Jay Leno's Dilemma: "NBC" Fires his staffers * Updated and Corrected
Updated:
I guess passing out some donuts while wearing his Republican lapel pin <snark> to striking writers was as far he was willing to go. I also call this a firing because of the way NBC handled the lay off with no job guarantees extended to the staffers.
Today was the last day for most of the 120 staffers on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," who left with an early Christmas bonus check and no guarantee of a job when the strike ended.
Do we have a job when the strike ends? That's what everyone keeps asking," one former staffer said. "They've guaranteed no one a job. They just keep saying, 'The letter explains it."
That letter is a notice from NBC's human resources department that says, "If your services are needed, we will contact you."
"We haven't heard from him since the second or third day of the strike," the former staffer said. "He called on speakerphone while we were in our daily meeting and said, 'Don't look for other jobs , no one's going to lose their house, we'll get though this.' Two weeks ago, we got the heads up that we had two more weeks (of pay) and that's it. Everyone wondered, 'Is Jay going to come through?' And nothing happened. Conan makes less and he said, 'I'm going to pay for my people.' "
"People are devastated today because we thought that he meant something more than an early Christmas bonus," another said. "A lot of people didn't look for other work, based on Jay's assurances."
The BBC has more: "TV network NBC confirmed the job losses without providing further details as to how many people had been affected. The show had to start showing repeats when the strike began on 5 November and Leno supported the picket lines.
Conan and Letterman are both paying their people. Leno makes $27 million a year. In other words, he could pay his staff $5 million, and he'd still make $21 million this year.
* Correction made, I meant to say "staffers". Apologies for confusion.
Update: It looks like Leno will pay some cash after all.
This just in: Jay Leno will now indeed pay "Tonight Show" staffers their salaries through at least next week. According to a source close to the show, Leno plans to extend the pay (to around 100 staffers) on a week-by-week basis, with the hope that a strike will be settled soon....Insiders say Leno was caught off guard by the heavy dose of criticism. According to a source close to the show, the Christmas bonuses handed out by Leno on Friday (believed to be $100 times the number of years a recipient has been on staff) were never meant to be in lieu of a paycheck...read on
Correction: I've changed the headline. It was a bit harsh and not accurate.
Ka - ching....
Well that's the end of watching ANYTHING with Jay Traitor Leno
Guess when you moved away from Massachusetts you lost your mind and your heart
Leno is a corporate whore and a prize prick.
Fuck you Jay.
Since Leno loves to use his show to give free air time to republicans (see Arnold & Grandpa Fred), I'm certainly not surprised at this move. F**k him.
Hm. 27 million minus 5 million is...
Anybody who has followed Leno's career would know better than to be in the same building with him let alone work for him. He is ferociously opportunistic and has zero loyalty. He's also greedy and selfish. No surprises here.
Jerk.
WWJD. (What would Johnny do?)
I always thought NBC made a big mistake replacing Carson, who was class personified, with a shallow, common no-talent little creep like Leno.
Leno has never been funny on the tonight show. I always watched Dave. And now Conan. I wish Conan could take over Jay's slot now instead of later.
Straight Shooter @ 7:
He was no angel.
Bill Hicks recognized Jay Leno as a sell out years ago.
When it comes down to it, Leno, like many "stars" with inflated egos, thinks that he is the reason the sun rises in the morning.
Greedy pukes.
I'd boycott Jay Leno.. but I never watched him.
Zenrage @ 13:
Rare. Now? Done.
...
Nowhere in this story does it say that Jay fired his writers. The networked laid off non writing staffers, gave them the xmas bonuses early. Where does it say that Jay fired his writers??
Leno sure got it right at the end when he said "I'm an empty shell" - yes Jay you sure are!
Here's an update for you, according to Variety's strike blog: Leno will pay staff on a week-by-week basis.
What a jerk.
And you should tell him so.
orips @ 15:
it wasn't his writers, it was his staff that was let go without being sure they will even be asked back after the writers strike. and it is true the Letterman and O'Brian paid their non-writing staff and said they are going to continue to pay them out of their own pocket, it's not the staff's fault the writers went on strike and the real issue is that Leno told them that they would be taken care of and not to look for other jobs.
Notice the way he compared the writers to his "kids?" What a moron. Like your kids? These people are your support structure. They are the reason people watch you. They're like your kids?
What a maroon.
What. A. Jerk.
He didn't fire the writers, he fired the rest of the staff.
I've always thought Leno was an idiotic, unfunny jack@$$. Nothing has changed.
The Tonight Show was history the night Johnny Carson walked off the stage for the last time.
Well, he needs new writers anyway, because he sucks. Can't wait for Conan to take over...........
Maybe C&L could ask one or some of these fired writers to write something about this for C&L and its readers.
Jay doesnt sound so funny anymore what a punk
I haven't watched leno in years. I guess when you're richer than god you don't have to be funny. Or give a damn.
From the little I've heard about the strike it appears that a lot of places are using it as an excuse to get rid of current staff and start anew.
Screw leno. The writers are in the right here.
Medical Diagnosis by Video @ 24:
Actually the writers need a new host. I know a lot of the guys, and they are all quite good and very prolific. It is Jay who sucks donkey.
yup yup yup. tis perzackly him. & why, i too, have never watched the jerk's show.
from the getgo, he was a horrible horrible choice to be Johnny's replacement. yup.
....& god forbid anybody write their own material any more.... sheesh.
Another Republican making tough guy remarks with no evidence that he or his butt-buddies could back it up.
"The executives go to the gym every day. Look at these guys; it wouldn't be a fair fight". Typical Republican shit talker.
Yeah, I know, there are larger points to be made, but I just can't stand Republicans and I REALLY can't stand when they talk tough, even in jest.
On Conan's people were laid off the same day as Jay's so it is NBC more then Jay.
I am no Jay fan but that is the truth of it.
But he's a Republican, so he has no basic morals and basically believes that helping people is wrong (because it makes them "dependent", y'know).
I've never liked Jay Leno, and he's never been funny. The guy is an ass. What did he say, the writers are like his kids? What an ass. And before that, was he making fun of someone's weight?
Fuck Jay Leno.
I'm glad Branford left him. I hope Kevin Eubanks does too.
btw, the Tonight Show and Leno has sucked for 15 years. His delivery sucks, his interview style sucks and the show is a bore. People must simply watch this crap out of pure habit.
Zuma @ 29:
Thats exactly what I thought. Letterman is about the closest anyone can get to Johnny's style. Which was delivering humor without insulting anyones intelligence in the process.
Just because a person does something you don't agree with doesn't make them a republican.
Fire HIS ass.
27 million! For what?
This surprises me. I've met Jay Leno, though I don't 'know' him. My impression, plus what I gathered from those around him, is that he's a straight, decent, regular guy. I'd bet he'll do the right thing, let's wait and see.
I'm no apologist for Leno, but the network fired the writers and staff, not him. I'm pretty sure he has some kind of arrangement to pay the staff during the strike. C&L mostly gets it right, this time the headline is wrong.
Medical Diagnosis by Video @ 24:
The only problem is if Conan suddenly found himself in a position where he would have to compromise his style and talent to please General Electric.
I'm confused with the headlines here:
C&L: Jay Leno turns traitor: Fires his writers
Huffington Post: "Tonight Show" Staffers Laid Off, But Leno Will Cover Their Salaries
Preacher Boob @ 38:
There's other rumors saying Leno is the biggest two-faced dude in TV.
Medical Diagnosis by Video @ 24:
The deal with Obrien isnt solid. NBC can buy out of it for 40 million. It is generally believed that is what NBC will do.
wijg @ 41:
From what I've gathered he's going to pay his base staff, who make a pittance compared to the $500,000 a year his writers make.
Mr. Amato :)
You should do a little G2 work on this. Leno, unlike Letterman, DOESNT own the tonight show. It isnt clear what authority he does or doesnt have. I'm sure he has some authority over personel, but they arent his employees (I dont believe). Further, I suspect that the owning company (not Leno) has authority to fire (terminate) anyone they see fit).
Do you know Leno fired anyone? (I'm not Leno fan, just asking.)
Uh, the title of this thread needs to be changed.
It seemed a bit uncharacteristic for the "people pleasing" Leno to fire the very people he depends upon most for survival, so I checked out the link.
While I don't agree with the move, he did NOT fire his "writers". The BBC link clearly states he fired his "NON-writing staff". The writers union may be on strike, but anyone not a writer that has gone on a "sympathy strike" supporting them took the risk of being fired, and he did.
As I said, I don't support the move, but the thread title is dead wrong and claims something that didn't happen.
From the link given:
Teach them to put trust in a rethuglican.
Turns traitor? He did that long ago.
I've been saying for years that Jay Leno is a cheap, self-absorbed prick! He's never taken a stand against the Bush regime like David Letterman has. I hope anyone that still watches this doushbag will either go to bed earlier now or switch to Letterman, who I think is way funnier anyway!
Jay who?
Bill Maher said you can run into problems. Look at me for instance, first I was on Network TV, then Cable, then satellite, and now I'm on the computer.
USA new math?
L.A. Confidential @ 44:
Sounds like this would be NBC's fault, not Leno's. NBC pays Leno, the writers and staff.
Buck @ 47 said:
Actually, nowhere have I seen any indication of Leno's political affiliation. He is certainly more "bi partisan" with his jokes than Letterman, but his doofus Bush impersonator is a Tonight Show regular.
Sorry but I quit TV about the time Letterman left NBC for CBS!
So who is Leno again?
I've disliked Jay Leno since the beginning, so I'm the last person to defend him, but he didn't fire anybody. His staff got laid off by NBC, and the problem was that Jay told them their jobs would be safe. Now, it's well known that he and his staff have had a tenuous relationship at best, and that morale as been plummeting ever since NBC decided to hire Conan and push Jay out (yay Conan!). So the strike and his assertions just compounded the low morale. As far as his being "corporate", nothing could be further than the truth - he hates NBC right now because of their pushing him out.
Again, I'm no fan of Leno, but those are the facts. Change the headline, please.
he's a republican....what did you expect......it's always about their $$$$
C'mon, you C&L guys! Leno didn't fire anybody. NBC fired the staffers - non-writing staffers. They were NBC employees.
Oh, and as for Conan paying his people? Hes' paying non-striking people. So much for solidarity with his writers.
We deserve better from you.
I think some of you are confusing "base staff" and "writers" - these are not necessarily the same group of people.
The writers are striking, but that means no one else is working (or getting paid) either. This means that many lower-paid workers may be having a hard time getting by.
It would reallly be great if more of these super rich Hollywood people who have benefitted from the writers and support the strike would help donate to help those who are currently out of work.
The big rich networks need to share their wealth more fairly with those who helped create it. Support the strike! Stop watching TV!
I'd fire his writing staff also. His material stinks.
wijg @ 53:
I don't have one single doubt GE/NBC gave Leno an ultimatum. Your either with us or against us.
#61:
Then he should have been AGAINST them.
Jay Leno is a Republican Bush Supporter.
David Letterman is a Democratic Supporter.
Any surprise?
Hopefully we can provide the internet support to get Jay Leno off the air. He isn't funny anyway. Let's stand up for our fellow Americans.
HELLO!
This headline is plain WRONG and BULLSHIT and needs to be changed NOW.
Jay Leno did not fire anyone. *NBC/Universal* fired Jay's staffers.. Leno has been vocal about his support for this strike and supported his writers from day 1.
I am a WGA writer and I have followed this closely and this headline is total crap and makes me especially mad because The reasons the staffers have been fired by NBC is that Leno supports the writers and refuses to cross the picket line!!!
The same thing has happened on other talk shows. Letterman and O'Brien have decided to pay their guys out of pocket through the end of the year, which Leno to my knowledge hasn't. The real douches here are talk show hosts who have sold out their WGA writers and continue to do their shows: (hint: rhymes with Lellen Legeneres and Larson Laley)
Please change the headline to what it should be: "Update: NBC fires Jay Leno's staffers"
WGA Writer
I didn't realize Mr. Leno was a Fascistican. But, I always knew there was some reason I liked Letterman better.
63 -- Jay Leno is a Democrat. He said as much in an interview for (I'm pretty sure it was) LA Weekly.
WGA Writer
#66:
Not that you could tell -
Leno has done a lot of Schwarzenegger smooching and allowed the vile Ann Coulter on his show!
WGA Writer @ 66:
Ah, yes... but is he a 'Lieberman' democrat?
ChrisM70 @ 62:
They OWN HIM.
[Wow. I was going to post this entry of yours, until I saw you called everyone at the site here cuntrags-Sitemonitor]
#69:
That's only if Leno LETS THEM.
Leno is RICH. Filthy RICH. And he is retiring in a couple of years.
Why does he need to bow down the corporate suits?
Why not be loyal to the people who have wrote his jokes for him
all these years and made him a success?
There is NO excuse.
I don't know what's more dishonest, the initial headline or some of the posters claiming Leno is a Republican.
c. atrox @ 11:
That was hilarious! That was the funniest skit Bill Hicks ever did.
Fuck Jay Leno. Greedy fat fucking bastard.
See Jane @ 10:
I know that, and I couldn't stand to watch or listen to him. Never understood his popularity. But I do wonder how he would have treated his writers who were significantly responsible for his success.
John, you're wrong. Your article is Still wrong, even with the non-correction/correction. In fact, your enitre premise is wrong, it's easily provable. Are you man enough to admit you made a mistake or are you going to do a "Bill-O"?
Leno did NOT fire his writers, in fact, he's continuing to pay his non-striking workers even though NBC (not Leno) fired them.
"Leno will pay out of pocket the salaries of about 80 Tonight Show workers who were laid off Friday"
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20163861,00.html?iid=top25-20071202-Leno...
IF and when Leno crosses the picket lines and resumes his show with scab writers (like Carson Daly), I'll be calling him a trator too. But as of today, Leno is not a trator, he has not done ANY of the horrible things you've accused him of (other than voting for Ahrnold) or that your 'corrected' article still wrongly accuses him of.
If you want to rant about NBC (owned by General Electric), go for it. But lay of the Leno man until he actually does something bad. Leno may be a big bad R, but crying wolf and making false accusations makes us no better than the wing-nuts.
This is the important copy from the Huffington Post article. Was it Jay's decision?
-------------
Quote:
"Tonight Show" executive producer Debbie Vickers is said to have been involved in the decision and reportedly began calling laid-off employees Saturday.
A couple of days after the Writers Guild of America strike began November 5, the star of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" told about 80 of his staffers that they need not worry about their finances. Leno was so adamant about paychecks being safe, many didn't bother looking for new jobs even though NBC was forecasting layoffs.
So it came as quite a shock Friday when the entire staff was told that they were not only out of a job but also that they weren't guaranteed of being rehired once "The Tonight Show" returns.
"Some people were crying. Some people were screaming," said one employee speaking on the condition of anonymity.
NBC declined comment on the firings beyond a brief statement Friday saying that the network had "regretfully informed the people who work on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' and 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien' that their services are not needed at this time due to our inability to continue production of the shows."
-------------
I think C&L's headline is still wrong.
c. atrox @ 11:
Bill Hicks sounds like a cool comedian. I wish we had more of him around lately. His common sense JFK skit is all I've seen of him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqs9ap3iV-4
There was a special on a couple weekends ago about 'green' technology. Featured was Jay Leno, and his (I believe they said) 16,000 square-foot garage that he recently outfitted with a wind turbine on the roof that produced enough electricity to not only light the garage, but also send some of that power back through the grid!
(Sorry, OT. But interesting)
John @ 71:
he is in fact a republican....I suppose you didn't see him at the GOP conventions....
I don't really think it matters what he calls himself: Republican, Democrat or a Whig!
Judge him by his actions.
Did he support Schwarzenegger?
Did he allow Ann Coulter to spew her special brand of hate from his couch?
Did he snake the Tonight Show from David Letterman, and have his
producer intimidate guests?
Yes to all.
Great, Watched him once. He was an unfunny little prick. Eurgh. Gonna go watch Sarah Silverman... that's it, I've had it with NBC. Rgh.
Just found this:
John Barringer @ 58:
He's paying the non-striking staff because they had no choice in the matter. The writers were able to vote, and it was their choice to strike. I support the writers, but expecting Conan to pay strikers is ludicrous. That's how a strike works.
Regardless of whether Leno fired anyone, the guy's not funny. He goes for the lowest common denominator.
Hopefully Leno keeps supporting his writers. He's lame, the show's not usually the least bit funny, and that Tonight Show set has got to be the most awful, ugly thing I've ever laid eyes on with a color scheme seemingly designed by a 4 year old in the middle of a week-long crystal meth binge. I can't boycott something I find painful to watch in the first place. But as long as he keeps supporting his people, I have to respect him, Republican or not. Some things are more important that party affiliation.
Yes, as did many Democrats.
Yes, she's great for ratings. Same reason he has left wing haters like Al Sharpton on.
Yes, but by that criteria the Clintons are also Republicans.
ChrisM70 @ 80:
I never liked Jay Leno. He is a corporate whore. Why doesn't he get off my damn TV and go play with his little cars. What a condescending asshole he is in that clip.
Hell, with those jokes, I've always wanted to fire Leno's writers.
Some people should actually read the linked article and do a little research before dropping F-bombs. Do you think it wise to accept every little thing you read at face value and immediately, defensively say, "F&#$ that dude. I always thought he was [insert derogatory comment]?" At least TRY not to be so reactionary.
If you stop watching your TV, does this writers strike have any effect on you?
I see a good thing in the writers strike. Although there is some good entertainment out there, there is very little original program. Hollywood is a machine that cares more about commercial sponsorship and crowd conditioning that supporting the arts. You are paying a great deal of money, to watch TV that is fully supported by advertising, to watch a bunch of recycled repitious clips that are available on the internet.
The good thing that will come out of this is that people will give up on hollywood and start entertaining themselves, writing their own songs, making their own movies, etc. And not be dependent on the Hollywood elite to tell them what is entertaining.
This just in: Jay Leno will now indeed pay "Tonight Show" staffers their salaries through at least next week.
According to a source close to the show, Leno plans to extend the pay (to around 100 staffers) on a week-by-week basis, with the hope that a strike will be settled soon.
BTW what's the crap about a Republican lapel pin?
Leno is great. Of course he is a Republican, a PROUD Republican. You jerks on this site are as relevant as his staff is. Zeros. They and you can all be replaced by harder working Mexican Laborers for less money. Leno, Rush, Bush and many Republicans are the Haves and the Have Mores. You idiots are the have nots and the future have nots. You'll all be grovelling at the black boots of Anne Coulter begging for pennies in ten years. Be happy with your three low wage jobs. It could be worse, you might only be able to find two low wage jobs. Only in America can you find three. Good Luck.
HELLO! its not his job to pay the staffers, if he does then they do no have an incentive to negotiate a deal!!! That the risk you take when you strike!
Jay could have done more before the layoff, like negotiate with NBC to keep his staff since he's gona pay their salaries, but no, he's more worried about his writers.
Why did Jay allow NBC to lay off his staff you ask? He was either preoccupied showing his support for the writers and forgot about them, or didn't want to part with his money if the strike lasted longer than expected, so why pay his staff so many weeks if they're no longer his staff after getting fired.
Hopefully he will surprise us and hire them all back. A person can dream, right?
Chris @ 91:
The Staffers didn't strike, dummy, the writers did. Time to lay off that CRACK!
CD @ 90:
I'm confused with the entire topic and the reaction to it. The topic is whether Leno fired his staffers, not whether he's funny or not, or his party affiliation. NBC did the firing, not Leno.
What would you all do if all commercially produced entertainment stopped tomorrow? Would you watch re-runs the rest of your lives or would you use that TV time to do something productive?
Hey, Jay didn't stick up for his people before NBC let them go, so why not call him a traitor?
He could have said"Look... Why fire my people? I'll pay their salaries, so there is no need to let them go, plus it saves you from bad publicity"
Maybe he doesn't plan on paying them as long as the strike takes. Why did he wait till announce his support after they got fired? Think, people, think!
A few people here seem to get it-- NBC fired the staffers, not Jay Leno.
For anyone who's actually interested, here's an interview with JL where he talks about his political leanings.
WGA Writer
John REALLY needs to change his headline ASAP.
96
because if he had said "I'll pay for these guys if you fire them" that's just begging NBC to fire them.
Leno IS covering the salaries
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071202/tv_nm/leno_dc
I don't know if that is a new development or not, but Leno IS covering salaries.
Darth_Romney @ 49:
guess we must have been the first to see this prick for what he is, and thats a repuke insult comic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Jay Leno would have guaranteed that he would pay his staffers salaries before NBC let them go (and he did know this was going to happen) NBC wouldn't have fired anybody.
I don't see anything wrong with this posts headline.
Hey, this is a no-brainer.
Leno went beyond his obligation to pay his staffers anything.
If they are pissed now, they should forget about their bonuses and get out there on the picket lines with the Writers' Guild.
If Jay Leno would have guaranteed that he would pay his staffers salaries if NBC keeps them on, we wouldn't be calling him a traitor today.
I don’t see anything wrong with this posts headline.
Good god I thought my bosses were cheap!! Guess not, and they aren't anywhere near as rich as Leno! 100 bucks for every year? Oh imagine that for big hearted! My "attendance" bonus alone is $25 for every week worked in a year. Geez, wonder how rich my bosses really are!!!!
He compares it to the air traffic controller strike?
wijg @ 94:
Leno likely has some pull with the brass at NBC but it's not like he owns the company.
Hey five million buys a lot of collectible cars.
caught off guard
heh...
telecom @ 6:
In other words, he's a - somewhat funnier - version of Rudy Giuliani
L.A. Confidential @ 51:
screw maher hes just a hillery toadie!
wobbly @ 102:
Wobbly... If you made peanuts, was given a BS bonus, do you think any of these Execs will rehire you if you join the Strike?
They do have alot of time on their hands, but their support will just help the writers I'm sad to say.
This does suck, but they are NBC employees who work on Jay's show. So, why is eveyone busting balls on Jay? He didn't have to give anyone jack and he did.
ConcernedCanuck @ 104:
I know, i was thinking about that too. My friend has worked at this little local company for a year and just got a 500$ bonus. And it's not even a great job like he only made like 30,000
what the hell - share the wealth with your people damn it
WGA Writer @ 66:
he he good one!!!!
it's not us attacking leno just for this, but many things that have piled up over the years
he is a republican tool that does not treat his workers well and has a terrible show that is not funny
Leno?
Jut-jawed, whiny, puerile. I hate the way he giggles and guffaws like a schoolboy when a pretty female guest occupies the chair next to his desk. Oh, and I hate his lapel flag, too. Nothing like mindless, jingoistic nationalism.
Not only is he not funny, he's tremendously annoying.
Well - I do work in the same building as Leno.
People need to calm down and lay off the incorrect BS about him, especially since it's clear he will be paying people.
Ricky Bones @ 112:
If you was NBC, and lets say Jay said "keep my people because I'll pay their salaries," would you fire anybody?
It's has come down to a domestic war against the subordinate workers. The elites are threatening the modern corporate slaves of taking away their livelihood unless they argree to subject themselves to more exploitation in their work environment.
What the elite failed to realize is that corporation ( an entity in itself) is no owned by a FEW authorities; but rather depends it's survival through it's own working communities, collectively. If they (corporate masters) do not change their ways; destruction of their corporate empire would be their OWN demise. The heart and blood of it's company depends on it's team of workers.
Corporations that understand this and operates in this principles in the long run will be the only survival. Corporation where it is owned by their employees are more successful. This holds true with Southwest Airlines; and many credit unions.
Proud American @ 119:
AMEN!
Writing as a life-long union member, and the president of a union for eight years, I have no idea what these people thought would happen when they went out on strike. A strike is a war. The strikers are seriously damaged if they don't win and other people dependent on the struck enterprise may lose income and/or their jobs as well. When people go out on strike they must already have concluded, in an adult way, that they would rather not have the job they are striking than continue under their existing terms of employment. If they expect the 'other side' to pull its punches, they need to grow up and face the real world's rules.
James Bishop @ 121:
I get the impression that you've got the writers and non-writing staff mixed up here. Judging by your comment, I find it hard to believe you're a writer. Just my 2 cents, but I'm sure you're adult enough to handle it.
WGA Writer @ 64:
And to put a period on your comments - Letterman literaly owns his show, unlike Carson - Leno does not.
Letterman is the boss and if anyone gets fired it will be him. (He is paying them like any good boss would however).
If Leno pays anyone, he will be paying for infrastructure in someone else's business.
I agree that Amato is wrong in this and said as much waaaaaay up there ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wait a second, I'm no fan of Leno but it's the writers who are striking and causing a work stoppage. Maybe the writers should pay the staffers. Television is a business, under no circumstances is Leno obligated to pay his staffers who are NOT working. If you're business was closed because of a strike who do you think is going to pay you? Get in the unemployment line like the rest of us.
budda @ 115:
How do you know how he treats his staff? Are you a disgruntled ex-employee?
If the headline is untrue, as others here allege, why doesn't C&L change it? Surely you're not engaging in the kind of propaganda that we all know and hate?
And as for the Christmas bonus...that is a f*****g joke in and of itself. 100 bucks times the number of years? Are they joking? That is nothing nowadays.
Greg @ 124:
Maybe that headline is over the top.
Leno does make more than Conan, so why should he dig deep into his pockets to help his staff when he has better things to do? A new Harley!
Actually, it's more likely to be an old Harley.
You Know What? @ 127:
The points are, he is not obligated to pay anyone when there is a work stoppage. AND he's not the one striking, it's the writers. Don't know of many businesses (owned or not by millionaires) who will pay employees for not working. Do you?
Anthology @ 37:
What do any of these miserable walking fuctards do that they should be rewarded so well?
Oh....
Yeah, they keep the fat, stupid, cheeto-gobbling 'citizens' of Greater GooberLand....
Well, fat dumb and ignorant.
America, Fuck Yeah!
Like Burger (former employee. Go ahead, laugh!), I'm sure NBC has a high turn over of staff since they make peanuts. That bonus is pathetic!
Like Burger King (former employee. Go ahead, laugh!), I’m sure NBC has a high turn over of staff since they make peanuts. That bonus is pathetic!
Greg @ 129:
Greg, maybe you should read the above post again. Jay is going to pay the non-writing staff.
Forgot to take your medication?
"Leno was caught off guard by the heavy dose of criticism" because that is the way Republicans think.
If you let some of the people off on Christmas they could run out, get rich, eat cake and spend some time in Palm Springs while on break. I don't understand why everybody doesn't think this is a swimmingly good idea.
LowOnDaTotemPole @ 133:
After re-reading your comment, I took my medication.
I'm a 7th grade teacher - have been for twenty-four years. I'll take $100 Christmas bonus for each year I've worked. I've never gotten a (monetary) bonus in my life.
I wish people would get the facts straight before they post/open their mouth. Jay does not own the Tonight Show. The staff is employed by NBC and they are the ones that laid off the staff. He had nothing to do with it. He doesn't even have to give a Christmas bonus since they are not under his employ, but he does it anyway because he thinks its a good thing to do for the people that help him produce the show. How much of a dick do you have to be to bitch about how much the bonus you got was when it really isn't his responsibility to begin with. And for the person who said that if Jay had told NBC that he was going to pay the staff their salary that they wouldn't have laid them off. Conan said he was going to pay the salaries right before NBC said they were going to laid his staff off and surprise they did it anyway. The only thing I think Jay made a mistake about is when he talked to the staff when strike started he shouldn't have been as optimistic about situation as he was.
Slo-Mo-Jay @ 122:
There's no mixup. Are you a reader? I never claimed to be a writer.
LowOnDaTotemPole @ 133:
Maybe you should take yours and read all the post attacking Leno. Or maybe my lack of meds are confusing praise of Leno as criticism. Care to try again sunshine....
jay leno is a no class shitty no talent prick , who doesnt need writers ,he gets his jokes about hillery, kerry bill clinton obama , from fox headquarters where evey good repuke should,
Greg @ 139:
I guess you didn't read the reply where I took my medication, bobala. Well at least I know you love me!
wga writer @ 66:
it was. here it is (via alternet)...by nikki finke, whose hollywood deadline daily is a good source for writers strike news.
also, skippy found a bit by joss whedon on why the writers strike is important to all the middle class of this country.
Jay Leno didn't fire the staffers. NBC fired them. And why did they get fired? Because of the damn writers and their arrogant strike. This is the damage that they caused. They should have taken into account that something like this would happen. When you're selfish, nobody wins.
JohnnyBravo@145--
"arrogant strike"? F you. Yeah, we shoulda just taken $0.00 in residuals for online streaming. Y'know, residuals? The money that goes to writers AND the pensions of the below-the-line workers in IATSE who are getting laid off but don't ever go on strike themselves.
I'm still waiting for John Amato to change that headline.
WGA Member
Sorry that last message is to Johnny Bravo@145.. Stupid "4" key.
Leno wasn't wearing a Republican lapel pin. That's just as dishonest as the main headline.
GREED is a motherfucker... eh Jay?
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