Late Show UK

After 14 weeks, the Writers Guild of America strike is now over. WGA members voted for a deal with the AMPTP and it’s reported the deal was approved by 92.5% of those members. Writers have been on strike in the US since early November 2007, following a dispute over the amount of money they get for online and DVD sales of their work. The new deal addresses those issues, and all writers return to work this week. The US TV industry has been cripplied by the strike, meaning such networks as Fox needing to bring in American Idol and other reality shows & unscripted programming to fill the gaps left behind by scripted comedy and drama that couldn’t be produced. The movie industry hasn’t been affected as much as TV, as films are made over a much longer timespan than TV series.

The BBC News website reports “the strike is said to have cost Los Angeles’ film and TV industry around $733m (£374m), with the wider economy losing around $1.3bn (£663m)” and that we can expect new programmes in “about two months”. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Late Night With Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report all have their writing teams back and new shows are already being made. The Late Show With David Letterman and the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson have had their writing team since January, when David Letterman’s production company Worldwide Pants Inc agreed an interim deal.

The Oscars (which are being hosted by The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart this year) can now go ahead as planned, with writers for the ceremony needing to produce immense numbers of scripts in a short timespan before the show airs on the 24th February. Speaking to the BBC, the boss of CBS Les Moonves said “At the end of the day, everybody won”. Media website Digital Spy report “The result - with nearly 3,500 for and 283 against the agreement - was announced yesterday evening Pacific Time, during the early hours of today GMT”.

BBC News - “Hollywood writers to end strike”
Digital Spy - “US writers’ strike officially ends”
BBC News - “Writers prepare to return to work”

A brief update on the US writers strike from BBC News - “Leaders of striking US film and TV writers have voted in favour of a deal that will end their three-month strike” and the BBC add “union rank and file members are now set to ratify the decision in a vote on Tuesday, after which they are expected to return to work”. Read more on the BBC News website.

Update: Media website Digital Spy also have some news on the deal - “There will now be ballots to approve the agreement in Los Angeles and New York on Tuesday. Members will be notified of the result as late as midnight PST. If, as is strongly expected, it is positive they will be able to work the next day” but they also say “after Tuesday’s ballots there will be a postal vote by members which could take 10 to 12 days to complete”. Watch this space.

BBC News - “Writers’ leaders back strike deal”
Digital Spy - “Writers could return on Wednesday”

A slight change to the previous reports - the striking Writers Guild of America members won’t be returning to work on Monday, but will instead be voting on whether to accept the proposed “tentative deal”. The Underwire blog on the Wired Blog Network say the writers are “most likely heading back to their keyboards by Wednesday” and that “writers will vote on the contract within the next two days”. Writers Guild of America members heard the deal in a Los Angeles meeting yesterday. The Associated Press reports “about 3,500 writers packed the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles to hear from union leaders about the proposed deal that was finalized just hours before meetings were held on both coasts by the Writers Guild of America” and that “Hollywood writers on Saturday gave resounding support to a tentative agreement”.

Underwire (Wired Blog Network) - “WGA Strike Vote Pending by Monday”
The Associated Press - “AP Top News at 4:29 a.m. EST”

The US writers strike appears to be coming to an end. The Writers Guild of America says they have reached a “tentative deal” and Reuters report “members will meet in New York and Los Angeles later on Saturday to discuss specific terms, the ratification process and ending the strike, the union added”. Media news website Digital Spy add “America’s television production industry could be back in business as early as Monday” and that “WGA East members will gather at 2pm Eastern time today in New York to discuss the agreement; the WGA West meeting is scheduled for 7pm Pacific in Los Angeles”.

This deal will end the strike, meaning all shows will get their writing team back. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Late Night With Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report have all been making shows without their original writers when they returned to the air in January. David Letterman’s production company Worldwide Pants Inc reached an interim deal previously, meaning the Late Show With David Letterman and the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson have both had its writing team back since the show returned in January. The deal that’s been reached will now mean the Oscars awards ceremony can now go ahead as planned. Update: You can read the WGA statement here - which also gives full details of the terms & conditions of this new deal.

Reuters - “Striking writers reach tentative deal with studios”
Digital Spy - “WGA: “We have a tentative deal”"
Telegraph - “Oscars saved as Hollywood writers’ strike ends”
The Movie Blog - “The WGA Strike is Over”

So, what with the Golden Globes ceremony being cancelled and most top TV shows on hiatus, it’s clear to see the writers strike is still having a huge impact on US TV. Jon Stewart’s been having a look at the less-than-glitzy Golden Globes press conference, which replaced the ceremony. Also embedded below, is a recap of last week’s first shows of 2008.

^ Videos are from TheDailyShow.com

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report came back to the air with the first new show in about two months last night. On last night’s first Daily Show back, Jon Stewart said “From now on, until the end of the strike, we’ll be doing A Daily Show with Jon Stewart. But not The Daily Show”. Both shows returned without their writers.

The Associated Press reports “Though both Comedy Cental late-night series have always largely been scripted, that would now violate strike rules of the Writers Guild of America. Even Stewart and Colbert, as guild members, are apparently barred from writing anything”. You can see last night’s new episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart on More 4 in the UK tonight at 8.30pm. The Colbert Report doesn’t currently air on UK TV.

^ Videos are from TheDailyShow.com

The Associated Press - “Viewers Await Return of Stewart, Colbert”

Programming reminder - Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will return with new episodes of their respective programmes tonight on Comedy Central in the US (The Daily Show With Jon Stewart’s US episode from tonight will air on More 4 in the UK on Tuesday at 8.30pm). As the writers strike continues, Stewart and Colbert (like the other chat show hosts - except Letterman) will be without their usual writing team. The Canadian Press reports “WGA members Stewart and Colbert are barred from writing anything”.

Both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report have been airing reruns since the strike began about eight weeks ago (the last new show aired at the beginning of November). A Comedy Central spokesman told The Canadian Press “Stephen and Jon are still figuring out what they’re going to do on Monday night’s show”. It will be interesting to see how both shows cope without the writers - most of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report rely heavily on scripted segments and news pieces. It is thought they will try to use more time with guest interviews instead, although The Canadian Press does say “performers who do not belong to the guild will be free to write material for themselves”.

The Canadian Press - “Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert resume Comedy Central talk shows Monday”

More 4 listings at Channel4.com

Showbiz website Perez Hilton reports Jay has violated WGA rules by writing the monologue himself on Wednesday’s new show. The WGA sent the following statement, according to the Perez Hilton website - “”A discussion took place today between Jay Leno and the Writers Guild to clarify to him that writing for The Tonight Show constitutes a violation of the Guilds’ strike rules”.

Perez Hilton - “Leno Scolded By Writers Guild”

Last updated 16:05

The first new episode in about 2 months last night in the US - the Late Show is back. Reports of the show (I have not seen it yet) reveal Letterman came out onto the stage “through a chorus line of dancers holding signs that read, “Writers Guild of America on Strike”, and sporting a full beard he grew during his eight-week break”. Dave looks very different with a beard - as far as I can tell, Dave (and Conan too) has grown a beard as a sign of unity for the WGA strike.

See a picture of Dave with the beard here (KansasCity.com)
A video of Conan sporting his new beard is available at Late Night Underground

Letterman joked about being glad to get out of rehab and “show or no show I really enjoy drinking in the morning”. Dave told everyone he’s the only show to be back with union-backed writers. Before the show titles, Hillary Clinton popped up to welcome us back to the Late Show. Donald Trump wasn’t on the first show back, as was previously thought - Robin Williams was instead. Watch Dave’s monologue here, check out the Top Ten list and see Bill Scheft’s message to the Late Show audience.

BBC News have a report on the return of the chat shows, including some clips from Letterman, Leno and Craig Ferguson. Head on over to the BBC News article to read more and the news report video is available here.

Jay Leno returned with new episodes of The Tonight Show last night - but without his writers. The Kansas City website (TV Barn) said “Leno’s monologue was remarkably ordinary” and that Leno “was trying to pretend like it was business as usual”. Late Night With Conan O’Brien was back - but without his writers. Conan - sporting a new beard - returned last night. The Kansas City website says “O’Brien is better positioned than Leno to stick out a long strike, thanks to stronger interviewing skills”. Craig Ferguson was also back with new episodes of the Late Late Show. Craig had his writing staff with him - as this was covered in the Letterman deal - and started off the first show back with “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted”. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report remain off air, will be returning with new shows starting from the 7th January.

Late Show UK - “Return of the Late Night shows” (By James)
ABC News - “Bearded Letterman back after two months”
KansasCity.com (TV Barn) - “Who won late night? It’s a close shave”
Late Night Underground - “An Important Message From Conan O’Brien”
Late Show UK - Guest Listings
BBC News - “US TV’s talk show titans return”

Conan O’Brien has been telling USA Today about returning to work, supporting the writers and his “strike beard”.

USA Today: Conan Comes Back

All the shows and hosts have shown their own way of returning to air. Jay Leno explained that “the strike is especially hard on NBC. Do you know there are actually more people picketing NBC now than watching NBC?”

USA Today (contains spoilers!): Late-night shows return fully bearded � with and without writers

Taking a break from campaigning with Chuck Norris for the Iowa caucuses, Mike Huckabee appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and jammed with the band.

NY Times: Huckabee Opts for Leno on Caucus Eve

A detailed and interesting peice about Craig Ferguson returning to air and the writers strike.

KansasCity.com: Craig Ferguson live

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report return on Monday (UK: TDS on Tuesday, 8.30pm, More 4).

As per the other major late night US chat shows, Letterman will also be returning to the air in January with brand new shows, it has been confirmed. David Letterman has reached a deal with the WGA to allow the Late Show to return, with his normal writing staff. The US writers strike continues - Letterman’s deal is separate. Reuters report “The Writers Guild of America called its pact with Letterman’s production company, WorldWide Pants Inc, a sign of union readiness to negotiate a deal with major film and TV studios to settle Hollywood’s worst labor crisis in 20 years” and they also say “Letterman reached a deal on Friday”. Craig Ferguson’s chat show - the Late Late Show - will also return with their original writing staff intact. Both the Late Show and the Late Late Show are produced by Letterman’s own production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, who reached the deal with the WGA last week. There is expected to be new episodes of the Late Show and the Late Late Show on CBS starting this coming Wednesday (2nd January).

NBC chat shows The Tonight Show and Late Night will also return to the air with new shows on the 2nd January. Comedy Central will air new episodes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report from the 7th January. The Tonight Show, Late Night, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report will all return without the writing staff - it is only the Late Show that will return with the full writing team intact, due to the individual deal Letterman has reached with the WGA. Reuters also reveal “among the celebrity guests slated to appear on Letterman’s first show back next week is real estate tycoon turned reality TV star Donald Trump, according to producer Rob Burnett”.

On the Late Show this week;

Monday 31st December - Jim Carrey, Alanis Morissette (Rerun)
Tuesday 1st January - George Clooney, the Decemberists (Rerun)
Wednesday 2nd January - Robin Williams, Lupe Fiasco, a special appearance by Hillary Clinton
Thursday 3rd January - Bill Maher, Ellen Page, the cast of Broadway’s “Young Frankenstein”
Friday 4th January - Donald Trump, Shooter Jennings

On The Tonight Show this week;

Monday 31st December - Justin Timberlake, Masi Oka, Matisyahu (Rerun)
Tuesday 1st January - Will Ferrell, Vince Young, Flipsyde (Rerun)
Wednesday 2nd January - Gov. Mike Huckabee, Chingy
Thursday 3rd January - TBA
Friday 4th January - TBA

On Late Night this week;

Monday 31st December - Pre-empted
Tuesday 1st January - Will Arnett, Terri Crews, Patti Scialfa (Rerun)
Wednesday 2nd January - Bob Saget, Dwayne Perkins, Robert Gordon & Chris Spedding
Thursday 3rd January - TBA
Friday 4th January - TBA

On the Late Late Show this week;

Monday 31st December - Dr. Drew Pinsky, Bob Spitz (Rerun)
Tuesday 1st January - Famke Janssen, Jami Gertz, Chris Botti & Paula Cole (Rerun)
Wednesday 2nd January - No guests on tonight’s show
Thursday 3rd January - Dominic Monaghan, Jason Randal
Friday 4th January - Leonard Nimoy, Lyle Lovett, Dean Edwards

On that positive news, Late Show UK would like to wish you all a very happy new year, and we hope you had a great Christmas.

Reuters - “Letterman to return in deal with striking writers”
BBC News - “Letterman to return with writers”

Post last updated 3rd January 2008.

David Letterman’s planned deal with the Writers Guild of America has been rejected, meaning the originally proposed return in January is in doubt. It was hoped they would reach a deal to allow Letterman and his writing staff to return to work, and to produce new episodes of the Late Show. The Associated Press says “absent a deal, the CBS show’s goal of returning to the air with live episodes on Jan. 2 is still up in the air” and “Rob Burnett, president and CEO of Worldwide Pants, didn’t say much more”. Without the Letterman deal, it would also mean continued reruns for Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson. All the other chat shows are still expected to return, as planned, on the 7th January.

The Associated Press - “No Deal for Letterman and TV Writers”

Media website Digital Spy say Donald Trump will be appearing on the first Late Show back. They say “were an agreement to be reached, it would give CBS a competitive edge over NBC, where Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien will be returning with new episodes of their respective programmes also on January 2 but without monologue-creating writers”. Watch this space.

Digital Spy - “Trump booked for first new ‘Late Show’”