David Letterman Is My New Hero! All I can Say is WOW!

[romantico]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:02pm

Big props to David Letterman!

The talk show legend announced to his staff yesterday that he is going to pay all of their salaries through the end of the year while the writers’ strike is still going on.

Dave took this bold and costly move because many networks have threatened to fire all the staffs of the talk shows, many of whom have been working for years and years on the show.

Time to at least start talking again, people!

http://perezhilton.com/?p=8792

http://smallscreen.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1373792.php/WGA_strike_update_David_Letterman_pays_staff_out_of_his_pocket

Updated On: 11/14/07 at 06:02 PM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:08pm

Wow. That is incredible. (I just wish the damn strike would end, but hell, they aren't even negotiating at this point.)

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:08pm

What a generous gesture on his part.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:09pm

Classy move, Letterman!

[romantico]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:13pm

Will Leno do the same? How about Conan? I agree, Letterman is a class act!

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:16pm

I wonder what Carson did 20 years ago...hmm?

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:22pm

Kudos to letterman. He's my Late Night favorite.

[romantico]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:24pm

Letterman's writers have started a WGA Strike blog

This "blog" or "webblog" or "internetwebblog" or "interwebblognetwebblog" will feature the thoughts and observations of Late Show writers Eric Stangel, Justin Stangel, Bill Scheft, Steve Young, Matt Roberts, Tom Ruprecht, Jeremy Weiner, Lee Ellenberg, Joe Grossman and Bob Borden regarding the current writers strike.

There is a lot at stake with this strike and these are serious issues. The Late Show writers are on the picket lines every day they are scheduled. We are not making light of this situation. One way to get people to pay attention to the strike and its issues is through humor.
Best,
THE LATE SHOW WRITERS

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Talking To Children About The Writers’ Strike

by Steve Young


The writers’ strike can be stressful and confusing for children as well as adults. Kids often have questions about the situation that need to be handled delicately. Here are a few sample questions and non-judgmental answers.


“Why are the writers and the big media companies fighting?”


“Sometimes two parts of the entertainment business love each other, but have trouble getting along. The details of the argument aren’t important. All you need to know is that the producers are trying to bludgeon the writers with bats, take their last few pennies, and leave them bleeding in the street.”


“Is the fight because of something I’ve done?”


“Yes, of course. All trouble is due to your bad behavior.”


“Will the writers and the producers ever get back together?”


“We hope so. The writers are ready to sit down and talk whenever the big companies are willing to have a real discussion about DVD income and digital revenue sharing. That’s just a fancy way of saying you know who to blame if this thing drags on.


“Do you still love me?”


“The Writers Guild will always love you very, very much. The media companies would sell you to the Gypsies in a second if they thought it would boost their share price.”


“Can you bring back “Walker, Texas Ranger”?”


“You’re trying my patience. Go to bed.”


http://lateshowwritersonstrike.com/

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:25pm

Updated On: 12/23/09 at 06:25 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:30pm

Maybe Ellen will do the same...nevermind.
That is really an amazing gesture.

[BroadwayBound86]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 6:51pm

That was beyond nice of him! Definately a favorite of mine! Of course....besides Craig Ferguson.

[xoxRogue]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 7:07pm

There was a rumor after the strike was announced that Jon Stewart was going to pay the salaries of his writers for two weeks, but I don't think his reps confirmed it.

For the strike blog of everyone:
www.unitedhollywood.com

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 8:13pm

Sueleen,

I was thinking the same thing.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 8:25pm

According to MSN, Ellen cancelled the taping of her show next week which was to be taking place in NYC.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 8:27pm

I was about to say that Letterman has myriads more money than Stewart, but then realized Letterman's writers likely make myriads more money than Stewart's, so it's all pretty much the same thing.

[gymdudeva]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 8:29pm

Leno will probably now do it to copy Letterman. But we know who the real class act is.

[pab]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 8:40pm

Strike Costing Leno And Letterman Each $100,000 Per Night

Updated On: 11/17/07 at 08:40 PM

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 8:46pm

If I'm not mistaken one of the big incentives CBS offered to Dave was ownership Late Show -- as far as I know Leno is simply an employee of NBC (a high paid one...but ya know)...I am not sure if he can do the same thing at the Tonight Show.....


Carson was forced to go back to work before the end of the strike.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/14/07 at 9:20pm

Regardless of the relationship between what he makes and what he stands to "lose", David could never work again a day in his life and STILL be able to pay his writers. The fact is he didn't have to do anything. No one would have called him a bad person if he just sat at home with his wife and kid waiting for the next crazy stalker to come over. But he stepped up. And if Leno or Stewart feel that they need to do the same thing now in order to "save face", then so be it, everybody wins. (If that is possible in this situation.)

Posted: 11/15/07 at 3:15am

Dave can act like a crusty old coot all he wants, but the fact is he's a great and classy guy.

[DG]

Posted: 11/15/07 at 3:22am

Not to put too fine a point on it, but what I see are Mid-Western values put into play. I know the region gets a bad rep - especially around liberals - but I always found the core of their beliefs and actions to be solid and really viable.

[BroadwayBound86]

Posted: 11/15/07 at 5:25am

According to MSN, Ellen cancelled the taping of her show next week which was to be taking place in NYC.

Wasn't she basically told she wasn't welcome here anyway?

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 11/15/07 at 10:11am

Dave's always been my hero. This just proves that he's the best.

[Jane2]

Posted: 11/15/07 at 10:14am

I've never been a fan of Letterman-don't think he's funny.

However, for some reason I got a small thrill when he came to the theater the other day and he was so friendly. Anyway, good for him!

[Pippin]

Posted: 11/15/07 at 11:01am

Letterman is the real deal. He is my favorite, always has been. I didn't think it was possible to have any more respect for him.


and about Ellen: the WGA on the East coast basically told her not to come, becuase they wouldn't show her any support, and would've basically given her a hard time, so she was forced to cancel.