Leno and Letterman to go quiet
The US looks set to be lacking in live Late-night TV chat shows from Monday if a strike by the US screenwriters’ union, which has been called over royalty payments, goes ahead.
The Writers Guild of America has asked its 12,000 members to stop working and set up picket lines from Monday in protest at writers’ payments for work which goes on “new” media such as DVDs or online.
Comedy chat shows hosted by Jay Leno, David Letterman and Jon Stewart are expected to stop almost immediately as they rely on a supply of topical jokes. It is anticipated that repeats will be broadcast of all shows if no agreeement is made on Sunday.
