Leno, O'Brien to return on Jan. 2
12-18-07 | 09:28 AM
#1
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From: On a little blue planet, third from the Sun.
12-18-07 | 12:49 PM
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From: On a little blue planet, third from the Sun.
Conan O'Brien Statement
"For the past seven weeks of the writers' strike, I have been and continue to be an ardent supporter of the WGA and their cause. My career in television started as a WGA member and my subsequent career as a performer has only been possible because of the creativity and integrity of my writing staff. Since the strike began, I have stayed off the air in support of the striking writers while, at the same time, doing everything I could to take care of the 80 non-writing staff members on Late Night.
Unfortunately, now with the New Year upon us, I am left with a difficult decision. Either go back to work and keep my staff employed or stay dark and allow 80 people, many of whom have worked for me for fourteen years, to lose their jobs. If my show were entirely scripted I would have no choice. But the truth is that shows like mine are hybrids, with both written and non-written content. An unwritten version of Late Night, though not desirable, is possible – and no one has to be fired.
So, it is only after a great deal of thought that I have decided to go back on the air on January 2nd. I will make clear, on the program, my support for the writers and I'll do the best version of Late Night I can under the circumstances. Of course, my show will not be as good. In fact, in moments it may very well be terrible. My sincerest hope is that all of my writers are back soon, working under a contract that provides them everything they deserve."
Unfortunately, now with the New Year upon us, I am left with a difficult decision. Either go back to work and keep my staff employed or stay dark and allow 80 people, many of whom have worked for me for fourteen years, to lose their jobs. If my show were entirely scripted I would have no choice. But the truth is that shows like mine are hybrids, with both written and non-written content. An unwritten version of Late Night, though not desirable, is possible – and no one has to be fired.
So, it is only after a great deal of thought that I have decided to go back on the air on January 2nd. I will make clear, on the program, my support for the writers and I'll do the best version of Late Night I can under the circumstances. Of course, my show will not be as good. In fact, in moments it may very well be terrible. My sincerest hope is that all of my writers are back soon, working under a contract that provides them everything they deserve."
12-18-07 | 01:18 PM
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From: Surrounded by idiots...
Good for them (even though I hate Leno). I like Conan's statement a lot, and it's true. If the show can go on, it must, for the sake of everyone else who doesn't have the "benefit" (I use that loosely) of a union.
12-18-07 | 01:26 PM
#7
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Originally Posted by DVD Josh
So, just for clarification purposes, if Conan comes back, his staff gets paid, even if they are on strike?
12-18-07 | 01:47 PM
#9
I would be surprised if Conan wasn't since he wrote for SNL and the Simpsons didn't he?
12-18-07 | 02:46 PM
#11
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Conan and Jay are both members of the WGA, and have already been publicly warned against performing any self-written monologue jokes.
12-18-07 | 02:48 PM
#12
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Good for them. While I don't think the writer's demands are necessarily out of line, it does bother me that the crew members on the show (most of whom make far less than the writers) are suffering/being laid off because of the strike.
I hope other shows follow suit where possible.
I hope other shows follow suit where possible.
12-18-07 | 02:58 PM
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Other Unions stay together no matter what!
All that b.s. liberal talk and showing off like giving out donuts to the picketers and bashing Ellen. At least Ellen had the balls to do what these other hollywood liberal goofs were going to do anyway!
Admit it the networks are paying you millions and why should you blow that money because some writer wants money for every show they already got paid for and want more money when the public watches it on the internet.
All that b.s. liberal talk and showing off like giving out donuts to the picketers and bashing Ellen. At least Ellen had the balls to do what these other hollywood liberal goofs were going to do anyway!
Admit it the networks are paying you millions and why should you blow that money because some writer wants money for every show they already got paid for and want more money when the public watches it on the internet.
12-18-07 | 03:06 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by Groucho
Good for them. While I don't think the writer's demands are necessarily out of line, it does bother me that the crew members on the show (most of whom make far less than the writers) are suffering/being laid off because of the strike.
I hope other shows follow suit where possible.
I hope other shows follow suit where possible.
You have a sympathetic line for the writers, but then blame their striking for other people losing their jobs.
How about if the producers agreed to a contract with the WGA that fairly compensates the writers, which they could have done before the strike ever started, and then nobody's job would have ever been put in jeopardy.
And what's with the crack about how much the writers earn?
Writers make the show possible. They create the entertainment that makes the money.
Don't you think they should earn more than the people making copies and answering the phones?
12-18-07 | 03:10 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by Count Dooku
Writers make the show possible. They create the entertainment that makes the money.
Don't you think they should earn more than the people making copies and answering the phones?
12-18-07 | 03:12 PM
#18
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by wm lopez
Other Unions stay together no matter what!
All that b.s. liberal talk and showing off like giving out donuts to the picketers and bashing Ellen. At least Ellen had the balls to do what these other hollywood liberal goofs were going to do anyway!
Admit it the networks are paying you millions and why should you blow that money because some writer wants money for every show they already got paid for and want more money when the public watches it on the internet.
All that b.s. liberal talk and showing off like giving out donuts to the picketers and bashing Ellen. At least Ellen had the balls to do what these other hollywood liberal goofs were going to do anyway!
Admit it the networks are paying you millions and why should you blow that money because some writer wants money for every show they already got paid for and want more money when the public watches it on the internet.
12-18-07 | 03:12 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by DVD Josh
Don't delude yourself into thinking that they don't.
12-18-07 | 03:17 PM
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From: Surrounded by idiots...
Originally Posted by Count Dooku
I don't know what you mean by that.
I happen to know they do. When I was there, writers at Letterman made very good money. They had two head writers (who have since left to create How I Met Your Mother) who I believe were making at or over $500,000 per year each.
The other writers weren't hurting.
12-18-07 | 03:27 PM
#22
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Of course the writers make good money --and I know that.
My point is that they deserve it.
Groucho made a point of mentioning that the striking writers make more than the staff workers who have been put out of work by the strike...
My point is that even if a writer is making $500K, if that amount isn't fair compensation, then they should demand more.
The writer makes the show possible.
It's too bad if someone making $25K gets hurt in the process, but office staff don't create the entertainment that makes the money.
And again, don't put this on the writers. The producers could have acted to avert the whole thing.
My point is that they deserve it.
Groucho made a point of mentioning that the striking writers make more than the staff workers who have been put out of work by the strike...
My point is that even if a writer is making $500K, if that amount isn't fair compensation, then they should demand more.
The writer makes the show possible.
It's too bad if someone making $25K gets hurt in the process, but office staff don't create the entertainment that makes the money.
And again, don't put this on the writers. The producers could have acted to avert the whole thing.
12-18-07 | 03:30 PM
#23
Moderator
There are a lot of skilled people on the sets of television shows and movies who do work that that's a lot more complicated than getting coffee and making copies.
12-18-07 | 03:32 PM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Count Dooku
How about if the producers hos agreed to a contract with the WGA that fairly compensates the writers made my money, which they could have done before the strikeing ever started, and then nobody's job life would have ever been put in jeopardy.
12-18-07 | 03:33 PM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Groucho
There are a lot of skilled people on the sets of television shows and movies who do work that that's a lot more complicated than getting coffee and making copies.