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« WGA Post-Strike Watch: News About Returning Shows
Letterman, Ferguson to Return With Writers, Thanks to WGA Deal
David Letterman by JP Filo/CBS
As if Dave didn't already have an edge over his late-night peers, World Wide Pants has made a deal with the Writers Guild of America that will allow both Late Show and Late Late Show to resume production Wednesday with their respective writing staffs on board.
Helping make this special consideration possible is the fact that Letterman’s World Wide Pants owns both talkers and as such — and until Friday — had been working out a deal with the WGA.
"This is a comprehensive agreement that addresses the issues important to writers, particularly new media," the WGA says in a statement. "Worldwide Pants has accepted the very same proposals that the Guild was prepared to present to the [AMPTP] when they walked out of negotiations on Dec. 7. Today's agreement dramatically illustrates that the Writers Guild wants to put people back to work, and that when a company comes to the table prepared to negotiate seriously a fair and reasonable deal can be reached quickly."
David Letterman also issued a statement, saying, "We're happy to be going back to work, and particularly pleased to be doing it with our writers. This is not a solution to the strike, which unfortunately continues to disrupt the lives of thousands. But I hope it will be seen as a step in the right direction."
The pressure is now (conceivably) on other late-night hosts to follow suit, and the WGA has already called out one in particular: "It's time for NBC Universal to step up to the plate and negotiate a company-wide deal that will put Jay Leno, who has supported our cause from the beginning, back on the air with his writers."
More WGA strike coverage:
• Alec Baldwin: WGA Negotiators "Should Be Replaced"
• Oscars Producer: Despite WGA Obstacles, "The Show Is Going to Go On"
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Dec 28, 2007 4:54 PM
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If the WGA can come to terms with World Wide Pants, why can't it strike similar side-deals with the producers of shows like Pushing Daisies and 30 Rock?
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Dec 28, 2007 5:49 PM
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Because it takes two to tango. David Letterman was willing to sit down with the union and discuss terms. Other studios still refuse.
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Dec 28, 2007 6:02 PM
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I think it's because Dave owns his show, whereas shows like 30 Rock, Pushing Daisies, etc are owned by NBC/ABC and whatnot. Dave can negotiate on his own, the others can't.
I'm soo happy to hear he's coming back!
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Dec 28, 2007 6:06 PM
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Letterman proves that reasonable negotiation is possible with the Writers' Guild. The producers now have no excuse for not going back to the bargaining table.
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Dec 28, 2007 6:30 PM
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I hope this starts a domino effect that makes other producers negotiate with the WGA to give the writers a fair deal.
I love that Dave has proven--ONCE AGAIN--what a class act he is!
Objectively, though, I hope this is an opportunity for The Late Show to step up with some fresher material than the rather stale stuff they've fallen back on in recent years.
And personally, I would be delighted if the Osama jokes would stop. Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are still in pain from 9/11, and--even though the bin Laden jokes ridicule him--I've always felt it's a wound that is still too fresh.
Now that I'm done quibbling, I couldn't be happier to see Dave and Craig back next week (and Jimmy and Conan). 
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Dec 28, 2007 7:24 PM
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WGA statement on the deal:
The Writers Guilds have reached a binding independent agreement today with Worldwide Pants that will allow Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to return to the air with their full writing staffs. This is a comprehensive agreement that addresses the issues important to writers, particularly New Media. Worldwide Pants has accepted the very same proposals that the Guild was prepared to present to the media conglomerates when they walked out of negotiations on December 7.
Today's agreement dramatically illustrates that the Writers Guilds want to put people back to work, and that when a company comes to the table prepared to negotiate seriously a fair and reasonable deal can be reached quickly.
WGA East President's statement on the deal:
We are pleased that an interim agreement has been reached with Worldwide Pants that will get David Letterman and Craig Ferguson back on the air, an agreement that reflects the same fair and respectful deal we have been trying to bargain with the AMPTP for months. We hope that other companies will now also come forward and negotiate in good faith so that Letterman and Ferguson's colleagues Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and others can return to the air with the talented Guild writing staffs who are so essential to their success and popularity.
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Dec 28, 2007 7:35 PM
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TVGord - come on - it's been over six years since 9/11 happened. I still grieve over it, but if you can't put it aside enough to accept Osama bin Laden being ridiculed, then you never will. Someone will always be offended no matter how long you wait, and he isn't making insensitive comments about the victims. Laughter is the best medicine and I would rather laugh than cry. I grew up in NY and have many friends and family still out there and even they are getting tired of how people want to hang onto the victimology of the event rather than moving on and putting their energy into defeating the moron's who caused the mess to begin with.
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Dec 28, 2007 7:48 PM
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I think this is great news, and I thank TVGuide for bringing it to us.
Letterman has indeed shown what stuff he's made of... he did not cross the strike line of his brethern (he's a member of the Guild himself), he didn't abandon his writers and try to hire scabs, he shared his wealth with his employees to keep their salaries going and not fall on hard times this Christmas and did not use their welfare as pawns to make the writers look uncaring, and he sat down with the Guild to negotiate a deal suitable for him and for them. Where do I sign up to work for him?
This shows a deal can be done, it takes a 'management' side willing to negotiate. And remember, there are plenty of producers out there willing to make these kind of deals that were not named as co-conspirators in this strike -- they just don't happen to be those under the bounty umbrella of the studios who refuse to negotiate... or their corporation puppetmakers.
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Dec 28, 2007 7:48 PM
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mbrock, you're right. I don't expect I will ever get over the pain of 9/11, and tens of thousands of people (at least) in New York probably never will, either. Sorry if that doesn't sit well with your "get over it" mentality, but it's obvious that you didn't lose anyone on that day. I just don't see the point in picking at the scab on a regular basis with jokes that were barely funny the first time, and are boring and repetitive now (since, they are essentially the same joke over and over).
I didn't demand that the jokes stop; I just expressed my opinion that would be happy if they stopped. Do you have a problem with me expressing an opinion? It's no more or less valid than the opinions of your friends and family...or of yours.
If the jokes continue, I wouldn't stop watching Dave. Nothing would make me do that, at this point. It's just that everytime I hear another lame Osama joke on my favorite late night show, I cringe, because I'm thinking about ALL the Dave fans who lost someone on 9/11, who don't need to be reminded when they're trying to relax at the end of the day. If the jokes were actually funny, I wouldn't cringe as much. They're just not. So why bother?
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Dec 28, 2007 8:07 PM
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TV Gord,
You speak eloquently enough. Have you tried writing or emailing your thoughts on the subject? You never know, he may not realize how some people feel about it -- because I'm sure you are not alone -- and he may end up agreeing with you. Or you might find that there's some lone voice in the office that's been telling him the same thing and being ignored. I'm not saying it will change anything, but the few times I've written thoughtful letters, back when I had no connection to the industry at all, I've been surprised at the impact they've had. People who work on shows have the same range of feelings out there in the public and sometimes there could be someone on the show biting his/her tongue and your communication from the audience can be something they point to to effect change. Especially if you are telling them how much you enjoy his show and the majority of his jokes, but that these disturb you. If nobody speaks up, how is he to know that six years is not enough?
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Dec 28, 2007 11:31 PM
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You are right. Letterman is indeed a class act, and a great boss. I can't wait for the first evening when "Late Show" is back. I bet they'll have a much easier time getting guests than Leno.
I continue to worry about all the behind-the-scenes people-- the great set builders, make-up artists, casting directors, musicians, as well as the writer/ show runners -- who work on some of my favorite shows and how they are being affected by people like Moonves.
I wonder how this new development will affect Letterman's already rocky relationship with the Moonves.
Will Moonves ever call up Letterman again during the "Late Show"? Will they ever have another awkward on air conversation?
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Dec 29, 2007 11:52 AM
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Boycott. Please. This might be worse than the writers temporarily breaking lines to write for the SAG awards...please, put your hypocritical words aside.
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Dec 29, 2007 1:03 PM
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Good job, Dave!!
You da Man! Thanks for getting people back to work, and for getting some new shows on the air soon!
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Dec 29, 2007 1:27 PM
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GenreG1r1
I'm worried about all the people that this strike affects, too. So is everyone involved in this strike. But to some degree you have to ignore it and soldier on, if you are going to accomplish your goals. It's a brutal situation and the best thing for it is to get it over with soon. But it's like going to war -- it isn't pretty, it's hardship, it's sacrifice, it's dangerous. The losses can be horrible. The only thing better about it is that you aren't getting shot at.
I think after this Moonves will probably be Moonves. I think that as one of the opposition, he's probably one of the more friendly ones. Thing is, he has a boss too, Redstone, so he doesn't have a lot of maneuvering room either.
Ultimately at the end of the day, when this is over, Moonves is still going to need Letterman. I don't think he's going to cut off his hands, nose, and feet because of Letterman defying him, as long as people like you continue to watch Letterman. And who knows, he may even be secretly happy Letterman stepped up, you never know how much of the solidarity is necessity and how much is personal feeling.
This situation is like a microcosm of what's happening in this country. And I believe what happens here will portend whether there is hope left for our country as a country for the people, by the people...
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Dec 29, 2007 4:39 PM
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