No Deal for Letterman and TV Writers
AP
Posted: 2007-12-21 18:20:15
NEW YORK (Dec. 21) - David Letterman doesn't even need writers to
have fun with this one.
The late-night comic's representatives met with striking writers
on Friday in an attempt to reach a deal that will allow the "Late
Show" to return to the air with its writing staff.
- Writers' Strike Updates
All the late night talk shows immediately went into reruns at the start of the strike. Some industry observers speculate the hosts will return much sooner than they did during the 1988 strike, when their shows were dark for months. (Credit: CBS/Comedy Central/ABC/NBC)
- Writers' Strike Updates
Sitcoms taped in front of live audiences were hit next since they often require last-minute rewrites. Fox comedies 'Back to You' and ''Til Death' went dark.
- Writers' Strike Updates
All of CBS comedies -- 'Rules of Engagement,' 'New Adventures of Old Christine,' 'Two and a Half Men' and 'Big Bang Theory' -- have shut down. (Credit: CBS)
- Writers' Strike Updates
'The Shield' was set to film its series finale, but creator Shawn Ryan said in a widely-distributed e-mail that he would not perform any of his other producing duties. (Credit: FX)
- Writers' Strike Updates
Reports said the comedy only filmed two scenes when star Steve Carell didn't show up for work and Rainn Wilson called in sick. Actor/writers B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling were also on strike. (Credit: NBC)
- Writers' Strike Updates
CBS can breathe a small sigh of relief: All seven episodes of the second season of 'Jericho' are complete and ready to air. (Credit: CBS)
- Writers' Strike Updates
The 'Heroes' writers tweaked a few scenes in the 11th episode, which closes out its "Volume II: Generations" storyline, so that it can serve as a second season finale. (Credit: NBC)
- Writers' Strike Updates
Picketers disrupted filmings of scenes for the last scripted episode of 'Desperate Housewives.' And the show inspired one of the strike's catchiest slogans: "We write the story-a for Eva Longoria." (Credit: ABC)
- Writers' Strike Updates
The CW lucked out: All 22 episodes of 'Everybody Hates Chris' are in the can. (Credit: CBS)
- Writers' Strike Updates
'30 Rock' triple threat Tina Fey (actor, writer, producer) picketed at Rockefeller Center on the first day of the strike.
- Breaking Down the Strike
Now that the Writer's Guild of America is on strike, what does it mean for you and the millions of other TV fans in America? Read on for our 12-point primer on all things strike-related. (Credit: ABC/Getty/NBC)
- Breaking Down the Strike
Why Are the Writers Striking?
Members of the Writers Guild of America, which includes TV writers, want their residuals to include a bigger piece of the profits for things like TV-on-DVD releases and TV episodes shown on the Internet. (Credit: Getty Images)
- Breaking Down the Strike
Have the Writers Gone on Strike Before?
Yes, in 1988 for 22 weeks. New seasons of hits like 'Cheers,' 'Roseanne' and 'The Cosby Show' were delayed, the nets lost $500 million and almost 10 percent of viewers tuned out and never came back. (Credit: Getty Images)
- Breaking Down the Strike
If the Strike Lasts Through Winter, Will It Be All Reality and Repeats?
And Bart Simpson. Lengthy production schedules of Fox's Sunday night 'toon line-up means those shows have about a year's worth of scripts ready. (Credit: Fox)
- Breaking Down the Strike
What Will Happen to Late-Night Shows?
One word: Reruns. 'Leno,' 'Letterman' and 'The Daily Show' are just a few of the late-night shows that will be hit the hardest by the strike. Their daily, topical humor is written by the people on the picket lines. (Credit: Getty Images)
- Breaking Down the Strike
Will the New Season of 'Idol' Still Launch in January?
Yes. Reality shows don't rely on WGA writers, so 'Idol' is all set. In fact, the show would benefit from a strike, which would pit Simon and Ryan against repeats every week. (Credit: Fox)
- Breaking Down the Strike
Did the Threat of a Strike Really Get Regis a New Gig?
Yep. The Reeg just signed on to host an update of the game show 'Password.' Game shows and repurposed cable shows, like 'Psych' and 'Monk,' will be used to ward off repeats. (Credit: GettyImages)
- Breaking Down the Strike
Will NBC Air the British Version of 'The Office'?
That's the rumor. Word is that the network would pair airings of the U.S. show with episodes of the British original. (Credit: Everett Collection)
- Breaking Down the Strike
Will 'Lost' and '24' Still Return in Early 2008?Yes, as both of those shows have been in production for many weeks now. But the strike might mean unplanned cliffhangers if the nets run out of new episodes.(Credit: ABC/FOX)
- Breaking Down the Strike
Will My New Fave Be Canceled?A lingering strike would definitely make it more difficult for new shows to continue building a loyal audience, so yes, it may hit those series the hardest.(Credit: NBC/ABC/CBS/CW)
All the Writers Guild of America would say about the meeting:
"A lively exchange of information took place." It was reminiscent
of diplomat-speak for argumentative talks between hostile
countries: "A frank exchange of views."
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.
Late-night rivals Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel are
all coming back that night without writers if the strike, as
expected, is not resolved. Comedy Central's Jon Stewart and Stephen
Colbert plan to bring their late-night shows back without writers
on Jan. 7.
Letterman's hope to bring his writers back stemmed from the
union's announcement last weekend that it was open to reaching
contract agreements with separate production companies. Letterman's
Worldwide Pants owns his show and CBS' talk show with Craig
Ferguson.
Rob Burnett, president and CEO of Worldwide Pants, didn't say
much more.
"We had a substantive discussion today with the WGA and look
forward to continuing these talks next week," Burnett said.
Test Your Year End Show Biz IQ
After the Golden Globes, Isaiah Washington denied calling which of his fellow 'Grey's Anatomy' cast members a gay slur?
- Patrick Dempsey
- Katherine Heigl
- T.R. Knight
- Justin Chambers
What song did Sanjaya Malakar sing for his 'American Idol' audition?
- 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered'
- 'Steppin' Out'
- 'Bath Water'
- 'Something to Talk About'
Who never claimed to be Dannielynn Smith's father?
- Larry Birkhead
- Howard K. Stern
- Prince Von Anhalt
- Leslie Nielsen
Angelina Jolie brought her fourth child, Pax Thien, home from ____.
- Ethiopia
- Cambodia
- Vietnam
- Malawi
Radio shock jock Don Imus insulted this women's basketball team, resulting in his termination from CBS.
- Rutgers
- Duke
- Tennessee
- North Carolina
Paul McCartney's estranged wife Heather Mills appeared on which reality show to improve her image in America?
- 'So You Think You Can Dance'
- 'Dancing With the Stars'
- 'Celebrity Fit Club'
Who spent the longest time in jail this year?
- Nicole Richie
- Paris Hilton
- Lindsay Lohan
Rosie O'Donnell left 'The View' after an on-air spat with which personality?
- Donald Trump
- Bill O'Reilly
- Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Fans of the 'Jericho' sent ___ to the network executives, convincing CBS to put the canceled series back on the air.
- Bags of nuts
- Thousands of letters
- Boxes of pencils
Eva Longoria and Tony Parker married on July 7, 2007 in ____.
- Paris
- Los Angeles
- San Antonio
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' holds the record for the fasting selling book ever.
How many times had Lindsay Lohan been to rehab before she entered the Cirque Lodge facility in August?
Halle Berry announced her pregnancy in September of 2007. Who is the father of her first child?
- David Justice
- Eric Benet
- Gabriel Aubrey
'View' co-host Sherri Shepherd doesn't know if the world is round or flat.
Vanessa Hudgens took responsibility for the nude pictures of her that surfaced online, prompting Disney to ___ the star of 'High School Musical.'
What is the name of the dog that Ellen adopted and then gave away, only to have the canine taken back by the adoption agency?
The Writers Guild of America want how much of an increase for DVD residuals?
George Clooney and Fabio got in a verbal altercation at a restaurant in Los Angeles.
Pamela Anderson ___ Rick Salomon just days after ____.
- Filed for divorce from, marrying him
- Filed for divorce from, announcing her pregnancy
- Made up with, filing for divorce.
Who hasn't John Mayer dated in 2007?
- Cameron Diaz
- Scarlett Johansson
- Jessica Simpson
- Minka Kelly
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2007-12-21 17:49:24
