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DAVID LETTERMAN: He walked onstage at the Ed Sullivan Theater in midtown Manhattan sporting a full beard and moustache and a WGA-written monologue backed by a chorus line of high-kicking showgirls wielding WGA picket signs. Wow, what an opening! The show was screened for NYC press at the Worldwide Pants offices but not for LA-based journalists. And there's no transcript. But his show opened with a cameo by Hillary Clinton intoning: "Dave's been off the air for eight long weeks because of the writers strike. Tonight he's back. Oh well -- all good things must come to an end." (A jab at the fact that she hasn't been the butt of his jokes for two months now...) Dave explained to the audience that yes, "this crap is written" and briefly explained about the strike. The last line of Letterman's short monologue went, "The strike has gotten ugly. Earlier today, at ABC, a bunch of writers tipped over Regis."
Behind his desk, Letterman first off thanked the WGA. His production company Worldwide Pants, of course, obtained an interim agreement so that his two late night shows could return on air with writers. (Only Dave and Craig Ferguson enjoy that luxury right now.) I'm told that, at the end of their first day back, The Late Show writers decided to donate a percentage of their salaries every month until the strike ends to the WGA Strike Fund and the Actors Fund. "The Strike Fund for obvious reasons, and the Actors Fund because it is need-based for all of those collaterally damaged, including below-the-liners," Letterman writer Bill Scheft just told me. The show's writers also decided to keep doing a daily picket line shift representing the show until the strike is settled. "The writers as a whole plan to contribute in whatever small and large ways we can," Scheft says.
Also, as the strike captain, Scheft did a bit called "Strike Questions and Answers". I'm told that, after the last question, Dave almost reveals a whacky prop pair of electric underwear and Scheft interrupts him, saying that although Dave's writers are back, the strike is sadly still going on. Scheft proceeds to talk a little bit about the strike, then revs up to this: "So, to the arrogant media moguls who've gotten so fat off our sweat-soaked toil that they can no longer fit behind their oversized mahogany desks, I say, stop spending all your money on cufflinks, cocktails and whores. Stick a crowbar in your wallet and start bargaining in good faith with the writers. Maybe then America won't be denied seeing David Letterman hold up a pair of flaming underpants."
I'm told there will be even more ridiculing of the Hollywood moguls and Big Media CEOs on the other side of the writers strike over the next days. Oh, goodie!
Letterman's venerable Top 10 list was delivered on air by 10 of the real-life striking writers who picket almost daily with the Letterman scribes. Here it is:
Top 10 Demands of the Striking Writers
10. The Daily Show's Tim Carvell: "Complimentary tote bag with next insulting contract offer."
9. The Colbert Report's Laura Kraft: "No rollbacks in health benefits, so I can treat the hypothermia I caught on the picket lines."
8. Soap writer Melissa Salmons: "Full salary and benefits for my imaginary writing partner, Lester."
7. Law & Order: Criminal Intent's Warren Leight: "Members of the AMPTP must explain what the hell AMPTP stands for."
6. The Colbert Report's Jay Katsir: "No disciplinary action taken against any writer caught having inappropriate relationship with a copier."
5. The Daily Show's Steve Bodow: "I’d like a date with a woman."
4. Writer/director Nora Ephron: "Hazard pay for breaking up fights on The View."
3. Law & Order's Gina Gionfriddo: "I’m no accountant, but instead of us getting 4 cents for a $20 DVD, how about we get $20 for a 4-cent DVD?"
2. Late Night's Chris Albers: "I don’t have a joke – I just want to remind everyone that we’re on strike, so none of us are responsible for this lame list."
1. Writer Alan Zwiebel: "Producers must immediately remove their heads from their asses."
Finally, Robin Williams came on, and Dave showed a picture of the film comedian picketing with the writers. They talked about the strike for a bit...
JAY LENO: Back in Burbank, he didn't miss a beat during what was a funny monologue. But the big question is who wrote it: WGA members or scabs (i.e. the usual contingent of joke writers who hang out around Jay's kitchen table)? Leno addressed that issue during the monologue: "You know what I'm doing? I'm doing what I did the day I started. I write jokes and wake my wife up in the middle of the night and say, 'Honey, is this funny?' So if this monologue doesn't work it's my wife's fault," he explained. "We are not using outside guys. We are following the guild thing... We can write for ourselves..."
That sure sounds like an admission by Leno that he broke the WGA strike rules as spelled out here: "The Strike Rules, among other provisions, prohibit Guild members from performing any writing services during a strike for any and all struck companies. This prohibition includes all writing by any Guild member that would be performed on-air by that member (including monologues, characters, and featured appearances) if any portion of that written material is customarily written by striking writers." (See my previous: WGA Reminds Returning Jay And Conan: No Monologues.)
Leno also talked about Letterman coming back with writers. "See Dave was able to get a deal. Because Dave has his own company. I don't blame him for getting a deal, God bless him. We have to go by ourselves up against the CBS machine. One man against a monolith..."
But Jay also did a pretty decent job explaining to the audience at least a little about the writers strike and making fun of boss Jeff Zucker -- which was way more daring than anything Conan O'Brien did (see below). According to the transcript, which I'm excerpting here, Jay began, "Folks, lets get right to it. A Jew, a Christian, and a Muslim walk into a bar. The Jew says to the Muslim... See, I have no idea what they say because there's a writers strike. We don't know what they say. As you know, we are in the middle of this writers' strike here in Hollywood. It's already cost the town over a half a billion dollars. Five hundred million dollars! Or as Paul McCartney calls that, 'a divorce.' Of course, the strike is especially hard on NBC. Do you know there are actually more people picketing NBC now then watching NBC right now?
"I was able to sneak my camera phone into one of the negotiations between the writers and producers. The writers' are correct, by the way. I'm a writer... I'm on the side of the writers. I got some cell phone footage. This was not pretty. Just to give you an idea how the negotiations are going. Take a look... [scene of South Korean parliament brawl]
"People want to know why we came back on the air when we did. Well, we were off for two months... As I said, I was on the strike every single day while they were talking. Then a couple weeks ago the talks broke off. No new talks were scheduled, so we had to come back because we have essentially 19 people putting 160 people out of work. We continue to support the guild...
"When you live here, in Hollywood, you see the disparity between the writers and the producers. The writer's guild tried to make a deal with our boss Jeff Zucker... You know how tough he is. I went over to Jeff's house. I want to show you Jeff's house. [mansion] His butler couldn't have been nicer... Then, over this past weekend, I took my video camera and I went over to the writer town. Kevin, have you been to writer town? Writer town is on the other side of the hill. That's where all the writers who write the TV shows live. I want to show you the difference between Jeff's house [and] the writers' houses. Take a look. [shanty town].
"Another reason we had to come back was a lot of people get their news from the monologue. We cover a lot of the stories that the mainstream media will not cover. For example, did you know that just three weeks ago, Idaho Senator Larry Craig married Britney Spears? Did you know that? See, no one knew! This is the only place you will find that out..." And with that, Leno went into a typically topical monologue.
Then Jay filled up time with a "Jib Jab" animated segment and then took audience questions and all the while looked like he was relieved to be back before the cameras. GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee crossed the picket line to be lead guest as expected. Immediately, the WGA issued this statement after the show: "The Writers Guild is disappointed that Mike Huckabee crossed the WGA picket line today at NBC. We welcome the statements of support he has made for striking writers, but we ask him to respect our picket lines in the future and urge the media conglomerates to return to the bargaining table to make a fair deal that will put writers and the entertainment industry back to work."
CONAN O'BRIEN: In Rockefeller Plaza, Conan O'Brien also sported a strike beard. (Shown here earlier.) But it was his lame opening that really surprised me. Forget that it was not funny at all. Which clearly meant no writers were used to prepare it, WGA or scabs. But I thought it bizarre that Conan had barely referred to the writers strike, even though he has been a WGA member for some time. But then I discovered that when NBC gave me the "official" transcript of O'Brien's remarks, they left out every sentence he said in support of the writers. That's right -- NBC didn't provide me with the whole transcript of Conan's monologue. Now they're trying to claim it was just a giant mistake.
So here is what I never was informed Conan said: "Let’s talk for a minute about the situation we find ourselves in. As you know, two months ago the Writers Guild of America went out on strike and we took our show Late Night with Conan O’Brien off the air in support of the writers. This has been a tough time not only for our show, but for a lot of people in the entertainment industry. Good people right now are out of work. And possibly worse, with all the late night shows off the air, Americans have been forced to read books and occasionally even speak to one another, which has been horrifying.
"We’re back now but sadly, we do not have our writers with us. I want to make this clear, I support their cause – these are very talented, very creative people who work extremely hard and I believe what they’re asking for is fair. My biggest wish is that they get a great deal very quickly and get back here because we desperately need them on the show. Think about it: Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, The Masturbating Bear, The Walker Texas Ranger Lever – it’s all writing. Well, not the Masturbating Bear. That’s just instinct. Which brings us to the big $64,000 question of the evening: What do we do now?"
But here are the only excerpts from the partial transcript of Conan's monologue which I received: "Everywhere I go in the city for the last couple of days I hear, 'What are you gonna do? You got a whole show to do. What are you gonna do? You got no writers.' We have no writers and an hour show to do every night. Well ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to start by talking about my beard. ...I grew it out of solidarity for my writers, and to prove that I have some testosterone. The biggest comment I’m getting the last couple of days is that I look like the character of Kris Kringle in 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town.' [There's a split screen showing the similarities.] I’ve been taking a lot of flak for this beard, but I think you’ll find that if you look closely at this beard, it’s actually quite amazing. Let’s do that now in a quick Strike Beard Moment." O’Brien finished the top of the show by demonstrating his wedding ring spinning prowess and showing a video package of what he and his skeleton crew staff have been doing during the strike. The main guest was even lamer than the monologue: Bob Saget. No, I'm not kidding.
JIMMY KIMMEL: He started the show at his desk (as opposed to standing which he does to deliver the monologue). “Perhaps in other places no one cares about the writers’ strike. But essentially what it is is the writers would like to get money for things that go on the Internet and the producers would like writers not to get paid anything for the things that go on the Internet. And so hopefully we’ll strike a balance somewhere in the middle."
Then Kimmel did a real departure: he defended his fellow late night hosts who were returning without their writers. "But there have been writers striking outside The Tonight Show, and Conan had people striking outside, which I -- by the way, I don’t want to depart too much from the party line -- but I think it’s ridiculous. I mean, Jay Leno paid his staff while they were out of work, Conan did the same thing and um, I don’t know. I just think at a certain point you back off a little bit.”
Kimmel also introduced a new segment called "Greatest Moments For Which Residual Payments Are Made To Our Unemployed Writers". It shows previously aired bits so that his writers are ensured of receiving residuals for them.
CRAIG FERGUSON: Taping in LA, he decided to forgo guests in favor of an all WGA-written and -produced comedy show. Helped by writers, Craig's monologue was refreshingly tasteless and lighthearted. "It’s a great day for America. We’re back. We are back!!!," the Scottish comedian exulted on air. "Most of you probably didn’t notice this, but we were away for awhile. Writers strike still on, but we got special pass. It is the TV equivalent of diplomatic immunity. I’m like Switzerland in TV. 'I’ll hold the jackets and your money you two continue to fight.' This is the way they talk in Switzerland. My boss, David Letterman -- I know he’s my boss! -- made a deal for our shows to return with the whole staff. And if anyone in America can get a deal made, it’s David Letterman. I found that out when I was making deal to work here. I tried to be tough, but Dave made an offer I couldn’t refuse. I woke up and found Paul Schaeffer’s head in my bed. Luckily it was still attached to Paul. Oh, we made beautiful music together.
"People are saying that this show and Dave’s show are going to get all the A-list guests as a result of this deal. I read that on Internet -- that means it’s true. I want to send a message to all the D-list celebrities, you’re always welcome here. We’ll still have Kathy Griffin on, the guy who invented the electric cheese cutter, people who can fart musical notes. This show won’t change a bit. It will be garbage. I make you this pledge people of America. We will not improve this show. It will not be funnier. It will not be better.
"So I had two whole months off work. Two months – it was horrible. I didn’t know what to do with myself. Well, I knew one thing to do, but once you do that one thing. After that, you have the rest of the day. Grew strike beard. Got itchy so I shaved it off. Then grew it back again. That was just the 1st day. Was tough for me not having an outlet for whatever this is. Went into Starbucks every morning, did monologue for people who worked there... I can now blame the WGA for every lame thing I do.
"I grew up in an environment of strikes. Britain in 1970s, everyone on strike. Coal miners, postal workers, the dentists. I’ll never forget the British dental strike of 1979. It’s still going. They never resolved it. But when the British miners went on strike, it was very violent. They set fire to cars. When my writers went on strike, they set fire to their farts.
"Strikes are not the same in LA. Strikers on the picket lines bring their yoga mats to the picket lines, they wear sexy outfits & high heels. Alright, that was just me – but it was fun. Was fun and Eddie Murphy gave me ride home. I might have made that up myself. You have to be careful during a strike cause emotions run very high. I was glad to see the writers doing things to try and lighten the mood. Some of the picket lines have different themes. Saw a science-fiction themed picket line. People dressed like characters from Star Trek. I was amazed. Who’d have thought that a TV writer would have his own Star Trek costume? What a surprise! That’s like saying Donald Trump owns a wig. Do you know what else they had? They had a 'Bring a Celebrity To Picket Line”. Really. I called to see if they wanted me to show up. They said, 'Fine, but who are you bringing?' Thought that up myself.
"No one knows how long this strike will go on. The two sides aren’t talking to each other. It’s like being married. Have to go to bed at night without anything happening, play rerun in your head. It’s good to be back, but not really business as usual. No guests tonight. None. [reaction from crowd]. Don’t you 'oh' me – you’ll get your money. Tonight it’s all comedy. And we use that term loosely here. Whatever the hell we do - drama and funny costumes. God it is good to see you!!!"
Okay, if you are going to question Leno’s funny monologue by asking if scabs wrote it, then why are you not questionin Conan’s smart opening? I think it’s time to stop bashing Leno or start bashing all of them.
Comment by Lola — January 2, 2008 @ 5:41 pm
Jay Leno did a very funny monologue? That’d be a first. But if this is true, that he performed comedy material, then he’s out of the WGA. The hosts on the struck shows were ordered not to perform written material. And who wrote it? The faxers or did his striking writers? If the latter, they’re scabs for the rest of their careers.
I applaud Letterman’s opening with the WGA signs in the background. It sounds like like a hoot. Craig Ferguson going sans guests and doing nothing but written material, while noble, sounds like an experiment that won’t continue.
Any report on Kimmel’s show? I’d like to think that Jimmy has the scruples to not do written material, but with the Guild verbally fellating the hosts every 5 minutes the pervasive attitude may condone that.
The picketing outside Conan was very tame I understand and rather subdued.
Comment by Steve Chase — January 2, 2008 @ 5:42 pm
if leno is a wga member, how is he not a scab?
of course he prepared jokes in advance
there’s no way he went on national tv without preparation
Comment by won't be watching leno anymore — January 2, 2008 @ 6:07 pm
I wonder if Jay’s time visiting on the WGA picket line was an intentional kryptonite maneuver (”You can’t get mad at Jay, he delivered donuts”) which would look pretty cynical if he figured on coming back today…
Comment by anotherWGAwriter — January 2, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
Who do you thinhk wrote Jay’s monologue? The same scabs he has always used. The ones the WGA knows about and ignores.
If the WGA doesn’t care about this, why should we support them at all?
Comment by Hairdresser — January 2, 2008 @ 6:18 pm
I am so confused. Why does Leno get a free pass? Can someone explain. Republican. Guild member. Crossing picket line. Scab.
Comment by LA Undercover — January 2, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
Boy, think of all the votes Huckabee just lost from WGA members. Er, wait . . . .
Comment by Hmmm. — January 2, 2008 @ 6:43 pm
Nikki, dont’ rag on Saget. The guy was incredible in the Aristocats, and his HBO special was very, very funny, and he had a great guest spot on Entourage a couple of seasons ago. Ragging on Saget is so 1994!
Dave Coulier, okay, him you can rip on.
Comment by Anonymous — January 2, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
If you think Bob Saget has no talent, go see his stand-up. Even he admits his TV shows were lame, but he is one funny guy, and nothing like what he played on TV.
Comment by R U Serious — January 2, 2008 @ 7:00 pm
Wow, it seems like Conan wasn’t even trying. Leno seems to have scab writers and Letterman and Ferguson will be on my TV set tonight.
Comment by fan of the WGA — January 2, 2008 @ 7:08 pm
when was the last time conan was funny? of course jay has people writing for him. this is Hollywood, money talks.
Comment by shocker — January 2, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
I believe Letterman wrote the show himself when he came back without writers in 1988. As I recall, he would do the Top Ten List and several of the items would be “unavailable due to the writers strike.” But Dave wrote a monologue and jokes and performed them. And today Dave is the WGA’s hero.
I know you hate him, Nikki, but cut Jay some slack. He is actually keeping his crew of over a decade working.
SAG members and politicians who go on his show have no such excuse– they are going on simply to promote themselves.
Comment by George Glass — January 2, 2008 @ 7:34 pm
Well, I guess that answers the question of whether or not Dave will use the show as a platform to support the writers lol.
Comment by Anonymous — January 2, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Easy call from here, Leno used writers, Conan did not use writers.
Comment by ReelBusy — January 2, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
OK, WGA, Leno broke the rules. He’s a member of the Guild who performed writing services for a struck company. What’re you gonna do about it? If there is no action taken against Leno then we can all return to work. If the reports are correct Conan did the right thing. He didn’t try to be funny. He proved he needs his writers. Leno proved his show is about the same with or without written material. Actually I thought Leno’s monologue was better than usual.
I actually enjoyed Craig Ferguson the most. (I didn’t see Letterman’s opening) Ferguson felt sorta like a 20 year old episode of SNL, but it was pretty good.
Comment by Jordan — January 2, 2008 @ 7:43 pm
“Or as Paul McCartney calls that, a divorce.” That’s not a Jay Leno ad lib or even a joke Jay wrote. That’s a line someone wrote FOR him. That’s a line that someone - a guild member or a scab - was paid to write.
Comment by Terry Rowlefe — January 2, 2008 @ 7:47 pm
Well, that’s just great. I’m absolutely positive that now that Leno has proved to be a scab, the guild will take immediate action. We’ll stop just issuing fawning press releases and start filling his studio with bouquets of roses in addition to the fawning press releases. The strike rules are for the little people.
Comment by Anon — January 2, 2008 @ 7:59 pm
Leno is an @###$%^! Thanks for the Jeff Zucker joke, Jay, but for the love of god, if you want to support the strike, start supporting the strike! Stop performing struck work! Stop worrying over whether you’re going to get beat in the ratings (not really the point right now, in fact kind of the polar opposite of the point) and start thinking about something other than yourself for once.
We better have something to say about this, we told these scabs no monologues and they’re spitting in our faces. This is no different from Ellen with the exception of being more blatant.
Comment by SweetJesus — January 2, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
Oh, and, “because we have essentially 19 people putting 160 people out of work,” thanks for that too.
Comment by SweetJesus — January 2, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
Perhaps the extraordinarily lame presentation was Conan’s way of helping the WGA
Comment by thom taylor — January 2, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
Well, Alan Zweibel has written movies, so we feature writers can’t bitch that even Letterman’s Top Ten List leaves us out.
Comment by Ted Striker — January 2, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
So does all this mean the WGA’s strategy backfired? No, the situation is to complicated for any clear wins or losses. At least these shows are bringing attention to the strike, which is needed. Even E.T. is covering it now.
Comment by Starvin' Marvin — January 2, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
“You know what I’m doing? I’m doing what I did the day I started. I write jokes and wake my wife up in the middle of the night and say, ‘Honey, is this funny?’
How is this not scab work?
Comment by Anonymous — January 2, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
Thanks for the great work tonight, Dave! Keep up the good work!
– TV WRITER
Comment by Danzig — January 2, 2008 @ 11:45 pm
Wow. All I can say right now is how amazed I am that people aren’t responding to this post. I mean, the late-night hosts have, in a single night, elevated the awareness of this dispute to a higher level. And no one seems to care.
Comment by Max — January 2, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Letterman’s show was superb. The beard and Paul Shaffer’s opening with “Look For The Union Label” were both very classy moves. A good high-five for Bill Scheft: I nearly choked to death on my drink when he said “cufflinks, cocktails, and whores”.
Comment by Captain Obvious — January 3, 2008 @ 12:44 am
I think Max hit it on the head… The LateNight shows have informed more Americans in 3 hours of the needs of the WGA than we have heard in the last 2 Months! I hope Bill Scheft’s quip will be the soundbite in the Morning Shows tomorrow!
Comment by Rob Hedtick — January 3, 2008 @ 12:49 am
And thanks a bunch to Jimmy Kimmel, for actually mentioning his competitors, bringing attention to the fact that Letterman and Ferguson are producing WGA shows and lauding them. Oh wait, he brought attention to his other competitors and lauded them for being part of his crowded local, Weenie Self-Serving Scabs United. Nice one Jimmy, don’t you worry, Jay will definitely have your back, count on it. It’s one thing to have a little strike, but can’t we do it without this silly picketing of struck companies?
Anyone remember the days when there ws such a thing as guilt and nobody tried to make excuses for the indefensible?
I’d give Conan some credit for not caring about the quality of his material or guests, except regardless of how lame it is he’s still doing a monologue and writing. Unacceptable.
Comment by Anon — January 3, 2008 @ 12:50 am
Max,
Comments are moderated. They only appear when Nikki approves them, which on busy days like today can take a while.
Open letters to tonight’s comics:
Dave, I’ve always loved you. Your show tonight was funny, on point, and super classy.
Jay, kind of a backhanded compliment, no? I’m sure your heart’s in the right place, but your head sure isn’t.
Conan, your beard is simply awesome. Thank you for deliberately sucking.
Ferguson, my DVR cut you off after the letter to Dave Letterman. It won’t happen again!
Jimmy Kimmel, eat me.
Comment by Inamorata — January 3, 2008 @ 12:55 am
I wake up at night and tell my girlfriend about scenes I wrote in my head. (Though she gets pissed). Guess that means it’s cool for me to package these scenes together and sell them… and not be a scab.
Gee - thanks Jay.
You’re my hero.
Comment by Roger Ray — January 3, 2008 @ 1:04 am
I’m madly in love with Craig now - but I still go to sleep at 10pm. Bummer.
Comment by amanda — January 3, 2008 @ 1:16 am
The general public has an awareness of the strike already — it’s affecting (to some degree or another) their viewing habits and the networks are addressing the lack of fresh, expected content in their ads.
Awareness will not result in any wins for the writers or shorten the strike (that’s wishful thinking that the AMPTP is happy to have writers indulge). What if the public somehow came to believe that the writers are being greedy and unreasonable — would the writers fold their tent and agree to studio demands? Doubt it. Such a sentiment would be looked at as a third party who obviously hasn’t taken the time to grasp the complexities of the situation (by way of analogy: if you’re in the middle of a heated argument with your spouse how much do you really care what your neighbor’s opinion of your disagreement is?) AMPTP will have the same thought process if opinion builds against them.
The result of Letterman’s deal will be that the average viewer will think things are starting to sort out: “Look, late-night’s back on — Letterman… Leno… everything else will fall into place soon enough”. John Q’s not going to put much of a distinction between Letterman operating with a deal and Leno not. That’ll be background chatter.
The real effect of this is that now some writers are working and others are not. Some of the AMPTP revenue stream is back on — so things are a little less painful. The WGA is a little more fractured. Late-night is one less immediate concern for the AMPTP.
I heard a late-night host talking to the effect of about how 17 people had been putting 180 out of work and such to justify their being back on the air — how is that any different than every other show or film? Why are they the exception? Does anybody really care that these writers still plan to picket? “Don’t worry, I’m still here with you, Joe. Wanna grab a bite after this picketing thing? Don’t worry, I got it — I know things are a little tight for you. Hey, if you need a few bucks just give me the word.” (Yeah — the last line killed the reality of it.) If these folks want to help their fellow writers then don’t help the AMPTP make money — make them hurt. Isn’t that the whole and only point of a strike?
Bottom line: this move was a big mistake for the WGA — the first leak in the dam. They’ve awarded themselves the Darwin Award for the world’s weakest negotiators — posthumously. They’re dead and don’t even know it.
Comment by RP — January 3, 2008 @ 1:26 am
The late-night hosts have “elevated awareness of the dispute” by demonstrating how horrible their shows are without written material. Leno was funny, but his open admission to writing the monologue was shocking. Conan O’Brien seemed completely at sea, it made me question how much he contributes to his own show, aside from daily attendance. Thank God for Charlie Rose…
Comment by Jenn M. — January 3, 2008 @ 2:06 am
I am just more and more impressed with Jimmy Kimmel as the strike continues. I can’t stand his show, which is unfortunate. But I have to say that I’ve been more impressed with him than the rest of the late night guys.
As for Leno, I guess I’m a little let down that he did a monologue. I like to believe that he wrote it himself, the excerpts quoted sounded like him. But I still believe that he, Conan, Kimmel, Colbert, and Stewart have done quite a bit to support the strike. And I’m glad that they each addressed the strike the way they did.
Comment by Just an Observer — January 3, 2008 @ 2:37 am
Okay, now the fight begins… Leno was told by the guild no monologues… and he delivered one… So now what? Are we still supporting Jay who no longer supports us? The war begins… Jay now must be brought up in front of the guild disciplinary board to explain… Can’t wait to hear this excuse. D.
Comment by DAvid G. — January 3, 2008 @ 3:45 am
I for one have to 100% disagree with Nikki on Conan’s return-show being of the lame-variety. He (obviously, as you were misinformed) spoke of the strike and his strong support for writers a few times throughout the show and although any late-night-endeavor is going to suffer to varying degrees without a clear written direction, I thought he pulled his usual antics off as well as he could given the circumstances and I never cease to not find him hilarious.
Conan’s got my pro-vote, regardless.
Comment by J. Warner — January 3, 2008 @ 4:13 am
I’m not a writer or producer or lawyer, but a fan who sides with the WGA even if I haven’t completely agreed with their tactics throughout negotiations and the strike. I supported their decision to cut a separate deal with David Letterman to allow him to return with his staff. At the same time I don’t feel comfortable condemning Jay Leno (accept for maybe his decision to write a monologue) because I know his situation is different than Dave’s. I do think the WGA deal with Dave was a good move. With the exception of the musical performance last night, I can’t recall a minute of the show that did not reference the strike in some way. And while the general viewing public is aware of the strike I think certain topics were provided in a humorous that may have drawn more awareness as to what the writers are fighting for. But the moment, for me, that made the most impact was when Dave introduced the ‘Get to Know Your Staff’ segment. For months the AMPTP has tried to convince us that it’s all about the supposed millionaire scribes and here was an associate producer in jeans and a sweater recounting her fourteen years working for Dave, meeting her husband, a fellow Late Show employee, and Dave showing pictures of her adorable seven month old daughter. These are the people being affected most be the strike. And, yes, people will counter it’s because of the WGA that they are being put out of work, but it struck me that it’s this ‘average’ person that the WGA is helping to fight for. There is a trickle down affect with profit sharing and if one union gets steam-rolled now, more will later. David Letterman has begun putting faces to all of this and, while a bit manipulative, I think he helped garner sympathy for everyone - but the AMPTP - last night.
Comment by Mary — January 3, 2008 @ 5:02 am
Dave, it’s so great to have you back! You’re THE MAN!
I did watch Conan last night - sorry, Craig, but my Conan-love goes way back. I was a little curious why your column had initially said that he’d barely mentioned the strike. I checked it last night after watching the show, and thought, huh? I could have SWORN he talked about the strike. How Orwellian of you, NBC.
I’ve never watched Jimmy Kimmel’s show, I’ll admit - but I may have to start tuning in, at least occasionally. I think his segment to get some residuals to the writers is a wonderful idea.
As for Leno - I’ve always preferred Dave, but I used to watch your show occasionally. “USED TO WATCH” being the key phrase here. No. Writing. Get. It. Yet? I don’t blame you for going back to work to employ the rest of your staff. But how blatant can you be?
Comment by cat — January 3, 2008 @ 5:24 am
If nothing else, I hope this brings Craig Ferguson into a lot more homes. He’s the funniest of the late night hosts, with more energy in a single show than Dave or Jay can muster in a month. Conan is in a mid-career slump and will inherit the tonight show either way before or way after his prime.
A note to ‘LA Undercover’ up above: Jay is not a republican, something he has gone to lengths to refute in print. Now you need to find another reason to explain why he’s so unfunny.
Comment by G. Stewart — January 3, 2008 @ 6:45 am
There were two hours of WGA support broadcast into millions of American homes last night. That is a first, the biggest PR on the behalf of the WGA to date. A republican candidate even makes the public statement that “no one supports the producers”
Another presidential candidate opened the WGA sanctioned Letterman show.
Even the hosts who were forced onto the air by the networks, used their time to make statements of support for the writers.
The writers strike is all over the news again.
The responses here are so myopic, and so unexplainable that it does beg the question about whether or not these posts are made by WGA members. How could any member who has been walking the picket line day after day not be bolstered by all of the public support they have been receiving of late?
What did this mean to the AMPTP? Do we think that Jeff Zucker was dancing a jig of joy about Jay’s monologue? How happy was Les Moonves to have a chorus line of dancers carrying WGA picket lines on Letterman?
Probably had a lot more impact than “Bring Your Pet Day”.
Thank god the guild leadership seems to understand what this means and how positive it is, and hopefully will not be so foolish as to bring Leno up on charges for a monologue that he probably wrote, supporting the writers.
Big Picture, people.
Comment by Terry Moore — January 3, 2008 @ 7:16 am
I watched at least parts of all the late night shows last night (except for Carson’s - I’m not a masochist.)
Conan obviously followed the Guild rules — it was a bit surreal watching him just killing time on air. “This is me spinning my wedding ring. Tomorrow I’ll vacuum.”
Leno was business as usual. What are the exact rules of the Guild for someone writing their own stuff? If it’s true that he’s not supposed to do a written monologue, then he’s just put the Guild in an even more awkward position. Thanks Jay!
Letterman - loved seeing all the writers on the show. And the dancers. (But please shave).
Kimmel - He’s one of the luckiest men in the world. He’s somehow managed to get both his own show and Sarah. The whining did not win him any friends.
Craig Ferguson - LOVED the sheep. Bring back the sheep.
Comment by strike bitch — January 3, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Max,
I learned the blogs are moderated the hard way, man. You got it easy. (You wouldn’t happen to be a tall, bearded red head would ya?)
Re the late nite yakkers: Loved Dave’s very blatant in your face WGA support. He’s won over a new fan.
Called NBC and complained about Leno being forced back on the air. That’s about it. This sting is more for the insiders than this one outsider.
Comment by Becca — January 3, 2008 @ 8:25 am
Hahahaha, Craig Ferguson and CF writers! Great show — You’ve just been Season Passed in my TiVo.
Comment by Diane — January 3, 2008 @ 8:31 am
High troll content here, my Padawan Apprentice.
Comment by anotherWGAwriter — January 3, 2008 @ 8:49 am
It’s astonishing to me that there are still WGA members - writers! - who are prepared to defend Jay Leno.
As a member of the WGA, he is expressly forbidden to provide writing services for a stuck company. By his own admission, he broke that rule. It doesn’t matter how many donuts he delivered to the picketers, he WROTE for a STRUCK company, people. That makes him a scab.
What i think really reveals what he thinks of the strike and his fellow writers is the astonishing suggestion that ther are “19 people putting 160 others out of work”. EXCUSE me? If Leno was sincere in his announcements of support for the writers and their cause - if he REALLY believes their demands are fair and reasonable, then he should also accept that the responsibility for the strike rests ENTIRELY with the people who have rejected these demands and refused to negotiate any further. It’s not the writers’ fault, Jay. It’s the AMPTP who put the 160 others out of work, not to mention, who forced the 19 writers to take the drastic and unwanted step of going out on strike.
I think people need to be a little less misty-eyed about Leno. he’s revealed himself to be dishonest, two-faced and a scab. He’s NOT on your side, folks. Don’t kid yourselves.
Comment by Simon — January 3, 2008 @ 8:50 am
you mean Letterman used writers? Then why even bother to negotiate with the WGA if he is paying for that lame stuff? He might actually be funny with scab writers.
Comment by anonymous — January 3, 2008 @ 9:23 am
Leno’s not funny. I hate how he’s pitting himself as “one man against a empire”. Roll my eyes out of my head. I don’t know how you can judge “funny” based on written transcripts. Conan’s video on what he did with his time off was hilarious!
Comment by Cameeron — January 3, 2008 @ 9:31 am
I’m a movie writer but I like late night.
So why are we striking if the guild lets these guys use scab writers?
Leno should be tossed from the guild, and they all, and I mean Dave and Craig too, should stay black until the strike is settled. Let their staffers go on unemployment.
Why are we even bothering with this sham of a strike when these guys are doing business like normal?
Comment by WTF? — January 3, 2008 @ 9:33 am
I wont watch any of them, I think they are all crossing with this, period. I understand their reasons, but going on without the writers…I don’t see how that can do anything good for them and their situation or future situations such as this, for this union or others. Growing a beard, taking strike signs out onto the stage…I don’t find that clever or funny and don’t see how it’s helpful at all…
Comment by Toni — January 3, 2008 @ 9:46 am
My understanding is that J Kimmel almost went under financially trying to help his staff while he was off the air. More than a lot of people he has put himself on the line - he went back to work, okay, none of us knows what was involved there - I for one am going to cut him a little slack. There are a lot of people on the strike line who haven’t put themselves out as much.
Also, how are we ever going to be able to negotiate with people who we out of hand lambaste as something a little less than sex offenders? I’m sure each of us has some studio person who went to bat for our projects, who helped us out in some way; yeah, some of them are assholes, some of us are too.
Wait, let me save you the time and energy: troll, shill, scab.
Comment by B — January 3, 2008 @ 10:00 am
Those of you talking about Leno being penalized, exactly what can the guild do? What sort of sanctions can they apply? Is the only thing they can do is take away his membership card? If that is the only thing that can be done–Jay will just laugh all the way to the bank, assuming he’s made wise investments with his salary over the years.
Can the guild legally impose financial penalties? That’s probably the only language Leno understands. Donuts + drinks for striking writers; the cost is chicken-feed for him. Its one of those fronts put up by “caring” people who really don’t care much–Jay has the means and ability to do far more than that. How about making a sizable donation to the strike fund? That would go a lot farther than donuts, milk, cookies, etc. Jay is providing “bread and circuses”–nothing more, and he couldn’t possibly do anything less.
Comment by Rob Wettengel — January 3, 2008 @ 10:04 am
RP, the American people aren’t mouth breathing morons. “This show is written by union writers under an agreement with the union, this show is written by a guy who’s crossed a picket line and is violating WGA rules” ain’t exactly rocket science. They understand the difference between an apple and an orange, this is no more complicated (except for apologists who don’t want to get it, but that’s different). Of all the arguments, that makes the least sense. Leno didn’t decide to scab because the WGA dealt with WWP, the WGA dealt with WWP *after* the other hosts decided to scab. Leno’s crap about 19 people putting 160 out of work is just self-serving defensive bs, and Leno’s lack of character has nothing to do with anything, either, he wants to act like Mr. Oblivious Selfish Scumbag but still portray himself as Mr. Caring Nice Guy.
Just an observer, even if Leno wrote the monologue himself, he’s not allowed to do that, it’s scabbing.
Comment by Anon — January 3, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Look, during the last strike, Dave went back and so did Carson. They did write for themselves back then and no one got their panties in an uproar like you’re doing about Jay.
Oh, and if everyone is so upset about Jay doing writing for a struck comapny, then you have to remember that the deal the Letterman people signed, allows them to produce and write material for a struck company, CBS. Personaly, this is why I was not okay with this deal, but I still stand by my Guild.
But all of you need to remember, if you’re going to drag Jay over the coals, then drag EVERYONE over the coals. And that includes Stewart and Colbert when they come back on the air.
Comment by Lola — January 3, 2008 @ 10:31 am
Nikki - when were ya gonna post the ratings? Here they are (from the AP) - they don’t really support the “Dave w/Writer’s will beat Jay w/o Writers Theory”:
“Jay Leno’s ‘‘Tonight’’ show on NBC scored a 5.3 rating and 12 audience share in the nation’s 55 largest markets. His return after two months off because of the writers strike earned him his best ratings in two years, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Leno’s ratings were up 47 percent over what he achieved before the strike. Meanwhile, David Letterman’s CBS ‘‘Late Show’’ had a 4.3 rating and 10 share, or 39 percent better than his pre-strike average.”
Comment by Ratings — January 3, 2008 @ 10:57 am
David G,
I understand the Guild plans to take action if Leno doesn’t stop doing his monlogue of faxed in jokes by mid May. The WGA feels that’s enough time for this staunch guild supporter and right wing zealot to come up with another means of opening his show.
And Jimmy Kimmel - way to blow all the good will you’ve built up.
Because of the free pass given to Leno I’m done picketing, done supporting my guild and am inclined to agree with the whisper around town that’s gradually becoming a roar: “The WGA leaders are in waaaay over their heads.”
Comment by Jordan W. — January 3, 2008 @ 11:25 am
J. Warner - I agree with you. Further, I think Conan did a great job of highlighting how painful a strike can be, not just in his opening comments of returning to work (under duress, in order to ensure employment of his team, etc), but in how awkward a writing strike will effect a late-night show.
Think in a passive-aggressive mentality: “I’ll show you, the public, how this strike really affects the content.” Instead of lightly mentioning the strike (Leno), and then trying to make a funny show, Conan (et all) made the show last night as uncomfortable as staying too long at the in-laws over the holidays.
I hope anyone commenting has taken the time to search out each channels shows and watched them in their entirety (I have except for Kimmel, which may make me change my opinion on my own Web site where I bashed Kimmel - I was unaware he replayed old clips in a residual-attempt).
Comment by Chad Edge — January 3, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
“Nice guy” Jay is the same guy who spied on NBC execs when he was fighting Letterman for the Tonight Show Gig. He’s not going to let Dave get a leg up. Of course he’s using scabs. If he really gave a rat’s ass about the WGA he could have let a non-WGA member guest host, instead of hiding behind the “19 people putting 160 people out of work,” banner. Why didn’t the WGA nail him for this? Hopefully SAG can keep the a-listers off his show and make up for WGA lack of sack.
Love ya Dave. But please, no more “get to know your staff.”
Comment by bruno — January 3, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
Though I’m too young to remember it, from what I’ve read and heard about the 1988 Strike, Letterman and Carson were eventually given permission to write their own stuff. As far as I know, that offer has not yet been extended this time around to Leno, Conan, or any of the others back on the air without writers. If Jay did write that entire monologue by himself, even though he broke the rules which he shouldn’t have, love him or hate him, it was very funny and shows that he is a talented guy (and I’m a Letterman fan). On another note, I thought Conan’s ‘remote’ in and around his Late Night offices was outstanding!
Visit my website for non strike-related late night comedy.
Comment by commenting llama — January 3, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
1. Jay, you’re being dumb. Stop that.
2. Conan clearly decided to follow the letter of his bosses’ wishes, and screw the spirit in favor of the WGA. Kudos.
3. Letterman was good; Nikki, you cut off your coverage of his show a bit short. I mean, a complete failure to mention Robin Williams outright roasting the strike beard for the entire first segment of the interview? Come on….
4. Craig Ferguson has never been better. He’s not great - he’s in the late late slot, after all - but he certainly put the writers to *use*. Also, again, you cut the article short - we had the letter to Dave, a so-so London late night show starring Prince Charles, and Craig throughout the ages showing why grown men and leotards don’t mix. Letterman was the union front, while Craig was the visual explanation behind why people would want writers doing comedy.
5. I don’t know quite how to respond to Jimmy, so instead, point five will address what Jimmy did a little of and Dave did to excess - put writers and below-the-liners on the show. Know Your Staff, the aforementioned Great Moments by Jimmy, and the Top Ten list delivered by writers - those *have* to be for the sole purpose of making sure people are getting paid. The networks ought to be cringing at that. They’re on strike *and* still getting money!
Comment by Nicholas Eckert — January 3, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
I’m not going to watch Leno.
Union rules should be respected, not broken and disregarded.
I’m surprised Huckabee crossed the picket line. Sorry to see that happen. I was all for him until that.
Get the strike over. It’s bad for everyone!
Thank you.
Comment by Boyd — January 3, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
I don’t get this. I still don’t get it.
So they broke the WGA rules, they’ve crossed the line, they’ve either made their own deals with independent producers/production companies or are using non-WGA writers and are now making money?
Is that correct?
I don’t understand quite how this is kosher with the picket lines.
Can someone explain to me how this really means to the industry on the whole? Do Late Night Talk Shows have a different contract than the dramas and movies with the WGA/AMPTP? How exactly is the mechanics of this?
Are the non-Worldwide Pants shows using non-WGA people, or are the Hosts writing their own stuff? So the Hosts are not part of the WGA agreement, even if something is written for the show by them, for the same Producers/Studios that the strike is about?
I don’t understand. What are the legal ramifications? Does this also mean that if the signatory companies such as Worldwide Pants can do this, if others set up production companies they can work out their own deals? Doesn’t that mean that the WGA is divided and that the deals can be manipulated?
I don’t get it. Please explain!
Thank ya~
Comment by Slim — January 3, 2008 @ 2:37 pm