TV Hot Spot: STRIKE!

Jay Leno to Pay Staff

Post by: Sal


"Tonight Show" host Jay Leno will cover his staff's salaries for the time being, after taking some heat from workers idled by the writers' strike.

Leno joins fellow NBC late-night host Conan O'Brien and David Letterman, whose company owns both of CBS' late-night talk shows, in covering the paychecks of behind-the-scenes crew during the strike, which is now in its fifth week. Letterman's Worldwide Pants Co. will pay staffers on "The Late Show" and "The Late Late Show" through the end of this year, while Leno and O'Brien are covering salaries week to week.

The angst among "Tonight" staffers came after they received layoff notices from NBC on Friday, and Leno had not yet delivered on a promise to take care of them. Members of the show's crew were quoted saying they felt abandoned by the comedian, who at the time had only offered early Christmas bonuses of $100 for each year of employment on the show.

"Late Night" host O'Brien and Letterman, meanwhile, had already assured their employees that they'd be paid even if they were laid off.

Leno's camp, meanwhile, says the confusion over pay amounted to miscommunication. The bonuses weren't meant to be substitutes for a regular paycheck, according to the showbiz trade papers. Leno had been holding off in hopes that last week's talks between writers and the media conglomerates would lead to a settlement. They didn't; writers are expected to present a counter-offer when negotiations resume Tuesday.


Take Care,

Sal