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“Shocked Leno staffers fired as strike drags on” (with updates)
01 Dec
Posted by Mark Williams in Uncategorized
Shocked Leno staffers fired as strike drags on
By Paul Bond
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A couple of days after the Writers Guild of America strike began November 5, the star of “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” told some 80 of his idled staffers that they need not worry about their finances.
Leno was so adamant about paychecks being safe, many didn’t bother looking for new jobs even though NBC was forecasting layoffs.
So it came as quite a shock Friday when the entire staff was told that they were not only out of a job but also that they weren’t guaranteed of being rehired once “The Tonight Show” returns.
“Some people were crying. Some people were screaming,” said one employee speaking on condition of anonymity.
More here.
Jay, Jay: How does your garden grow? Perhaps not thrivingly, when this is done…
Sunday update, per NY Times/Reuters/Hollywood Rep:
“Leno to Pay Salaries Of Laid - Off Staffers
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A day after they learned that they would be laid off, employees of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” have received news that might ease the blow.
Leno has decided to pay his non-writing staff out of his pocket through next week, sources said Saturday. That could be extended if the writers’ strike is not resolved by then.
“Tonight Show” executive producer Debbie Vickers is said to have been involved in the decision and reportedly began calling laid-off employees Saturday.
A couple of days after the Writers Guild of America strike began November 5, the star of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” told about 80 of his staffers that they need not worry about their finances. Leno was so adamant about paychecks being safe, many didn’t bother looking for new jobs even though NBC was forecasting layoffs.
That’s the snippet. More at the link. Perhaps Jay is gambling the current talks will work, and this won’t get too “deep pockset-y,” to coin a Gollum-like phrase?
6 Responses
Dave Drzewiecki
December 1st, 2007 at 6:59 pm
1I don’t understand how anyone can be shocked by what’s going on. This
strike has been forecasted for over a year and anyone who has been employed, and didn’t stock pile some finances is a dummy. Strikes like this have happened before, and they will happen again. It is about politics and power. Quit crying and deal with it.
crewmember
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:41 am
2I can speak for several of us crewmembers when I say that Jay’s staff has been paid for the last month for doing what? The rest of us working on other shows have not received a dime for the last four weeks. Jay’s staff is complaining because they only received $100 bonus for each year of employment, the rest of us got nothing. During this time people really need to reflect and appreciate what they have. This industry pays well and the insurance is excellent. For those that are currently working, be grateful, for those of us that are out of work through no fault of our own, lets just hope this ends quickly.
vdovault
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:19 am
3For what it’s worth per the Hollywood Reporter Leno is now paying his staff on a week-to-week basis
http://community.livejournal.com/wga_supporters/131727.html
pj
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:54 am
453 year old high annual income male (good advertising demographic). If in fact this is what Jay Leno did to his staff… I’m done with him, his show and his advertisers. I’d like to see other other late evening shows use this on their show to “bash” him and let America know what kind of non-caring human Leno is.
VERY SAD
pj
John Q. Public
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
5A strike is here and people are not getting paid and losing their jobs. What a concept.
The only ones making out here are the lawyers and Union Boards. Do you think they are not getting. Hardly…They are suffering with every step they take to the bank.
This strike will end when the Boards get enough outside pressure to end it or God forbid, they don’t get paid..
Mark Williams
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:49 pm
6“Lawyers and unions making out” during a strike, John Q? And what of the corporations wishing to shed production deals during this strike, by way of balancing the enmity? (Though, yes, eventually some kind of pressure will bring about an end to this thing…)
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