Letterman Back with WGA Writers, Blessing;
Leno Reluctantly Crosses Lines as Hosts Return

Tonight, at 11:35 p.m., the two powerhouses of late night return to their programs after a two-month hiatus, brought on by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. But what a difference between the two.

David Letterman returns to the Late Show on CBS having negotiated an interim contract with the WGA. Nevermind the politics. What that boils down for you and me is this: Dave’s show will be the same as it ever was – comic monologue, Top 10 list, sketches and celebrity guests who are comfortable parking their bottoms on a couch given the Guild thumbs up.

Jay returns to The Tonight Show (as does Conan to Late Night) under different circumstances. There is no interim contract with the WGA. Which means there mostly likely won’t be a comic monologue (unless ad-libbed, since Jay and Conan are both members of the WGA). There won’t be sketches (no writers to write them). And celebrity guests may be hard to come by. No Screen Actors Guild member wants to cross the WGA picket line.

To Jay’s credit, he’s been one of the most outspoken supporters of the WGA. But that won’t go far in this battle between wordsmiths and ‘sellers.

This may mean the most to Letterman and his crew, who could steal back ratings from Jay’s first-place Tonight Show.

For us, an interesting experiment to see play out. How much better (or worse) is a talk show without its writers.

Stay tuned! I’ll give you my take after tonight’s programs!

'Late Show' Guests, Jan. 2

• Robin Williams, Shooter Jennings

'Tonight Show' Guests, Jan. 2

• Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee

'Late Night' Guests, Jan. 2

• TBA - Tune in Tonight to Find Out!

'Late Late Show' Guests, Jan. 2

• TBA - Tune in Tonight to Find Out!

'Jimmy Kimmel Live' Guests, Jan. 2

• TBA - Tune in Tonight to Find Out!