JAY LENO has finally joined his late night brethren in lending a hand to his employees. According to the Hollywood Reporter, The Tonight Show host announced Saturday he will pay the salaries of about 80 non-striking staffers on the program for at least the next week. The Tonight Show, of course, has been in reruns for nearly a month due to the writers strike.
Leno is a little late in helping his employees compared to his counterparts. DAVID LETTERMAN, whose production company produces both his Late Show and The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, is paying the staffs of both series through the end of the year. And last week, CONAN O'BRIEN decided he would pay the non-striking employees of his Late Night show out of his own pocket on a week-to-week basis. Leno's decision comes after he rankled some feathers Friday when several staff members of The Tonight Show were laid off and told they may not be re-hired once production resumes. Several workers were furious, especially since Leno had told them shortly after the strike began they were not in danger of losing their jobs.
The Hollywood Reporter is also reporting comedian WANDA SYKES turned down the chance to guest host The Tonight Show during the strike and NBC mulled over the possibility of using a rotating stable of musicians as hosts. The network even considered having Leno continue to host the show without any monologue whatsoever.
Leno is a little late in helping his employees compared to his counterparts. DAVID LETTERMAN, whose production company produces both his Late Show and The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson, is paying the staffs of both series through the end of the year. And last week, CONAN O'BRIEN decided he would pay the non-striking employees of his Late Night show out of his own pocket on a week-to-week basis. Leno's decision comes after he rankled some feathers Friday when several staff members of The Tonight Show were laid off and told they may not be re-hired once production resumes. Several workers were furious, especially since Leno had told them shortly after the strike began they were not in danger of losing their jobs.
The Hollywood Reporter is also reporting comedian WANDA SYKES turned down the chance to guest host The Tonight Show during the strike and NBC mulled over the possibility of using a rotating stable of musicians as hosts. The network even considered having Leno continue to host the show without any monologue whatsoever.
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