What Talk Kings Aren't Telling You

Posted Nov 30th 2007 2:24PM by TMZ Staff

Talk about nice! The kings of late night TV are helping their staffs get through the strike -- by paying them anyway! Nice work if you can get it!
Kings of Late Night
Folksy funnyman David Letterman has been paying his Worldwide Pants staff during the strike, and leprechaunish Conan O'Brien has said that he'll pay his staff if and when NBC decides to lay them off.

Sources close to Jay Leno tell TMZ that Jay gave substantial holiday bonuses to his entire staff to get them through the strike -- but no word about whether he'll pay them if they're laid off by NBC. We're told Jay's a private guy and doesn't like to talk about such things.

Meanwhile, WGA officials are considering an offer from producers -- so the nearly month-long strike may be ending soon.

Filed under: TV

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1. Way to go!! Nice to see they appreciate what is done to help them be a household name.

Posted at 3:39PM on Nov 30th 2007 by kytaira

2. WHATS UP WITH THAT STUPID HAIRDO OF CONAN'S. LETS GET REAL, YOU LOOK LIKE AN IDOIT

SCARED

Posted at 3:40PM on Nov 30th 2007 by JACKIE

3. Thats awesome!!! and they should their rich enough and would have nothing if it wasn't for the writers.

Posted at 3:41PM on Nov 30th 2007 by grl barber

4. Since when is Leno a private person.. He is a photo op whore!!

Posted at 3:43PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Eds

5. I can understand Leno and Conan pitching in but are you sure about Letterman. What an ego maniac..............he lost me for a fan with the way he treated Paris..........what a jerk!

Posted at 3:58PM on Nov 30th 2007 by SamanthaD

6. Conan (and the rest) rule for supporting the people that support them the rest of the year.

Conan ROCKS!

Posted at 4:00PM on Nov 30th 2007 by magickat

7. Posted at 3:58PM on Nov 30th 2007 by SamanthaD

SamanthaD = MORON


Regards

Posted at 4:04PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Jimbo

8. Good for them.

Posted at 4:13PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Erik H

9. This isn't exactly "hush hush" news. I read about Conan paying offering to pay his writeres out of his own pocket, it need be, earlier today.

Secondly, why wouldn't they offer to pay them? It's clear, without their writers, they haven't much to offer.

Posted at 4:14PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Nicki

10. ...because they all know they would be nowhere without writers...

Posted at 4:32PM on Nov 30th 2007 by hader

11. Check the Drudge Report...Leno fired his staff today lol.

Posted at 4:33PM on Nov 30th 2007 by JW

12. I dont think this is about paying the Writers! This is about paying the non-writing staff members who are going to lose their jobs because of the writers.

The writers are the ones who are trying to take away money from their co-workers over a few cents per DVD. All these shows have staff of dozens of regular working people who actually have to work to get paid and don't earn high salaries and residuals. When the writers shutdown, its not just hurting the millionaires and studios.

These guys are stepping up to make sure their support staff doesnt starve because of the Writer's strike shutting things down.

Posted at 4:35PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Johnny C.

13. The Writers- well they shouldnt be paid, That is the point of a strike. If you are self-important enough to shutdown other people's livelihoods, then you take responisbility for not working and not getting paid. This is about helping out the real people who are suffering.

Posted at 4:35PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Johnny C.

14. Drudge is reporting that Leno just fired his entire staff.

Posted at 4:39PM on Nov 30th 2007 by heyyou

15. What's leprechaunish about someone well over 6 foot tall?

Posted at 4:52PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Tim

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