This is supposed to be a Tonight Show writer blog, and so far, no mention of the strike.
There are a number of good reasons for that. Since the beginning of this high-falutin’ labor action, the late-night shows, and our show in particular, has been under the microscope. And while Letterman owns his own production company on the show, and was able to take advantage of that to return to air with his writers, a lot of striking writers seem to think that’s unfair. On the other end, Jay held out as long as he could, paying the non-writing staff out of his own pocket (that’s after tax money, mind you) until he went back on the second. Still, there are writers protesting in front of NBC with signs calling Jay a scab and worse, even after the Guild announced their support of his going back before Christmas.
So I have to craft an approach to this blog that supports Jay first, then the guild, and that doesn’t get me quoted in Nikki Finke.
So, dear reader, forge on. And as you read, be sure to check very carefully between the lines.
