Dave Opens Own Wallet To Pay His Staff
EXCLUSIVE: I've just learned that David Letterman and his producers yesterday morning announced to his Late Show staff that they will be paid through the end of the year even though the show isn't on the air during the writers strike. "Dave's not doing this to get good press, which is why it hasn't been reported for almost two days," a source tells me. "This is really significant because, as opposed to all of the other shows, this money comes out of Dave's own pocket." When Late Show stopped making new episodes last week, CBS ceased paying Letterman's production company on November 5th. And, in case you were wondering, Dave owns Late Show while Jay does not own The Tonight Show as Johnny Carson did. (FYI, earlier this month, a news report claimed Jon Stewart had made a similar offer to pay his staff through the holidays, but then his rep said it was untrue.)
Yes, Worldwide Pants employees are getting paid. However, most of the technical crew for the Late Show and Late Late Show are CBS employees, some of which are non-staff but per diem, even though they work on regular basis. These employees (at least in Los Angeles) have been on the street since day 1 of the strike. CBS does not want to pay them. They're like the bastard child nobody wants to claim.
Just a reminder that striking Late Show writers Eric Stangel, Justin Stangel, Bill Scheft, Steve Young, Matt Roberts, Tom Ruprecht, Jeremy Weiner, Lee Ellenberg, Joe Grossman and Bob Borden have begun a blog about the writers walkout. (Here's an LA Weekly column I wrote about Letterman, Dave The Brave.)
Fans of the hit television programs "30 Rock" and "Saturday Night Live" might not be able to catch new episodes on television due to the ongoing writers strike, but some lucky ticket holders will be able to see their favorite shows performed live at the New York Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Nov. 17 and 19.
The casts of the two NBC programs will present one-night-only live performances for eager audiences who can't get their fix in their own living rooms. While the events haven't been highly publicized, both performances have already sold out. All proceeds from the live performances will benefit the Writers Guild strike fund.
"Saturday Night Live" will feature a collection of favorite sketches, hosted by Michael Cera, the young star of "Superbad." The musical guest will be Yo La Tengo. The entire current cast of "SNL" has been confirmed for the 11:30 PM performance on Nov. 17.
The live performance of "30 Rock," scheduled for Nov. 19 at 8 PM, will feature the complete cast of "30 Rock," including Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski and Alec Baldwin. The star-studded cast is scheduled to perform a live episode from the popular series.
Production of "30 Rock" and "Saturday Night Live" ground to a halt Nov. 4 as talks collapsed between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Key issues remain writers' residuals from DVD sales, internet broadcasts, cell phone and new media. A previous writers strike in 1988 lasted 22 weeks.
The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre is located in Manhattan at 307 West 26th Street. For more information on the Upright Citizens Brigade, visit www.ucbtheatre.com.
Impact Of WGA Strike On TV Production
IATSE sources tell me that the number of TV shows that have shut down because of the writers walkout was 50 at the beginning of this week. And, by the end of this week, that number will be over 100.
CBS News Writers Tell Strike Vote Monday
The CBS News writers' strike authorization vote will take place tomorrow, November 15th and Friday, November 16th. The WGA East will announce the results on Monday, November 19th. The WGA-CBS members have been working under an expired contract since April 2, 2005, and without a pay raise since April 2004. The contract covers more than 500 newswriters, editors, desk assistants, production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers and researchers in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, and Los Angeles working in television and radio on the national and local levels. Today, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer visited the newsrooms of CBS Network Television, WCBS-TV (Channel 2), local News radio 880-AM, and Network Graphics to "lend his personal support" to the newsroom writers, according to WGAE.
Words Matter...
Passing time on the CBS picket line:
Ben, Lily, Sarah & Zach 'Support Writers Of The Words That Make Them Famous'
The WGA's PR campaign released video of actors Ben Stiller, Lily Tomlin, Sarah Silverman, Marge Hildebrand, and Zach Braff speaking at Tuesday's Bring-A Star-To-Picket-With-You event in "support for the men and women who write the words that make them famous." Lily Tomlin: “The actors are nothing without good words! We’re nothing.” And actor/writer/director Ben Stiller: “I hope this strike is over soon, but it shouldn’t be over until we get what we need.” Sarah Silverman: “It’s so crazy ridiculous...all the writers want is a small percentage of the money that the producers are making on the things that they’re writing. “They’re getting zero.”
Picketing: Gays Today, Assistants Monday
Writer/director C. Jay Cox and Michael Medico (who heads up the blog Hot in Hollywood) are hosting "Gay Gate" at the main gate of Raleigh Studios Hollywood at 5300 Melrose Avenue today from 10 AM until 2 PM Los Angeles Times . Invited are gay and lesbian writers and actors to join at a central location for one day. They said they decided on Raleigh since the gayest show on television, Ugly Betty, is filmed there. As the invitation reads, "Let's picket because we're right. Let's picket together because we're fabulous!"
On Monday, assistants are organizing a central picket between 12 Noon until 2 PM at the Main Gate (Pico & Motor) of the Fox lot. Invited are assistants and other “below-the-line” employees ("particularly those who have been laid-off by the media conglomerates") who support the WGA and would like to picket in unity with the writers. "For writers, this is a chance for us to celebrate the assistants and “below-the-line” employees, and to recognize them for the sacrifices they’re being forced to make as we fight for a fair deal."
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