LATEST NEWS!
- 11/15/07 3:16 PM
- 27 comments \ add yours
Letterman's Worldwide Pants paying idle crews of Late Night, Late Late Show during strike.
The writers strike obviously holds severe financial implications for those on the picket line, but it isn't just the scribes paying the price. As more and more shows shut down as a result of the well of reserve scripts drying up, crew members working on those shows are seeing their paychecks dry up too.
That won't happen for at least a pair of shows, though. Worldwide Pants, the production company owned by popular talk-show host David Letterman, has informed employees that it will be paying its employees while the shows it creates go dark, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Worldwide Pants produces only two shows--Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson--both of which immediately shut down as a result of the strike. As owner of the company, Letterman will essentially be paying his employees out of his own pocket.
No other television production companies have guaranteed their employees' pay during strike-related closures. The Daily Show's Jon Stewart was rumored to be paying his staff through his Busboy Production, but publicists have denied any such actions.
For more on the writers strike, check out TV.com's Strike Source, featuring up-to-date statuses on shows, the latest information, and more.
COMING UP NEXT
24: Redemption
Are you ready for Jack Bauer? Check out photo and video previews here!Best of 2008
Vote for the year's best shows, hottest actors, coolest DVDs, and more!November Sweep
This month's programming boasts hot guest stars, crazy storylines, and other cool stunts. Don't miss a thing!
Today's Gallery
Kim splashes around in Miami Beach. More »
most commented stories
- 1
Pushing Daisies creeps closer to cancellation
Nov 14, 2008 - 106 comments - 2
NBC cancels My Own Worst Enemy
Nov 13, 2008 - 98 comments - 3
Is Prison Break nearing its end?
Nov 14, 2008 - 86 comments - 4
NBC cancels Lipstick Jungle
Nov 13, 2008 - 76 comments - 5
Hilary Duff headed to NBC, getting her own show
Nov 14, 2008 - 41 comments
COMMENTS
This proves that there are good guys among the rich. He doesn't have to do it, but he is. It shows that he respects the little guy, just as respects the other millionairs that are on his show as guests. Good shot Dave. Keep setting a good example in what decency is all about.
11/30/2007 13:24:28Writer will probably end up being out of work for a long long time as networks will drastically increase the amount of unscripted socalled reality TV. Which they are actually doing. Either that or they will be outsourced and writers from Japan and Europe hired instead. Unions will do for the TV industry what they did for the steel, clothing and auto industries - leave alot of unemployed people looking for work. They will be standing by the side of the road: "Will write for food!"
11/19/2007 12:21:21I support the Writers' strike, but I realize the problems it can cause for innocent parts in all of this. Kudos to Dave for doing this! :)
11/19/2007 08:52:14GO DAVE!
11/18/2007 18:23:12class act indeed. i wish i enjoyed his show now. but i give him major props. as important an issue as the writers' strike is in hollywood, its sad that others have to suffer.
11/17/2007 21:41:28A few people seem to be missing the point of this, Letterman isn't paying the writers, he's paying the rest of the staff. In other words those people who have nothing to gain from the strike at all and are losing their jobs because of the WGA.
11/17/2007 19:41:55He should have gotten the Tonight Show! Dave has class!
11/17/2007 17:53:04I wonder, if there were no union, might Dave choose to pay his writers royalties that are even greater that what the union is asking for? I'm assuming he wouldn't be allowed to do that under the union contract. Maybe he is able to compensate them in other ways. Or is his generosity limited to the strike time.
11/17/2007 16:44:34I applaud Dave Letterman for helping out the crew members financially during the strike.
11/17/2007 08:53:28Top Ten reasons to watch the Late Show when it returns to original programs... Forget the other nine reasons to be a fan of Dave and his show..., The number one reason now to watch Dave is because he is even more generous than he is humorous. Way to go, Dave! Your mother raised you right!
11/17/2007 00:41:05Very classy thing for Dave to do.
11/16/2007 17:29:26way to go dave a class act
11/16/2007 15:18:03Class act, Dave. Biff Henderson has acting lessons to pay for! LOL
11/16/2007 08:38:21I'd say it's someone else here who sucks ... If you want to find out about how we viewers can support the creative talent that makes the shows we love try: http://fans4writers.com or http://unitedhollywood.com
11/16/2007 08:00:41Dave is an idiot, don't pay someone for doing nothing...Rich people suck.
11/16/2007 06:55:50Never been a fan of Letterman, but my hats off to the man for this. Too many people are losing their jobs because of the foolishness of the WGA.
11/16/2007 06:02:23The shows don't air over here in the UK but I love Craig as a comedy actor and I have Letterman when visiting Canada and the US. I think that Letterman embodies a true gentleman and proves not all of 'Hollywood' is money hungry & corrupt. Way to go Dave!
11/16/2007 01:23:46Not a fan of his show but I am now a fan of the man!
11/15/2007 23:01:34That's good, we don't hear about the families that are getting burned by the strike. This needs to end, get in a room and stay there until it gets worked out. But make progress, no one wins now.
11/15/2007 20:04:52Way to go Dave and while on the show both him and his crew rip each other up, but this proves that he really dose care about his employees.
11/15/2007 18:59:26Good man!
11/15/2007 18:45:15That's a good thing for Dave to do; it's not the crew members' fault there's a strike.
11/15/2007 18:17:04Go Dave!
11/15/2007 18:06:15Kudos to Dave! I don't watch Letterman but I now have more respect for the man. More millionaire stars should do the same, considering that they wouldn't be as far as they would in the careers without the writers.
11/15/2007 17:45:41Craig is the best
11/15/2007 17:39:56way to go dave
11/15/2007 17:27:46great idea David, the Late Late show with Craig Ferguson is my favourite!
11/15/2007 16:07:41