when a Republican crossed the picket line (no one seemed to care when Sharpton did it to go on Kimmel but god forbig Huckabee does) and when they were cancelling the Golden Globes. Thats it.
Letterman owns his show so he can say and do whatever he wants because Letterman isnt funny. He only does his show to amuse himself.
Kimmel, Leno, Stewart, Colbert, Obrien all had to go back on the air or there would be no show for writers to go back to. Kimmel’s writers are glad he went back on and they are glad he plays past segments so that they get royalties.
But you guys “Stand United” all the way to the homeless shelter with your families. Im sure your sons and daughters when eating a discarded peanut butter sandwhich will say “Thank you for standing up for your principles, now its like camping every day”
The WGA doesnt care about its members otherwise they would have settled this deal already. They care about not being the first to blink. The first side to come to the table looks weaker and the WGA refuses to do that. The AMPTP sure as hell isnt going to be the first to blink. They will give a reality show to a dog before they will be the first.
Common sense has to win out over pride. You have to say hey lets get the Internet money and forget animation and reality as they were poor decision.
Comment by Steve — January 11, 2008 @ 7:43 am
I think NBC has more ability to put the screws on Leno, Conan and the ther guy and it’s doing so.
Conan is clearly on the side of the writers, and he makes a very carefully worded, very polite statement about that at the beginning of the show, but he acts as if he’s a guy walking on a tightrope over a pit of alligators when he talks about the strike.
On the one hand, it’s sad to see these guys going to work, and sadder when they seem to ignore the strike.
On the other hand, why didn’t the WGA get the post-production people on board, and why doesn’t it do so now? If the editors were striking and locking the shows in the Avids, then the hosts of the shows wouldn’t be in such an awkward position. If the WGA were working with the editors, then the hosts wouldn’t be tempted to cross picket lines, because it would be impossible to complete a show, and maybe difficult even to make the little shows to old shows necessary to air reruns.
Comment by a spouse — January 11, 2008 @ 8:15 am
Read the front page of the new york times business section about the growing discontent within the guild regarding the negotiating tactics of our leadership.
This strike and the tactics behind it was a joke when it started (with regards to what we hoped to (and are) accomplishing in relation to our goals) - now it’s becoming a sad sad commentary on misguided leadership.
Wake up people - this strike is not getting us what we deserve. The DGA will make a deal and we will accept it - I guarantee it (perhaps the other side will throw us a small extra bone to save face but I highly doubt it). How much do you want to bet that Patrick Verrone is not voted in for a second term - and how much to do you want to bet that the next time we have to negotiate with big media it is not a garment worker negotiator like Young, or a carpenter union negotiator like strike captain Jeff Hermanson who is representing us.
I love my guild - I think our leadership are so off track that it makes me ill for all the jobs that have been lost in the interest of looking tough. You can throw a million sharp pebbles at King Kong and all he does is giggle.
John Ridley may or may not be a coward - BUT - he is standing alone for something that many of us believe in. And remember, in 1988 the guild signed 100 side contracts (like we are doing now with UA and WWP and the Weinsteins) - and it had no real effect in ending that strike. That strike ended when a powerful lobby of showrunners threatened to go fi-core - and rather than suffer such a public split in the guild - the strike ended soon after the threat circulated.
These side deals do nothing in terms of dividing and conquering - it’s a nice dream, but it’s bullshit. UA is a deal that allows Robert Towne to finish rewrites on Cruise’s new film - that’s all - and it allows him a big fuck you to Sumner Redstone. BFD. (0h, and maybe Ridley will get a huge paycheck to rewrite Pinkville for Oliver Stone at UA) Whoopy! The Weinsteins who are suffering big time now get to move ahead on a couple movies and flip the bird at Disney - their old partners. Yay! All the night time hosts get to write their own stuff - some admit to it (Leno) and others do not.
We’ll make more side deals and before too long, like in ‘88, there will be a few dozen writers back at work while tens of thousands remaining out of work. Anyone who believes the rank and file will sit still so A-listers can returns to their multi-million dollar paychecks is high!
The guild is splitting - quietly - and it’s splitting within the ranks of what could be called the die-hard supporters. I walk the line - and I am one who may benefit from a side deal - as one of my projects is on hold at a company currently negotiating with the guild. I will be glad to go back to work if I’m lucky enough to - and I will believe as I collect my commencement check that they rest of you on out on the picket lines are being screwed over by a very misguided leadership.
Comment by moderatewriter — January 11, 2008 @ 8:36 am
Why Kimmel would want to be linked to somebody as toxic as Leno, I’ll never know. Of all the losers in this strike, with the damage to his image on several fronts, Leno has to be the biggest. And you NEVER recover from betraying your union.
Re: the other story: George Clooney’s patronizing statements are absurd. Don’t let him near a bargaining table.
Comment by James R. — January 11, 2008 @ 9:17 am
Pretty unfortunate choice of words and also very bitter. Then again, actors don’t like going on shows and talking to a bobble-head much themselves. It’s not like the actors are sitting around missing talking to Jay Leno and wishing this thing would end so they can go look at his mug.
- Writer
Comment by outside the gates — January 11, 2008 @ 10:06 am
Letterman is so much better than Jay in the closet. He stole Stuttering John from Howard Stern. He is a pathetic sell out.
How is Stewart doing his show without writing it? Or is he?
Comment by Anonymous — January 11, 2008 @ 10:12 am
We really have to stop eating our own. Jay and the others are not the problem.
The problem is the AMPTP refuses to negotiate with us on new media. THAT is the problem and THAT is where we need to keep our focus.
Comment by Lola — January 11, 2008 @ 10:23 am
Well, Leno has been more indirect about his references, at some times seeming brazen. He doesn’t have to worry, NBC is making him retire next year. So, he can joke about not writing but instead “memorizing” things and try and laugh about the tough situation.
In contrast, his sucessor still has his stike beard and starts off every show mentioning how much he misses his writers.
Comment by AV — January 11, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
Will somebody explain to me why Leno, Jon Stewart, Steve Cobert and the rest of these guys (except Letterman) aren’t scabs? They’re WGA members writing for struck companies, no? Say it, Jon Stewart’s a scab. Am I missing something?
Comment by Wondering — January 11, 2008 @ 12:42 pm
now that Leno’s ratings are higher than they were pre-strike (so far) what’s the over/under on how many of his 19 staff writers will still be around post strike? You know that little man Zucker’s in his office thinking how much money he saves by cutting about half of ‘em loose. In addition to prolonging the strike, this is why it’s so f-ing wrong to allow jay to continue to do his standard show.
Comment by Paul Yoda — January 11, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
“Kimmel, Leno, Stewart, Colbert, Obrien all had to go back on the air or there would be no show for writers to go back to.”
Yeah, wow, you’re right. Not only would that put these hosts in a unique position, no other show that’s off the air is in danger of cancellation, um, it’s also true. The Daily Show, Colbert, The Tonight Show, Late Night, uh, all in imminent danger of cancellation. Really, could happen. Easily I mean, for one thing it’s not like NBC gets beaten by local access cable and the late night shows are all it has to keep it afloat. So, yeah, good point. And comedy Central has 14 year old South Park reruns and larry the Cable guy specials, so they don’t need their flagship shows one bit.
Seriously, can’t you people hire better shills? Have some standards. Actively drooling or unironically suggesting that Leno’s show is funny would be reasons to move on and hire someone else, it’s not that hard.
Wondering–Stewart’s a scab, but our leaders aren’t going to do a thing about it.
moderatewriter, nonshill extraordinarie, fine, blagh blagh, doom gloom. So, what do you suggest? Everyone but you is stupid and misguided, how can we save ourselves from our own stupidity? Do tell, O Swami. Don’t tell me…refuse to go back under side agreements, insist on going fi-core like the brave John Ridley instead? (I do agree with you though–asking experiences negotiators to negotiate? Crazy talk. We should have asked someone kind and friendly, like Elmo). Oh, and please get it right–the late night scabbing has nothing to do with side deals, They were going back before any side deals were made.
Comment by Seriously — January 11, 2008 @ 6:19 pm
Moderatewriter, give it up already, we’re just not that stupid.
This strike isn’t an excuse to have fun walking around in a big circle to prove that we’re all equal. There’s a reason behind it.
Those of us on the non-A list, as you put it, won’t be able to continue in this business if the studios and networks are able to roll back residuals by switching to primarily web-based distribution. The fact that a handful of writers are earning paychecks while other are not is beside the point, who the hell cares, the real issue is that the paychecks that sustain us between jobs will be gone forever in a few years’ time when the technology improves.
Nothing has changed about that underlying issue, also known as the reason more than 90% voted to authorize. We’re not “splitting” by losing a handful of disingenuous idiots who were never on our side in the first place.
Comment by Anon — January 11, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
Would Leno have on a band called “Striking Writers?” And, the lyrics to the songs would be jokes?
Or, Leno should have on a band called “The Scabs,” and all the lyrics would be jokes from Jay’s monlogue that night.
Comment by MildApplausei — January 11, 2008 @ 8:39 pm