Leno, O'Brien to return on Jan. 2 with new shows

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Bob Juch · #1 Post by **Bob Juch** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:41 pm

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111797 ... id=14&cs=1

thguy65 · #2 Post by **thguy65** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:24 pm

Letterman may be back with WGA writers if he can work out his own deal with the Guild separate from CBS.

DadofTwins · #3 Post by **DadofTwins** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:45 pm

Is there any indication whether or not SAG members will cross a picket line to appear on these late-night shows?

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #4 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 5:12 pm

I've always had a soft spot for Letterman. A lot was made of the salary he was given when he left NBC for CBS, but I think that it says a lot about his character that he is paying the wages of the non-writing staff of both his show and Craig Ferguson's show.

At present, the other late night hosts -- Jay, Conan, and Jimmy (paid the least of all and csaid to be close to bankruptcy) are paying for staff to one degree or another out of their own pockets, presumably. But Letterman isn't just doling out $300,000 a week in salary for the non-writing staff of two shows, his and The Late Late Show starring Craig Ferguson which Worldwide Pants also owns. Dave also pays for the rent of the Ed Sullivan Theatre Building in NYC and insurance for 200+ workers, I'm told. "So, triple that figure and you'll be close to what he's been shelling out a week for six weeks," a source says. "I'm tired of everyone being lumped together for taking roughly the same out-of-pocket hit. It's not close."

Bob Juch · #5 Post by **Bob Juch** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:50 pm

DadofTwins wrote:Is there any indication whether or not SAG members will cross a picket line to appear on these late-night shows?

There wouldn't be picket lines as they'll not be using writers at all.

DadofTwins · #6 Post by **DadofTwins** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:37 am

I was wondering about potential guests.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #7 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:05 am

DadofTwins wrote:I was wondering about potential guests.

If they have projects to promote, they are going to show up.