Saved: Late Night Staffers’ Salaries

As Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) members continue their battle to earn a piece of the digital pie, non-writing staffers on shows like The Tonight Show and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson are waiting to find out when the strike might end. If it lasts a certain amount of time, those staffers may be laid off in the interim.

For now, though, paychecks will arrive on time, thanks to David Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, which owns both the Late Show and Late Late Show, and the folks at NBC. Non-writing staff members at the aforementioned shows, as well as The Tonight Show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Last Call with Carson Daly.

“It is important to Dave that our staff members have some degree of support during this uncertain time. Therefore, Worldwide Pants will continue to pay the non-writing staff of the shows—fully compensating lower-salaried employees, and providing a substantial portion of salaries for those at the higher end—at least through the end of the year,” said Worldwide Pants spokesperson Steven Rubenstein in a statement.

Employees at NBC talk shows will continue to get a check for at least the next two weeks.

All five shows have been in reruns since the WGA took to the picket lines on Nov. 5.

On Thursday, Variety reported that behind-the-scenes talks to have those hosts return to their shows as early as next month (some reports even said Dec. 3) are on going. Other reports suggested those preliminary talks have already petered out – nothing more than a simple gathering of information among peers.

Only time will tell whether hosts will return. But if history is a good teacher, chances are they’ll be back. In 1988, when writers struck shows for 22 weeks, Johnny Carson reluctantly returned to The Tonight Show.