Leno Digs Into Own Wallet To Pay Staff?

28 Comments »

1. re: out of work IA member 10:30 am

   That was a really smart comment, well said!

   Comment by amptp exposed — December 2, 2007 @ 11:32 am

2. Nikki, you’re assuming like so many that Leno was doing this in reaction to the “PR heat.” NBC just laid off people on Friday. He’s taking care of his people - as promised. Maybe he didn’t officially jump in and pay his staff (many of whom are completely ungrateful) as fast as you feel was right, but give him a break already. Geez. People are so greedy. It’s embarrassing. I hope the staff members who were criticizing Leno before they even were officially laid off will AT LEAST say thank you before spending his personal money.

   Comment by TV Fan — December 2, 2007 @ 11:34 am

3. I guess Mr. Chin reads DHD afterall.

   Too late, Jay. You’ve pissed off your crew by going back on your word so don’t expect hugs and kisses when you walk into a room full of these same people (or onto the picket lines in the meantime). Speaking of which, has this moron been on the picket lines since this debacle? What’s the reaction been? I bet he hasn’t. He’s probably been hiding under one of his stupid cars.

   Comment by Anonymous — December 2, 2007 @ 12:13 pm

4. Okay, it’s Sunday, and as a former Sunday school pupil I’m starting to feel badly about the amount of sniping that’s been on here, and about whatever part I may have had in it.

   Can’t we all get along?

   I’m glad Jay is paying, but let’s acknowledge that it’s above and beyond the call.

   The one thing that I HAVEN’T heard anywhere is that CAA’s Bryan Lourd is throwing in the towel, and for that I am grateful.

   Because though these issues are complex and involve some elements of the unknown, it is really all, in the end, just about numbers. And that’s what agents do best, is get people to finally, finally settle on a number. Nikki was brilliant in suggesting that top agents get involved, and Brian Lourd is a hero to agree to channel the ghost of Lew Wasserman.

   So, on this Sunday, I offer up:

   The (Bryan) Lourd’s Prayer

   Our Agent, who art running back and forth between hotel rooms
   Hallowed by thy name!
   Thy Table at Morton’s to come, Thy will be done
   With the AMPTP and WGA.
   Give us a deal, that resembles previous business models,
   And remind everyone that this is a very profitable business, if we don’t completely destroy it.
   Forgive us for the millions already lost,
   And lead us not into an endless strike that loses billions.
   Deliver us from the evil of eliminating the jobs of everyone above and below the line, and trashing the economy of this city and one of the top exports of the nation.
   For thine is the fanciest lobby, and if you fix this you will for sure get the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
   Amen

   Comment by WGA Writer with Business Sense — December 2, 2007 @ 12:14 pm

5. Nikki, your website is a godsend but you have picked the wrong hero in the Conan-Leno rivalry. I’m not a fan of Leno’s work but I picket at NBC and Leno has been out there for at least a quick hello almost every single day. He has the number one show in late night for twelve years and the fact that he has shown no sign of coming back on is heroic to me. That’s right, heroic, because the loss of his show is the biggest immediate financial hit for any of the networks.

   Conan has a better show creatively, but having a better show does not translate into being a better person. Show me one pro-writer quote from Conan or point out one trip to the picket line that he’s made. It hasn’t happened.

   I find it hard to believe that Conan is paying that money for his staff out of his own pocket. He is no doubt being reimbursed by NBC. The only way it’s possible that he’s not being reimbursed by NBC is if NBC is actually paying these people directly, which is very likely.

   Conan is not the good guy here. The good guy is Jay, who probably will NOT be reimbursed by NBC because they don’t need to keep up good relations with him because they know that come 2009 Jay is gone to ABC where he is going to kick Conan’s union-busting butt.

   Comment by TalkShowWriter — December 2, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

6. Jay Leno has been a friend for over twenty five years since we first met around 1979 when he wouldn’t cross the picket line at the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood.

   The Comedy Store Strike was the first Comedian on Strike in history because Mitzi Shore didn’t want to pay wages for comedians to perform. She has told me many times that Jay and other comedians broke her heart for picketing her club and going on strike. She would say the Comedy Store is a workout room to showcase their talents to the industry (promotion) … a school for comedians and not a place of business. Well, maybe the Hollywood Studios think the same thing about the Internet. That it is a school where writers and actors and other should use to promote their creative talents and not be paid any money for showcasing their talents under the owners’ roof top.

   Jay Leno is a generous and kind man who is a true friend even to strangers. That is why his show has been so successful over the years. His staff would not even have a job if not for Jay Leno being such a good person. He’s really is just a regular guy.

   I use to live in Mitzi Shore’s mansion on Doheny as well as being the first black male bald headed nanny in Beverly Hills. I was Pauley Shore’s black nanny. (I’m am sorry) There were many limo rides me as the driver when I heard Mitizi Shore would tell me she would never forgive Jay Leno for not crossing the picket line. In fact Tom Dresen to this day will never play the Comedy Store because of the 1979 strike.

   Carson Daly just isn’t a comedian and never has been funny. He doesn’t understand the history of comedians in this town — that if you cross the picket line during a strike and go back to work for the darkside you can never come back. Well, sometimes you can.

   David Letterman did cross the Comedy Store picket line in 1979 but he learned from our friend George Miller.

   In 1979 George Miller was among several comics who boycotted the Comedy Store in a labor dispute. Letterman, who by this time was guest-hosting the Tonight Show, kept performing there because he needed to try out material. George Miller showed up one night to watch his friend, but Mitzi called the police and had him thrown out. “After Dave heard what had happened, he never worked another show there,” Miller told me years ago.

   But, Jay Leno never crossed. And his staff should just not hold him hostage by saying the nasty things they said about Jay in the press.

   Will die for Jay,
   Mr. Jackson

   Comment by Chris Jackson — December 2, 2007 @ 12:59 pm

7. It’s crazy generous of the late night hosts to pay their crew members’ salaries. And by no means should be be EXPECTED.

   Is his crew really that mad at him for honoring his own union’s picket line? Do they really want him to be another Ellen? Another Carson Daly?

   If Jay crosses, NBC gets back a huge cash cow, and can stand to keep the strike going for months. 100s of crrews would continue to suffer. Do the tonight show staffers really want that on their heads?

   Comment by Anon. — December 2, 2007 @ 1:13 pm

8. How sad for Jay to say he’s dead with no writers. That really shows you who can be funny and who can’t.

   Comment by A Letterman fan — December 2, 2007 @ 1:59 pm

9. Hollywood has had a beef with Leno for 15 years. The guy chooses to give out his usual holiday bonus checks and somehow he’s turned into a Grinch because a few staff thinks that their gift is supposed to include their paychecks for the month of December too. Leno said he would take care of his people – “no one’s going to loose their house or miss a car payment.” It’s Leno’s money and his choice how he lives up to that commitment. No one, not even you Nikki, shamed him into stepping up to the plate. He was already there, but because it was not trumpeted on someone’s blog as an exclusive, it wasn’t official. Staff gets paid on Thursday. If no resolution was eminent after Tuesday’s negotiation meeting, knowing Leno the checks (whatever amount he wanted to gift his staff) would have been in the mail Wednesday morning. As for him not saying good-bye to his staff – what for? As far as he is concerned the minute the strike is over EVERYONE is going back to work for him. You need to hear from the majority of the staff that appreciates their good fortune to work for Leno, and not from the handful that are always whining for attention because they think they are always being shortchanged. He gets he has to be on both sides of the fence, and he is doing right by everyone who works with him.

   This story is exactly the kind of mercenary the AMPTP hopes to employee to do its killing and not get its hands dirty in the fight. Their New Economic Package is a great big empty box wrapped with a pretty PR bow. Congratulations to that handful of Tonight Show staff for giving ammunition to NBC UNIVERSAL – the corporation who just laid them off. You got your bonus from Leno; and your paycheck from him now too! Let’s see if you get your traditional holiday gift from Mr. Zucker - maybe he’ll through in a little something extra to tide you over through the holidays, too.
   Semper Fi

   Comment by Semper Fi — December 2, 2007 @ 2:15 pm

10. While society as a whole appreciates people who go beyond their call of duty to help others, it isn’t and shouldn’t be mandatory.

    This comes out of Leno’s pocket, not a company Leno owns. I think it’s great Letterman’s company is paying the staff on both of the CBS late night shows, and Conan should be applauded as well.

    That doesn’t mean we can chastise those who don’t immediately go beyond what is expected of them. Leno is a comedian and could probably hold his own writing for at least a week or two from his own material. It wouldn’t be the same caliber of show, by far, but it would be getting the highest ratings over reruns on other networks.

    He didn’t do that. He showed his support for the writers by not crossing the line, and was one of the earliest “talent” to bring treats to and visit with those walking the line.

    As a fan I have been behind the writers 100% this whole time, but I certainly think that talking bad about someone for not doing as much extra as others is a horrible display of entitlement that the AMPTP is trying to show that the writers have.

    Thank the others for what they have done, but don’t try to bully the rest into what is by no means expected of them.

    Comment by not quite "middle" America — December 2, 2007 @ 2:26 pm

11. bryan lourd is not a hero - first, wait and see how this thing turns out before tossing red roses his way

    the resolution will occur on amptp’s own timetable and there’s not an agent in town who can make it otherwise

    meanwhile, lourd’s actions aren’t altruistc (you don’t even know the substance of what he’s saying behind closed doors)

    if lourd inserts himself and makes it look like he’s the ghost of wasserman, he will be called a hero, and it will elevate his power and influence, and that of caa as well.

    Comment by equityfund — December 2, 2007 @ 2:53 pm

12. jay appeared on the picket line because joe medeiros asked him to

    it also gave him a chance to stick it to nbc who’s ousting him for conan

    meanwhile, he hasn’t appeared on the picket line since the camera crews left.

    this fiasco is nbc’s fault. if leno doesn’t want to pony up money for his staff, that is his choice. however, it seems that he pledged help to staffers when the strike commenced.

    it would be very helpful for him to continue appearing on the picket line. that costs nothing.

    [perhaps leno honored a comedians-on-strike picket 30 years ago, but he was a comedian first and foremost and it served his immediate interest - regardless, in 30 years people change - now he has tens of millions of dollars and is promoting anti-union Schwarzenegger on his show]

    Comment by observers — December 2, 2007 @ 3:07 pm

13. @not quite “middle” America

    stop scolding writers for the leno criticisms

    many comments are from below the line folks, staffers, viewers, etc

    why do people keep assuming all site comments are from writers, or even wga writers?

    Comment by observers — December 2, 2007 @ 3:13 pm

14. I’m a former talk show writer and I know people who work at most of the talk shows currently on the air.

    Jay Leno may not always be the guy who’s labeled the “edgiest” and some people may not even feel he deserved the “Tonight Show” over Dave. But all of that being said, Jay has stood by his writers and the Union since day one of this strike. Better yet, he’s shown no sign of straying from that.

    Jay’s taken care of his staff quietly, but he’s taken care of them nonetheless. Just as importantly, he’s publicly and privately stood by the union.

    Dave’s done the same. Dave & Jay have had a rocky road in the past. It’s nice to see the two of them setting the example for the next generation of hosts.

    Pay attention guys. Everyone else is watching.

    Comment by writer — December 2, 2007 @ 4:13 pm

15. Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: Jay Leno is no friend of the WGA. Over half of his show is written by non union freelancers from all over the country who fax in the material used on the program. SNL, Conan, the Letterman show, Jon Stewart, Colbert, Kimmel, are written entirely by their staff writers, but Leno’s writers, despite making around $500,000 per year (per the Reporter) aren’t up to the task. Leno already uses scab writers. Refusing to pay his non writing staff until he was shamed into it it just typical Leno. He thinks he’s above the rules. If you’re a wga member, next time leno offers you a doughnut, smash it into his face.

    Comment by Pete Parker — December 2, 2007 @ 4:20 pm

16. Why is all the fuss about Jay Leno?? What about Jerry Bruckheimer, Dick Wolf, Marc CHerry, Shonda Rhimes —etc…. all have multimillion dollars deals and we don’t hear of them helping their out of work crews?

    Any comments????

    Comment by crewmember — December 2, 2007 @ 4:26 pm

17. To “Talk Show Writer”:

    I liked this better when you posted it the other night as “Gimme A Break.” You have no basis for your rantings against Conan and you are in fact 100% wrong about how his staff will be paid next week. It’s fine, even admirable that you’re loyal to Jay. There’s just no reason for you to slag Conan in the process. Conan is just trying to keep his loyal employees afloat while the show is off the air. Is it his fault that he handled the situation with grace and smarts while Jay fumbled the ball?

    Also, you have no idea what people are doing behind the scenes so spare us the “I haven’t seen so-and-so on the picket lines” crap. What are you, the Hall Monitor of the WGA? Maybe you’d have more respect for Conan if he planted himself in front of Carson Daly’s Escalade and then sent a breathless account to DHD.

    Comment by Try facts — December 2, 2007 @ 5:35 pm

18. Try Facts 5:35pm:

    What exactly have you heard that Conan is doing behind the scenes to help the WGA?

    Comment by Wnats to hear facts — December 2, 2007 @ 6:19 pm

19. Try facts wrote — “You have no basis for your rantings against Conan and you are in fact 100% wrong about how his staff will be paid next week.”

    Try Facts, how do you know? And how WOULD you know unless you worked for Conan or NBC? So there goes your credibility already. But that said, Conan’s lack of support has been glaring. A ten-year member of the WGA, he has not been to the picket line once nor has he said one word of support. Not one word. Letterman has shown his support, Leno has, Kimmel sent burritos. Where’s Conan? You say we have no idea what Conan is doing behind the scenes. Unless you tell us otherwise, since you’re on the inside, we have to assume he’s doing nothing other than figuring out how to scab.

    Comment by Waiting for TryFacts' facts — December 2, 2007 @ 6:27 pm

20. The fact is that if Jay hadn’t gone out of his way to assure his staff that they wouldn’t have to worry about money then there would be no backlash. Personally, I don’t think he should have had to pay them. But he opened up his big mouth and said that he would. Then he changed his mind. And now he’s changed his mind again. It must be like working for Sybil.

    Comment by Francine Fishpaw — December 2, 2007 @ 7:27 pm

21. crewmember,

    Marc Cherry isn’t an asshole who assures his staff that they’re going to get paid when he has no intention of doing so (a la Jay Leno).

    Plus Marc doesn’t pull in about $60 million a year which he BANKS because he makes more money doing his shitty “comedy” routine on the road.

    Jay isn’t game to show up on the picket lines anymore.

    Comment by Francine Fishpaw — December 2, 2007 @ 7:38 pm

22. Good God, is there no end to the brown-nosing on this thread? Leno is never going to hire you! He and Letterman both hire scabs ALL THE TIME for their jokes. Hail, Conan. A real mensch who is fair to writers.

    Comment by Joey — December 2, 2007 @ 8:05 pm

23. Hey “Francine”,
    Jay has been at the picket lines every day.
    Jay did not change his mind. He’s always taken care of his people for 15 years.
    You, on the other hand, only like to spread lies and ignorance. Go away. You’re an embarrassment.

    Comment by TV Fan — December 2, 2007 @ 8:47 pm

24. Jay’s a stand up guy. When is it Anti-American to be pro union? And the Tonight Show staff is upset he brought doughnuts to striking writers? That says more about them than it does about Jay.

    Jay was NBC’s most loyal employee. And they treated him like shit. And he’s supposed to break a strike to come to their aid?

    That’s nuts.

    Comment by Get Real — December 2, 2007 @ 9:19 pm

25. Wow these comments SMELL OF TONIGHT SHOW WRITERS.

    Trying to polish those keen writing skills with some blog responses? Awesome.

    Comment by Jay's Grease Monkey — December 2, 2007 @ 11:59 pm

26. I have to agree here with the people defending Leno. True, he didn’t pay them outright the minute they were laid off, but wait a minute…why does HE have to pay them at all? He is NOT responsible for the strike. And I bet these same people who are complaining about his actions now are the same people who would have complained about him if he had crossed the picket line, again in a strike he didn’t cause. Give him a break. And stop misdirecting anger.

    Comment by bunny — December 3, 2007 @ 10:04 pm

27. Leno is scabalicious…Whether he should or should not have paid his employees is rendered moot by that fact.

    Comment by Marcus Miller, Scribe — December 4, 2007 @ 8:58 am

28. Wow. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but if you go on strike for a union, it’s the union that’s supposed to pay for it, not some individual who happens to be your boss at some level or another? (That’s what unions do in my country, anyways.)I don’t think I’ve ever heard such ungrateful whining as the comments on this site (or even from the person writing this, ‘Nikki’). Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for this strike (as a potential future writer) and this is really horrible pr for the cause. If you go on strike, you expect to lose money for it. So complaining about someone paying your wages despite the strike is just silly. And so what if Leno hesitated (allegedly) a moment? Was anyone even without pay for a day..?

    Comment by SJ — December 4, 2007 @ 1:22 pm

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