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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.)
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Dave has always run his show in New York by the letter. Never tried to get a SAG guy to say fewer than five words to avoid a larger payment. Never tried to skirt around union rules when dealing with actors, crew or staff.
This money comes out of his own pocket. When the strike ends, the guild should honor him.
Now do you see why it was important to chastise Ellen?
Someone should chart out the paths that former Dave-writers have taken. Then… you’ll see Dave’s true influence on TV. Pretty impressive.
And don’t forget, “Raymond” was a Worldwide Pants deal.
Dave rules.
DAVE FOR PRESIDENT
Sounds good doesn’t it Seth MacFarlane, James Brooks, Shawn Ryan, Levitan & Lloyd, Martin & Schiff, Joel Surnow, Aaron Sorkin, David E. Kelly, etc.
Dave’s also paying Ferguson’s entire staff. You rock Dave!
What the hell is Sorkin supposed to do? Pay his ex-crew on Studio 60 for making them work on such a crappy show?
The shine is off of these late night hosts. Well, whatever shine was left. We’re consistently told how witty guys like Stewart, Colbert, and Letterman are, but without the truly creative men and women behind the scenes who put the words in their mouths, they can’t perform.
If I’m not mistaken, all three of them are also members of the Writers Guild, since they’re all also writers on their shows.
The reason they “can’t perform” is because they’re standing with their union, nothing more, nothing less.
Ted–he’s not just paying his writers, he’s paying the whole staff plus Ferguson’s staff. Out of his own pocket. Which makes the greedy bastards at the networks who are unnecessarily laying off staff look even worse.
God, it is so awesome that Dave is so filthy rich that he can afford to pay his entire staff, for the rest of the year, without putting much of a dent in his lifestyle.
While others may or may not follow, rest assured, they won’t be sacrificing much in either case.
David Letterman is the best thing on late night television. He will be on top as long as he wants to be there. Leno, on the other hand, simply isn’t funny or clever. He is still coasting on Johnny Carson’s fumes.
David Letterman’s comedy is whacky but he comes from the gene pool of all the greats. He knows how to do the double take, he knows when to acknowledge when things have gone south, he knows how to both create and deal with absurdity. When he laughs, it seems genuine, not schtick.
He seems like a decent person who sees a problem and is motivated to act and do a decent thing. I’m not surprised he acted to take care of his writers. I’ll watch him as long as he is on the air.
AND, he is welcome to be a part time resident of my state of Montana.
It’s very kind of Dave to continue supporting all his white, male writers. It would be even nicer if he hired females and minorities.
Dave is the epitome of class! YOU makes us proud!
I have watched Letterman since Johnny left us and if everyone will remember Dave was Johnnys choice to replace him. Maybe because Johnny knew just what kind of guy he was. Kudos to you David Letterman and just think how proud Harry will be of his dad in the years to come. You certainly know how to teach by example.I just wish more people would take heed.
He’s paying his crew through the year because he’s coming back in the new year if the strike’s still on. Just like he did last time…sit out a while, then get back on the air. Wonder if you guys will be nominating him for president, or attacking him like you are Ellen?
Dave is the man!
It’s nice of Dave to continue supporting his white, male writers. It would be even nicer if he had some female and minority writers to support.
This just confirms how cool Dave is. It is no surprise that his staff thinks so highly of him.
Go, Dave!
I’m a huge fan of Dave-and this is yet another reason why. And to the WGA-much love and power to y’all. Stay strong.
now the truth comes out. jay leno doesn’t care about his staff. he NEVER promotes from within and does not even bother to learn his employees’ names. Now he’s not paying his people, unless he’s goaded into it now by Letterman’s move.
Letterman treats his people much better.
Yeah, well, nobody else is paying their crews or anyone else at all, thinkpeople, so you expect us to jump all over the only person who’s putting himself out there? “How dare you, how dare you do the right thing and go over and above everyone else, you bastard!!!!” We’ll see what happens in the new year. sad truth, I don’t know about minorities but there are plenty of women producers etc. on that show, it’s not just writers who are getting paid.
Dave L. makes me proud of what REAL American values are. Unlike W43 and his crony corporate money-grubbers, who place money, power and profit above life and ethics.
In our current system, corporations are beholden to stockholders, so it’s partly the system’s fault, but little value is placed on quality of life. Only profit. It’s so stupid and short-sighted.
America could learn so much from Canada, Europe and Asia on this point.
Dave, I love your show, and now know you are as great a guy as I thought………..no matter what you may say!
God Bless You,
Cranberry
RMS-
EVERYTHING on the Letterman show is scripted, yes, down to the interview questions.
The writers write the monologues, all the jokes, gags, commercial lead ins, etc. Dave reads these right off the cue cards. The interviews are set up beforehand by the talent coordinators. The pre-interview questions (and answers) are on his little blue cards that end up “smashing” through the window. Obviously he ad libs alot, too.
I was an intern on Late Night many moons ago. One of the best jobs I ever had. Dave usually involved the entire staff (sans interns
) for everything, including sending all of them out to LA for the Emmys.
Good luck to the writers!
don’t you think it fishy that Rove leaves the horses ass’ house, then suddenly we see discord among the dems and the public, we see the very important voices of letterman and stewart silenced at a time when their rhetoric is crucial before the next mock election…we see more crooked repubican officials gaining more authority and wealth at our expense…when are the good guys going to wake up?!!!!
Jerrysuperfly,
that is not true. jay is a very decent, generous, nice guy. and he does know the names of people on his staff, including lower level which he sees out all the time and says hello. once he gave everyone bonuses out of his own pocket based on how many years they’d been at the show, for some that was a huge dollar amount. jay is closer to his writers because he spends more time w/ them.