Cannes: Entertainment One Announces Itself As Player In … 
Very Crowded Memorial Weekend Kick-Off: ‘Hangover … 
Shareholders Quiz Time Warner Chief On Political Ties And … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Modern Family’, ‘Law … 
Hammond On Cannes: Paramount’s ‘Nebraska’ … 
Cannes: J.C. Chandor Sets Next Project ‘A Most … 
Hannibal Classics Sets Cast For Nic Cage Pic … 
Hammond On Cannes: Robert Redford’s Brave New Role … 
Hot Trailer: Jennifer Aniston And Jason Sudeikis’ … 
Warner Bros Tells Space Story, From The Bra Designers Who … 
Brad Pitt’s Plan B Banner Promotes Jeremy Kleiner To … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Don Jon’ 
Billy Crystal-Starring Comedy From Matt Nix & Larry … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Dancing With The Stars’ … 
Hammond On Cannes: A New Day Comes To The Fest As HBO and … 
Cannes: Fleming Reflects And Finds Talented Trio A Breath … 
Hot Trailer: ‘Man Of Steel’ 
Former Digital Domain CEO & Auditors Sued For Fraud By … 
ABC’s ‘Nashville’ Undergoes Production … 
CBS Wins Season & Ties Sweep In Demo; ABC Tops Adults … 
Alki David Agrees To End Name Games With Aereo And Barry … 
I find lateshowwritersonstrike.com consistently the funniest strike blog out there. Some recent gems you may have missed:
BILL SCHEFT’S STRIKE RELATED DAVE-TYPE MONOLOGUE JOKE OF THE DAY: The hookers in Times Square, God Bless ‘em, are now offering their “Writers Strike Special.” It’s $29.95, but if you let them make a DVD, they’ll give you back four cents.
THE AMPTP’S CONTRACT PROPOSAL …BY JOE GROSSMAN… Today, the WGA and AMPTP resumed negotiations, and inside sources say the producers finally offered the writers a contract that would pay us using a simple, straightforward formula. Here’s how it works.
– The pay-per-letter contract: $0.00 for every use of the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
– .0125¢ for every Q and anything with an umlaut.
Negotiation Ground Rules …BY STEVE YOUNG … The WGA and the AMPTP have agreed that Monday’s negotiations will be governed by the following rules:
– Each side may bring one giant inflatable animal.
– No hot-dogging or show-boating.
– During the 15 minute break, there will be a musical performance by the National Labor Relations Board’s “Rappin’ Mediator.”
– The AMPTP must withdraw excessively unfavorable proposals if the WGA team chants “Hey hey, ho ho, corporate greed has got to go.”
– Each negotiating team member must bring a covered dish.
– To determine the final internet residuals formula, the WGA will pick one of 26 silver briefcases held by models.
– The session will begin with an attempt to resolve a minor negotiating issue: the WGA wants to be able to sit at the table, while the AMPTP is demanding 100% of the chairs for themselves.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Ahahhahhaha
This is some funny stuff..
Go Writers…
My favorite is the AMPTP contract proposal. Hopefully we will get a revamped show at the other end. The show itself has been in a rut before the strike. Segments like “Fun Facts” and “Great Moments in Presidential Speeches” have got to go. Maybe do a bit of back and forth banter by bringing somebody in from the writers room. Also, the set needs to be revamped a bit.
The session will begin with an attempt to resolve a minor negotiating issue: the WGA wants to be able to sit at the table, while the AMPTP is demanding 100% of the chairs for themselves.
That one’s easy. Provided the table’s at a height higher than the chairs, the AMPTP can have the chairs, sit down, and the WGA will sit on the table and will have a bigger advantage, looking down sternly on those who seek to give them less than what they want.
I respectfully disagree. I have the same problem with that blog that I have with the show these days – the writing ape’s Letterman’s voice without being funny. I find it lazy and unimaginative. Luckily I still have my dog eared copy of the Late Night with David Letterman book. That’s a nice reminder of what gifted writers (George Meyer, Steve O’Donnell, James Downey, Andy Breckman, etc.) can do when merging their talents with someone like Letterman.
Sorry for this outburst. I am sorry for temporarily turning your blog into television without pity. I am in message group withdrawl from the strike.
I have a question: How much money are the writers getting for posting on that website (lateshowwritersonstrike.com)? My guess is ZERO…exactly what they deserve! The writers want money everytime someone watches a show on the web. What is stopping them from hiring some kid to sit at home and download their shows 100′s of times a day so they collect more money? At least with DVD’s, it’s an accurate account of sales that determines what they get.
Actually, the funniest years of Late Night were the early years when Merrill Markoe was the head writer. “She engineered most of the original concepts and architecture for the ground-breaking late night talk show, along the way creating the segment “Stupid Pet Tricks,” as well as “Stupid Human Tricks” and “Viewer Mail.”
Many of the ideas behind the remote segments outside the studio came from Markoe”
The remote segments became a trademark of the Letterman show and this style has been copied over and over by other shows since – including by Leno whose show also ripped off Stupid Human Tricks
As usual, a woman doesn’t get her due credit. TV needs more female showrunners, women step up to the plate! Stop worrying about what people think of you.
You’re absolutely right. I forgot Markoe and she is pretty much the number 1 most important Letterman writer of all time.
@ FSG,
“What is stopping them from hiring some kid to sit at home and download their shows 100’s of times a day so they collect more money?” That makes no sense. We’re asking for pennies. So hiring someone, unless it’s a monkey, would not be very cost effective. Also, that kid we’d be hiring, would have to be plucking down 2 bucks a show on iTunes in order for us to get our pennies – again, doesn’t really compute. IT’S COOL TO BE PASSIONATE, IT’S COOLER TO BE INFORMED.
http://www.100daysinbed.blogspot.com
Remotes may have been copied by other shows from David Letterman’s show, but they also do things differently. The best come from Conan O’ Brien with Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Dave, you need to do more remotes and maybe have Bob Bordon or Maria Pope do them.
>> — The pay-per-letter contract: $0.00 for every use of the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
– .0125¢ for every Q and anything with an umlaut. <<
Höw qöñvëñïëñt tö pröpö?ë äddïñg ä fëw ñëw ïñçëñtïvë?!
It can be achieved, although I guess the actors will need some time to get used to it…
Speaking of late night, how come Dave hasn’t been on the line? Or Jon Stewart? Or Colbert? Or Conan? Aren’t they WGA members? Don’t they have to sign in and picket?
What gives?
Merrill Markoe is a genius. That being said, the show and Dave are 25 years older now and shouldn’t be compared to those first few genius breakout years.
Hell, I pine away for the old morning show. Edwin Newman, you are missed!
jeez, must everything be controversy
@Dave, the point is when Markoe departed, the show was not as good. Just because a show is 25 years old does not rubber stamp it to become lazy and redundant. Especially a show like Late Night with the means and resources to do anything, attract fresh talent.
The point is it wouldn’t hurt for them to mix things up a bit, get some diversity on staff. All these late night shows have grown a bit stale, but Dave was the gold standard. All these shows are male dominated, when a woman was running things it was incomparably brilliant. God forbid, we say that – let the barrage of silly controversy commence.
Open up to some new pov’s. Widen the pool of talent. What’s wrong with that. On Leno’s show, one expects stupid sophomoric humor, but Dave’s a groundbreaker. Now one gets the feeling he’s kind of bored out there every night, but is collecting his paycheck.
Markoe should get her due for the wildly original, iconic stuff she created on that show.
This is a really good site to have as reference – having said that, in terms of judging old and new writers contributions to Letterman is difficult when even Dave couldn’t get old clips from his early shows for his anniversary special. How are we supposed to see that material? The show got tired when Dave started doing too many cough-clear-throat riffs…