David Letterman and the leadership of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have reached a landmark agreement that will allow the King of Late Night to open his doors to his entire writing staff. This paves the way for Dave to be able to return with all new shows next week in head to head competition with Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel who also are returning, but without their much needed writers.
This marks the first one-on-one deal between the WGA and a production company, something that the Guild said they would be actively seeking after negotiations with the AMPTP failed to accomplish anything positive. Letterman was able to go outside the confines of CBS television because he owns his show through his Worldwide Pants production company.
This also opens the door for entertainers, who have been reluctant to cross picket lines to appear on late night or awards shows, to go to Letterman’s program without offending the Guild since they now have a legitimate contract with Worldwide Pants.
Letterman, who has kept his CBS “Late Show” off the air and in reruns since November 5 in support of striking writers, had said through representatives that he wanted to return on January 2 with fresh broadcasts, and his writing staff intact, according to a statement to the Associated Press, but only if his company could reach agreement with the union to do so. With the “full, binding, independent agreement” now a done deal, he will be the only show that both writers and actors can feel comfortable about appearing on.
Now that Letterman has opened the door, other studios and networks may begin feeling the pressure to begin their own separate negotiations with the Guild and pass over the powerful AMPTP.
imagine if sci-fi channel (or associated production companies) bagged a similar deal – all anyone would be watching would be BSG and Heroes, it would be an incredible boon for genre tv
Problem is SCI FI Channel is owned by NBC Universal which in turn is owned by GE (General Electric), a major player in the AMPTP.
Its a miracle!
Only in America would this kind of crap happen…
What they need now is Letterman and his shows to start pimping all this pro-writers stuff, since from what I hear the writers have been getting slammed in American press.
Not surprised to hear that the writers are getting slammed in the American media-after all, it’s the same corporate interests that control both news & entertainment production. Here in Europe, all we hear about is celebs that support the writers.
“from what I hear the writers have been getting slammed in American press”
?? What press is that? There might be a few periodicals that are heavily supported by studio advertising that slant their reporting against the WGA, but here in Los Angeles, the writers are typically regarded as the honorable David to the AMPT’s villianous Goliath. And it isn’t just celebs who walk the picket lines with the writers; fans are joining them too. Grass roots support is firmly behind the WGA, and the press reports on that very frequently.
Letterman is being widely applauded for his actions, but the key will be what happens with the viewers and with talent booking. If A-list guests and viewers flock to Letterman while boycotting Leno and Kimmel, THAT will be the message that the AMPTP needs to hear.