Wow. Thanks Jay.

Posted Nov 30th 2007 4:50PM by TMZ Staff

UPDATE: Jay's rep tells us that he wishes he could do more, but it's not his show -- he's just the host. Having said that, he gave out his standard Christmas bonuses early to mitigate the effects of the strike -- nearly half a million bucks. The rep would not say, however, how the cash was distributed. As for not saying goodbye to the staff, Jay can't cross the picket line.

Staffers at the "Tonight Show" were just told they've been laid off because of the WGA strike. Happy F-ing Holidays.

And that's not the only thing adding insult to penury around NBC. As TMZ reported earlier, we were told that Jay Leno was in a giving mood, offering the staff a "big" Christmas bonus to get them through the strike. This, instead of offering to pay their salaries like his counterparts Conan O'Brien and David Letterman. Well, someone just sent us a copy of their bonus check. $100. Wow.

Staffers were supposed to receive $100 for each year they've been on the show, but we're told some didn't even get that. We hear many staffers are more hurt than pissed, as there's been little communication from the top. One source says that they weren't too pleased about how Jay's handled the layoffs. He didn't even say goodbye, much less Merry Christmas. Grinch!

Filed under: TV

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1. Hey big spender!!
First!

Posted at 5:18PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Jaybird

2. don't believe it when it's TMZ reporting it!!!

Posted at 5:19PM on Nov 30th 2007 by sheila

3. That's $100 more than they had in their pocket. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth! If I were Jay, I would remove the 10 and give the guy/girl a big fat zero! I guess this person doesn't realize how far $100 can go. Ungrateful j@gbag.

Posted at 5:19PM on Nov 30th 2007 by no pity

4. Better get an application quick at Burger King, I hear they're hiring.

Posted at 5:21PM on Nov 30th 2007 by i said it so what?

5. Earlier TMZ said "Sources close to Jay Leno tell TMZ that Jay gave "substantial" holiday bonuses to his entire staff to get them through the strike...SO What is it?????? What are the facts???? and does TMZ EVER get them right??????

Posted at 5:22PM on Nov 30th 2007 by sheila

6. if i still had the show it would have been $150 dollar check.

Posted at 5:22PM on Nov 30th 2007 by johnny carson's ghost

7. Wake up. Don't blame Jay Leno. He didn't tell the writers, or force them to go on strike. It was THEIR OWN COLLECTIVE DECISION. If fact he honored the strike line and didn't cross it.

TMZ, you are acting like this is Jay's fault. GET A CLUE. It's time for people to take responsibility for their own actions.

Posted at 5:22PM on Nov 30th 2007 by chas

8. The Tonight Show is NOT Jay's show, unlike Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Jay should not be responsible for NBC employees who have been laid off from NBC's show.

Posted at 5:22PM on Nov 30th 2007 by J. Hoffa

9. F the Union.....Unions have outlived their usefulness in this country anyway. Perhaps there folks should have crossed the picket lines....I feel no sympathy. They are lucky to get the hundo.

Posted at 5:24PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Bob

10. booo hoooo..it's all crap anyway.,

Posted at 5:26PM on Nov 30th 2007 by geon

11. Poor Jay, I ate at that same drive through Mexican food place! I remember that look!

Posted at 5:26PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Cheapo?

12. Maybe those let go should pressure on the strikers to get back to work and right the dribble they've been writing for the last few years. Oh wait. never mind. Keep striking.

Posted at 5:28PM on Nov 30th 2007 by yuelulu

13. That is quite a short name TMZ. Anyone that thinks it will be hard to find out whose check this is for someone as rich as him is retarded. I'll bet someone this guy/girls check that when his/her buddies that kept their mouths shut go back to work they won't be there.

Posted at 5:30PM on Nov 30th 2007 by ssr

14. You know what? I support the writers in their strike and in their very valid demands....HOWEVER, when you strike you are walking out of your job and you should enter into that kind of a plan EXPECTING not to get paid.

If anyone deserves to still get paid when going on a legit strike it's people like teachers. What's with this sense of entitlement like what they do is life-saving or more important than other people's jobs.

I swear, Hollywood is all KINDS of screwed up in their thinking.

Posted at 5:31PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Ha HA!!!!

15. Do you think only writers were laid off? No! People who aren't even striking have had their jobs put on hold, and now laid off because of this strike. It's not their fault, they didn't choose to strike. I'm sorry but $100 is not much of a severance package. When my company has to lay people off they give them 1 months salary for every year they were with the company...and they are not big time like NBC.

Posted at 5:32PM on Nov 30th 2007 by Shannon

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