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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Hi, Cheryl, this is Jay, we've tracked the IP address of your posts back to your residence, and we know which staffer you are.
You are no longer welcome back to the show after the strike. Consider this check to be your severance pay.
Goodbye!
Cheryl Tonight Show Employee Since 1993's Gynecologist:
Does anyone understand that this is a TABLOID WEBSITE !! They don't take stories down. They're in the business of printing half-truths and taking things out of context to get a reaction out of people. You dopey bastards who claim to be Leno's comedy writers should know enough not to keep posting lame pleas, saying things like this site is "shameful" and you need to remove this. You blew this stupid story up into a hundred posts because you weren't smart enough to just let it go and not dignify it with your mongoloidish, panty waste -ridden comments.
Lets be honest,many of the people who have worked on the tonight show for years recieved no bonus,no carry over pay of any kind., nor have they ever recieved a christmas bonus from jay. Jay may have done that for some,but not most of the people who worked the show.Jay doesnt have to do anything,but please don't suggest that jay has helped out all his non writing workers,its not true.Unfortunately most of these are the lower paid hand on work crew,who have a hard time missing a check,especially at the holidays.It is true,that jay did give everyone the 10 year bonus and thats the whole truth.
This story has so much BS, I can't believe it. I am not on his staff but I have meet him.
I can tell you this is a really great, really nice guy. Unlike the other airheads, idiots, and ego's in Hollywood, he's still just an average guy. He still respects his roots, the people that got him where he is, and his fans.
His staff is incredibly loyal. His ratings have always been above his rivals. He's one of the hardest working people in show biz, and still tests his talent in toughest of all places, live performances at the Comedy and Magic club in Hermosa beach and at the venues in Vegas. Do you think he does those for MONEY? No, it's because he loves what he does and is always striving to be the best.
So, Mr. Leno, where ever you are, I support you. You probably don't read sights like TMZ but I wanted so say it anyway.
When i first read this I thought it was another korny clipping from the infamous "Headlines"
Maybe he can do a "Jaywalking" where he finds out what the public really thinks about him.
ANOTHER CELEBRITY LETDOWN.
Someone should pick 48 hours for everyone to turn off their televisions and not rent movies.
it would be one way we could support those people.
they just want a fair cut of our money, its not like it will kill the fat boys on top any.
one problem, the media would not announce it lol.
I am so glad this is finally being taked about. I must divulge a few know facts about the Tonight Show writers and Jay Leno. Up until now Jay had a pretty clean rep. I think his head writer really dropped the bomb on his career this time. Donuts!!! Does bank of america except donuts? Come on Jay, be real here. You know that some of your writers and head writers make over half a mil a year to Never win you a writing emmy ?! Think about this for a second, and you rely on this head writer for strike advice? The other embarrassing thing is that these highly pampered and highly paid Tonight Show writers had the worst attitude picketing. They were rude, unsupportive, and acted like high school kids hanging around their clicks. Come on grow up. I can see why NBC wants Jay out of there.
Jay might have felt more need to help out the staff if NBC wasn't pushing him out of his job in 2009. Let Conan cover their salaries! Jay isn't being treated any better by NBC than his staff just was.
I have a friend who works for Letterman as a cameraman/stunt coordinator. He's out of work because the "writers" are on strike and shutting down the show. There are many staffers who are affected by this strike, who had nothing to do with initiating the strike.
Letterman is awesome!
Leno, what an ass! Making $15-20 million a year, and can't support the staff who were innocent bystanders.
some people are so ungreatful, send it to me jay i could use it and would be more than thankful for it!!!!!!!!!!,that would help with food water utilities,come on people,it is more than you started with!!!!swnd it to me jay,merry christmas!!!!!!!!!!
People, Jay isn't giving the striking writers $100. He is giving the other staffers, the ones who are now casualties of the writers strike a $100 bonus. What a cheap jerk, those other production staffers did NOT choose to strike and for Jay who can more than afford to give these people their salaries to offer them $100. What a JERK!!! I for one will not be watching Jay anymore, it's Letterman and Conan for me.
Jay could sell 2 or 3 of his cars and pay those people for a year.
This jerk is off doing Corporate gigs in Vegas and elsewhere at at least 100k a pop for a couple hours of "work". So while others are struggling and under false illusion Uncle Jay would stand by them, he's off lining his own pockets.
You know, one day this Country is going to rise up and against the filthy rich who dont share the wealth---Entertainers, Sports Stars, CEO's, all of them are going to become the new targets of hatred and being despised if they dont start doing more give back to those who help them be rich in the first place.
We need more Bill Gates and Warren Buffets who have willed their billions to those in need and less Jay Leno, me first, my toys second and everyone else third in their lives.
Major PR blunder Leno. No more Mr Nice Guy Image for you sir....have fun on your Corporate Gigs while everyone else suffers.
Blame the greedy writers, not Jay Leno; the management that runs his show simply made a business decision! Labor Unions (yes, even the Writerâs Guild is a labor union, donât let the fancy word *guild* fool you) were formed about 100 years ago for the benefit of usually undereducated, non-administrative workers and are an archaic institution of the past. Labor Unions are not productive or necessary in todayâs business environment regardless of industry and are an administrative nightmare for management. Businesses that hire and manage people are required to comply with numerous Federal laws that have been in place for decades and amended as necessary to protect all workers from unfair labor practices to include pay. I find it offensive that these hypocritical mostly talentless (Eva Longoria) actors are walking the picket line, since they are the ones who are really raking in the big bucks off the backs of not only the writers, but off the backs of everyone involved in the production of their show.
Leno's a no-talent tool.
He should suck the you know what of every writer he has, because they are the only reason he has any kind of career.
to âCherylâ
Duh â of course itâs a fake name. I just wanted to get you typing spastically again so many you would burst a blood vessel and have a stroke. Hereâs a suggestion - Donât blog when youâre drunk. Loser.
