Jan 4 2008 12:45 AM ET

WGA upset with Jay Leno for writing his own jokes

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Though his Tonight Show monologue was irreverent, topical, and clearly strong enough to help him win the night in viewers (7. Read the full post.

Comments (119 total) Add your comment
Page: 1 … 6 7 8
  • Ryan
    Mon 01/07/08 3:43 AM

    I support the writers but they just dont know how to go about things. If they want insperation just look at Trey Parker and Matt Stone. They write South Park and are not part of the WGA and they made a deal with Comedy Central. They extended there show til 2010 for 70 million and they get 50 percent of the profit made from ads during their show. The reason for this cause they are not a bunch of whiny babies and they know how to write.

    Reply
  • Dave
    Mon 01/07/08 5:42 AM

    Would it have been okay if he’d memorized or improvised it? If there’s no cue cards, has he broken the rules? What if it’s just pictures instead of words? While I’m 99% behind the WGA, this 1% thinks they’re being nit-picky and over-reacting.

    Reply
  • S
    Mon 01/07/08 2:52 PM

    Who cares if Leno “wrote” his own jokes? There aren’t that many talented writers anyway, we should just hire new ones! The studios may make millions…but they also have to cover other costs related to all aspects of movies/tv and pay other employees…not just writers. I totally respect what the WGA is trying to do; however they are not considering how many other people they are hurting by still striking.

    Reply
  • Janice
    Mon 01/07/08 8:08 PM

    So… if writing requires talent does that mean producing multi-million dollar projects doesn’t require any skill whatsoever?

    Reply
  • Michele
    Tue 01/15/08 11:44 PM

    There are 3 reasons I do not support this lengthy strike. 1. They are wanting to strong-arm writers and producers and studios to use only members of the WGA. So, if a writer does NOT want to pay WGA for their “protection” (sounds like a common gang crime to me, forcing businesses to pay a fee for protection) then that writer CANNOT WORK. The writer must PAY them in order to be a writer. 2. Like baseball, fans of shows are being hurt, and just may have memories as long as baseball fans. 3. I don’t like ANYBODY telling me where and when I can walk somewhere, work somewhere, shop somewhere, BE somewhere, whether there is a picket line or not. They do their thing, I do mine – but they would HURT me in some way for crossing their picket line placed in my way.

    Reply
  • Steve
    Wed 01/16/08 2:22 PM

    Labor unions, like the WGA, are on the verge of total extinction. It’s just like the UAW workers demanding more pay for a potential automotive technology windfall. Only when the unions will accept partial (or no) pay for lean years should they consider concessions for expanding markets. Owners are owners; when the writers reach that level of industry importance, then they can partake in the rewards. If you don’t like your job, go work somewhere else. If you want to ‘earn’ the benefits of being a producer…stick your neck out and produce. Unions are dinosaurs.

    Reply
  • Sprite
    Thu 01/17/08 3:50 AM

    This evening I found myself watching a bit of Leno and I can’t remember a flatter show than the one I saw tonight. Many may disagree with me, as I see some of you believe that the show has been improved with the more ‘stand-up’ quality in Leno’s act since he lost his writers. I will admit that there have been times where I could take or leave the show, but I see this as a situation where writers enhance what is otherwise dull. I hope that this strike is resolved soon so that the next glimpse of the Leno show I watch won’t seem quite as painful as what I saw tonight.

    Reply
  • Peeved at Writers
    Mon 01/21/08 12:20 AM

    Some writers’ union goons showed up at my house and broke my kid’s crayons for writing his own jokes. This is going too far!

    Reply
  • seag
    Tue 01/22/08 6:31 AM

    Going on strike is not a easy! I don’t think anyone would risk losing their jobs, homes, etc. if they were being treated fairly. Jay Lenno is a back stabber! This is about paying the people their due, not a stupid monologue!!

    Reply
  • seag
    Tue 01/22/08 6:59 AM

    Going on strike is not easy! I don’t think anyone would risk losing their jobs, homes, etc., unless they were being treated unfairly. This is about more than a five minute monologue! Over his career jay has stabbed so many in the back, so this doesn’t suprise me!

    Reply
  • gerry
    Wed 01/23/08 6:26 AM

    I hope that everyone gets what they want, and we can get back to some good programing. I miss my shows!!

    Reply
  • sneakeralley
    Fri 03/20/09 3:15 PM

    Jay Leno is his own man and can do whatever he feels.

    Reply
  • sneakeralley
    Fri 03/20/09 3:17 PM

    Did anyone checkout Barack Obama on Leno?
    http://www.sneakeralley.com

    Reply
  • nswillis
    Thu 01/14/10 9:18 PM

    Chris Jackson – you clearly do not understand buisness so shut up. Jay Leno is single handedly the top viewed show on that loser channel run by a bunch of losers. Stop disparaging Jay Leno who has more talent in his little finger, makes millions more than you have ever in your entire pitiful life and that is because millions LOVE him and he does better without the stupid writers. You don’t understand that because you are a moron, pro far left liberal slave driving union kiss assers. You are everything America was NOT built on and you are a dumb a– so shut up and go read something for a change instead of acting like you anything at all about situations like this. Jay Leno is a very wealthy man, very successful and can do anything he wants to do – does not need your stupid rants.
    Get a life, moron.

    Reply
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