Whither Letterman, whither late night?

NEW YORK — With talks between the writers and the studios at a standstill, the speculation is building: Will the late-night hosts break ranks and come back on the air?

So far, all the network hosts -- except NBC’s Carson Daly -- have stood firm and refused to do live shows without their writers. They’ve even covered the salaries of their nonwriting staffs, some of them out of their own pockets.

Now many in the industry are watching to see what late-night dean David Letterman does as the strike drags on.

Bill Scheft, a longtime writer for "Late Show With David Letterman" and the Writers Guild strike captain for the program's writers, talks to the CBS comedian regularly and said he does not believe Letterman has made up his mind yet.

“I’m sure he’s struggling with it,” Scheft said as he picketed in front of ABC today. “In fact, I know he is.”

For the last five and a half weeks, Letterman’s production company has continued to pay the salaries of staff members on his program and “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson,” a payroll that adds up to about $300,000 a week. The comedian has committed to do so through the end of the year.

“He’s done a great service,” said Scheft, who last spoke to Letterman a few days ago. “He sounds like a guy who is comfortable in the fact that he’s done the right thing and continues to do the right thing. I know when and if he comes back, it will be the right thing. Believe me, no one is thinking about this more than him.”

The writers won’t be upset if Letterman decides to resume production, Scheft said.

“If you ask people on the line, they would have been thrilled if the guys just stayed off a month for sweeps,” he said.

In fact, having the late-night hosts back on the air could help the writers’ cause, he added.

“David Letterman, on the air without writers . . . is the greatest ally the writers would ever have, because he would rail nightly,” Scheft said. “He could be more influential as an on-air stone in people’s shoes. The leverage for us might be him and Jon and Conan talking trash.”

-- Matea Gold

Comments

[Stephen]

If the late night shows don't start up again soon, some 20 million Americans who depend on these broadcasts to fall asleep at night and maintain their productivity during the day, will have to go on sleep medication.

Having said that, it would appear the costs of this strike is far greater than most would have thought. Yet, I'm sure the pharmaceutical mfrs of sleep products would be more than happy to pick up the "can't fall asleep" business from late night TV. I guess it goes that one man's loss is another man's gain.

DISCLAIMER: The above contributor does not own stock in, consult for, nor receive compensation from any sleep medicine mfrs.

[Shageen]

Letterman without writers? The show might actually end up funny! I'd love to see that. I think 5 years of "Will it Float?" is enough. If you ask me if that's all they can come up with for the money they make.. they can stay on strike.

- But... for Jon Stewart and Craig Ferguson I hope the strike is resolved soon.

[JimBob]

When the daily soaps stood aside for full-time OJ coverage in 1995, they lost audience that was never regained. TV viewers are going to find a way to fill that time, reading books, making love or just sleeping. The networks are unwise to think that late-night addicts are automatically going to return once the shows start up again. They may find they've given away something they can't get back -- and for what?

[Stephen Dolle]

JimBob:

Excellent point. The OJ 24/7 coverage forever changed TV programming. When the networks all rushed to cover the story 24/7, that really wasn't that big in the first place, they lost credibility and loyalty with a LARGE cross-section of viewers. It reflected far more on the networks and studios as a failure in "public information and their committment to art." This strike only serves to remind the viewing TV audience just how bone-headedly stupid big corporate media can be. I'm talking - REALLY BAD PR!

[Roho]

The writers should be praised for their talent, but one notices they are not striking to obtain residuals for below-the-line professionals that make up the majority of the staff of any show. These individuals have a right to work and make a living. Why should they miss paychecks because the WGA is waffling around with self-serving issues such as expanding their union with reality show writers. People want to work!