Post by eJm on Dec 17, 2007 12:56:14 GMT -5
www.variety.com/article/VR1117977838.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
NBC’s latenight hosts Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien will return to work Jan. 2, two months after their shows went dark in sympathy with the WGA strike.
Move had been expected for some time now, with the early January start date becoming an inevitabilty last week (Daily Variety, Dec. 14). Over the weekend, David Letterman's Worldwide Pants said it was trying to get its two CBS shows back on the air, and was seeking an interim deal with the Guild to bless the return.
O'Brien said his decision was motivated by the need to keep his non-WGA staffers employed.
"With the New Year upon us, I am left with a difficult decision," he said in a statement released by NBC Monday morning. "Either go back to work and keep my staff employed or stay dark and allow 80 people, many of whom have worked for me for fourteen years, to lose their jobs.
"If my show were entirely scripted I would have no choice," he added. "But the truth is that shows like mine are hybrids, with both written and non-written content. An unwritten version of 'Late Night,' though not desirable, is possible - and no one has to be fired."
O'Brien said that he plans to talk about the strike on his show.
"I will make clear, on the program, my support for the writers and I'll do the best version of 'Late Night' I can under the circumstances," he said. "Of course, my show will not be as good. In fact, in moments it may very well be terrible. My sincerest hope is that all of my writers are back soon, working under a contract that provides them everything they deserve."
Host also noted that has been and continues to be "an ardent supporter of the WGA and their cause. My career in television started as a WGA member and my subsequent career as a performer has only been possible because of the creativity and integrity of my writing staff."
Leno also said keeping his staff working was key to his decision.
"Now that the talks have broken down and there are no further negotiations scheduled I feel it's my responsibility to get my 100 non-writing staff, which were laid off, back to work," he said. "We fully support our writers and I think they understand my decision."
Leno said he had been "hoping for a quick resolution when this began" and that while talks were continuing he had kept "Tonight" dark "in support of our writing staff."
It's not yet clear if or when ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will return to the air, nor has Comedy Central said anything about "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" or "The Colbert Report." In the case of "Kimmel," however, it seems likely that he will return soon as well.
The New York Times has reported that Stewart's production company is hoping to get the WGA to bless the return of his writing staff
NBC’s latenight hosts Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien will return to work Jan. 2, two months after their shows went dark in sympathy with the WGA strike.
Move had been expected for some time now, with the early January start date becoming an inevitabilty last week (Daily Variety, Dec. 14). Over the weekend, David Letterman's Worldwide Pants said it was trying to get its two CBS shows back on the air, and was seeking an interim deal with the Guild to bless the return.
O'Brien said his decision was motivated by the need to keep his non-WGA staffers employed.
"With the New Year upon us, I am left with a difficult decision," he said in a statement released by NBC Monday morning. "Either go back to work and keep my staff employed or stay dark and allow 80 people, many of whom have worked for me for fourteen years, to lose their jobs.
"If my show were entirely scripted I would have no choice," he added. "But the truth is that shows like mine are hybrids, with both written and non-written content. An unwritten version of 'Late Night,' though not desirable, is possible - and no one has to be fired."
O'Brien said that he plans to talk about the strike on his show.
"I will make clear, on the program, my support for the writers and I'll do the best version of 'Late Night' I can under the circumstances," he said. "Of course, my show will not be as good. In fact, in moments it may very well be terrible. My sincerest hope is that all of my writers are back soon, working under a contract that provides them everything they deserve."
Host also noted that has been and continues to be "an ardent supporter of the WGA and their cause. My career in television started as a WGA member and my subsequent career as a performer has only been possible because of the creativity and integrity of my writing staff."
Leno also said keeping his staff working was key to his decision.
"Now that the talks have broken down and there are no further negotiations scheduled I feel it's my responsibility to get my 100 non-writing staff, which were laid off, back to work," he said. "We fully support our writers and I think they understand my decision."
Leno said he had been "hoping for a quick resolution when this began" and that while talks were continuing he had kept "Tonight" dark "in support of our writing staff."
It's not yet clear if or when ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" will return to the air, nor has Comedy Central said anything about "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" or "The Colbert Report." In the case of "Kimmel," however, it seems likely that he will return soon as well.
The New York Times has reported that Stewart's production company is hoping to get the WGA to bless the return of his writing staff
