Since the Writers Guild of America strike hit Hollywood earlier this month, late-night talk shows have been hit the hardest. All of the major nocturnal chitchat-fests immediately stopped production as their writers walked the picket line and reruns have taken over.
The work stoppage is major blow to the non-writing production staff on those shows because paychecks have been frozen. However, the staff of one show will continue to get checks, but they'll be signed by a pale, lanky redhead.
Late-night personality Conan O'Brien is paying the salaries of the non-writing employees of his show, Late Night With Conan O'Brien, "for the foreseeable future," according to Variety. Citing a representative from NBC Universal, the trade says that O'Brien will be paying nearly 80 employees out of his own pocket.
O'Brien himself, who allegedly has an eight-figure salary, is also not being paid during the strike.
David Letterman is also paying his staff during the strike, though he is going through his production company, Worldwide Pants. The company is also paying the staff of its other show, Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson. NBC said it would pay the staff of its late-nighters through the month, but may start layoffs as soon as next week.
Another late-night talk-show host is doing something else to see that his staff gets paid. Carson Daly, of Last Call With Carson Daly, is the only late-night host to go back to work and cross the picket line.
According to Variety, Daly said, "As a non-WGA member, I feel I have supported my four guild writers and their strike by suspending production for a month. While I continue to support their cause, I can't, in all good conscience, stand by and let that happen to the vast majority of my loyal staff and crew."
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.
Comments (25)
Now here's an article that's newsworthy.
Amazing how every1 blames it on the writers while the production companies and others exploit the writers' work and cash in dollar after dollar. Do you think regular writers make as much as Conan or his producers? I don't think so. If you wanna blame it on someone, blame it on the real bad guys and learn something about the strike and its cause! Nevertheless, hats off to Conan for a symbolic gesture at least.
"I didn't realise the idiots at the network would basically take this out on innocent staff by not paying them. That's low."It's not the networks' faults that writers decided their wants were so important that they had to force thousands of innocent bystanders out of work just so they could make a little extra coin for themselves.
It is nice to see that the upfront talk hosts are taking care of their staff. Its nice to know that the ones who live alot of the time paycheck to paycheck can you imagine how this is affecting these peoples holidays
I realy dont like O Brien but this is realy nice.
another option is to go on air for one episode a week, with no monologue. that way the staffers still get paid by the network.
Never thought Conan had this much class. Way to go Conan!
Good on him .... but how much money has he got if he can pay so many peoples wages???
This is something from Conan I've not seen from contemporary celebrities in a long time...class.
Way to go Conan!
thats really nice of him
This is old news already from Yahoo!
Mr.Nice Guy! I love Conan!
As always, Conan shows himself to be a class act.
I'm sick of the whole thing already...
but letterman did that first lol
I wonder if Jay is helping out his people too! Doesn't he have like a bazillion cars?
hats off to conan o'brien! very commendable
"Carson Daly is right. There are far too many people being hurt by the writer strike that don't deserve to be. But I guess the writers only care about getting paid for their work."Fixed that for you.That said, huge respect to Conan and everyone at Worldwide Pants for this. I didn't realise the idiots at the network would basically take this out on innocent staff by not paying them. That's low.
well done conan'you are a great guy.
It is nice to see some support for the rest of the crew. Conan is a good man.
Carson Daly is right. There are far too many people being hurt by the writer strike that don't deserve to be. But I guess the writers only care about getting little more cash in their own pockets.
way to go
Conan is a cool guy. :D
Conan is such a nice guy. I can't wait till his show is back.