Leno, O’Brien to Cross Picket Line

[marmar]

from Truthdig:



Leno, O’Brien to Cross Picket Line


Posted on Dec 17, 2007


Late night hosts Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien are set to resume their talk shows without writers. An NBC executive says “there are hundreds of people who will be able to return to work as a result of Jay’s and Conan’s decision,” but one imagines dwindling ratings have something to do with their plans. David Letterman, meanwhile, may work out a deal with the Writers Guild that would allow his show to come back with writers.

AP:

The strike left the nation bereft of fresh late-night laughs for two months as the presidential race heated up. Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central has also been shut down during the strike.

“Both Jay and Conan have supported their writers during the first two months of this WGA (Writers Guild of America) strike and will continue to support them,” said Rick Ludwin, executive vice president, late night and primetime series for NBC. “However, there are hundreds of people who will be able to return to work as a result of Jay’s and Conan’s decision.”

It’s not immediately clear how each show will change in coming back without writers. The late-night programs have become less like talk shows and more like comedy shows in recent years, requiring more prepared material.

http://www.truthdig.com/arts_culture/item/20071217_leno_obrien_to_cross_picket_line/

[FogerRox]

1. Leno & Conan are helping to erode Labor rights

3 Pillars of a Democracy..

Labor rights, Education rights, Progressive taxation.

Letterman can negotiate his own contract with the Union, and put Leno and Conan at a PR disadvantage, will this be the road CBS and Letterman takes?

[Benhurst]

2. Gosh, the evil spawn of Merchants of Death GE/NBC are going to

further dirty their hands by strike-breaking.

I'm shocked. Shocked.

[KharmaTrain]

3. They're All Coming Back

I'm no Leno fan and I'm a big supporter of the WGA. While I wish these shows would stay out of production, the real world complicates things. For many on the staff, they've gone 2 months without a paycheck. These aren't people making 6 figures, but the stagehands, office people and others who are stuck in the middle. Also there are contracts involved here that can force these shows back into production. Either show up for work or someone else will. It sucks...and I would imagine those who do cross will do so with a lot of reservations.

My hopes are the SGA...the Screen Actors step up...that stars refuse to appear on these shows and those who aren't obligated to assist and promote these shows stay away. If the Writers get screwed, the actors and others are next. They're playing hardball right now and hoping to focus attention away from the producers who created this srtike to the performers and the writers...making it look like its their fault your favorite show hasn't been on.

The longer this strike goes, the worse it is for the producers. They've already lost big money on several award shows and if this thing isn't settled soon the Oscars may end up at a small banquet hall. The pinch on the prime time series haven't been felt yet, but they soon will and the next season could be in serious trouble as the selection and production of those shows are coming up soon. The producers hope to squeeze the union out now...force their hahd.

The public needs to keep their eye on the ball here.