Late Night Writers Strike Back — Cheers - Cheers & Jeers

Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart by NBC Photo

Cheers to Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Conan O'Brien for welcoming back their writers in style. During the strike, the hip late-night triumverate trumped up a sidesplitting feud as a way to kill time without scripts. But with the WGA work stoppage resolved, Comedy Central's Stewart changed the temporarily retitled A Daily Show back to The Daily Show, and Colbert presented a new pencil to each of his scribes, including surprise guests Tiki Barber, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Kevin Bacon and Mr. Met. Over on NBC's Late Night, O'Brien revived his opening monologue, observing that during the past few months, "Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both declared their support for the writers' strike. Meanwhile, President Bush announced he's in favor of a readers' strike." It's official: Our long, national TV nightmare is over.

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Posted by

Bruce Fretts

Feb 14, 2008 2:46 AM

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It's official: Our long national-TV nightmare is over. The only thing that is a nightmare is the strike being over!! Jay Leno did better them all of them in the ratings, just as he always has, so the strike had NO impact on most peoples TV viewing habits. Scripted TV should go the way of the dinosaurs!!!
Posted by MrsT1040 Feb 14, 2008 12:47 PM Report Abuse

"The Daily Show" was AWFUL last night. And I thought it would get better when the writers came back. You know what??? I think it's because of Jon Stewart. The guy is not funny. He makes faces, does LOUSY impressions, and strays from the script TOO much. When will they kick him to the curb? And now he's hosting the Oscars! Someone bring in the hook!
Posted by babygreens Feb 14, 2008 1:48 PM Report Abuse

I agree the writing on The Daily Show was a bit rusty last night, but give 'em a break--the writers were out of the groove for months!
Posted by Bruce Fretts Feb 14, 2008 2:00 PM Report Abuse

I think that Conan O'Brien proved that he is the most versatile and natural talent of the bunch during the strike. Sure, Some of his prancin' monkey-like routines fell flat, but at least he had the guts to take chances, not play it safe, and really put himself out there.
Posted by Mr. Furley Feb 14, 2008 2:56 PM Report Abuse

Agreed, Mr. Furley--Conan is late night's Man Who Will Be King.
Posted by Bruce Fretts Feb 14, 2008 3:03 PM Report Abuse

I don't know how he can even say that Clinton or Obama supported the writers strike with a straight face. Neither of them could spare a few minutes in their LA fund-raising with the moguls to walk the strike lines... despite the fact that there were pickets at studios across town so one of them had to be close to where they were. The only one who did come out to show solidarity and support to the writers was John Edwards and he did it both in LA and NY.

Both Clinton and Obama's statements on the Writers Strike amounted to hopes that it would get resolved soon. Well, duh... everybody hopes that... even my cats...

Posted by gollysunshine

Feb 14, 2008 5:13 PM

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Agreed, Mr. Furley--Conan is late night's Man Who Will Be King. And let me thank you for not attempting to crown a Queen.....By the way, golly- Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both declared their support for the writers' strike That was part of a JOKE. True or not, they usually don't let facts get in the way of their monologues. In Honor of the "King" of this practice, I call it "Leno-izing."
Posted by Mr. Furley Feb 14, 2008 8:18 PM Report Abuse

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Cheers: Late-night Writers Strike Back