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!
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Jay wasn't legally obliged to pay anyone, period! If there's a work stoppage that means a payment stoppage!
this story is completely made up. i work for the tonight show, and have for 15 years. it is made up, and you should pull it from the site. thanks
Jay is a penny pincher for sure I happen to know for a fact that Jay has never touched a penny he's made from the tonight show he lives off his money he makes from the road.
The staffers are not on strike only the writers. Everyone who is saying that "when on strike you don't get paid" well yes, but these people are the ones who are caught in the middle. Jay could have easily helped out his staff, but decided not to. What an ass, especially when he just did an article saying how he never spends his Tonight Show money.
Grateful Jay Leno staff member:
Everyone suffers in a strike but your posting gives a misleading impression. Jay Leno is a most generous boss. That's why the staff has been with him loyally for years. In my opinion, he's the best boss in show biz.
I am a tonight show staffer and no one has been more generous with his staff than Jay--year in and year out he gives out Christmas bonuses out of his own pocket (it is annually a minimum of hundreds of thousands of dollars), helps out people when family members are sick and has been 100% supportive of writers and his entire staff. If you're going to show the $100 check shown to you by an ingrate who for all you know worked there 2 months, show some of the giant checks Jay has given out over the years and mention the way he has always been there for his staff. Or you could be fair pull down a bad story
Get a grip ppl it stated that short term employees got $100 how many of you worked at a job for years and got nothing??? Did all of you miss the TOTAL amount nearly half a million dollars out of his own pocket???? He is not crossing the picket lines and he is giving from his own pocket. IF you feel these ppl deserve more by all means run right out and hand it to them from your own pocket.
The writers chose to strike they chose to be unemployed the rest of the staff did not. How many other studio employees are now effected by the selfish choises of a few. The Britney mentality strikes again "Gimme MORE"
What a cheap SOB you are Jay Leno (that is if the story is true)!!! and if so, you should be ashamed of yourself..I'm sure between Jay and his wife they make more money in one year than the average person will in a life time..Merry Christmas Mr. and Mrs. Scrooge...l
I don't see any other stars of TV shows forking over any money to the people that work on their shows. Lettermen's production company, "World Wide Pants", is paying their employees at least until the end of the year. But CBS does not own "The Letterman" show so those salaries do not come straight out of Letterman's pocket.
Well this is a really tough situation.. It was the writers decision to go on strike. They knew Christmas was coming. I do understand what it's like to work hard and want to get paid more, I'm sure we all do. But when the bosses say no you basically have a choice, either take what you're getting or go somewhere else. Because they are in a union they can do this..and it is their choice. Any other boss would tell you to have a nice life. I agree with some of the other posters in the fact that it isn't fair to non-union workers who are affected by this. I'm sure all of those non-union employees would like to get paid more as well. But for them, (as in the rest of the world) they take what they get or go somewhere else. The whole thing isn't fair and this whole striking thing seems kind of silly to me. I'm surprised they haven't worked something out yet, because the companies are losing money.
Jay is a really good guy. NBC & GE are the real "Bad Guys" in this Leno situation. The company has no soul or heart.
Jack Coen Tonight Show Writer:
WOW this is a cheap shot. I have worked at the Tonight Show for 12 years. There is no better place to work and no better boss to work for. Shame on the person who did this to Jay and shame on TMZ for running the story.
Leno is a D I C K
Letterman has always had class even Carson thought so. Thumbs up for Conan also.
Leno is a D I C K
Regards
