Late Night Talk Shows Back In Production

The late night talk shows have gone back into production as of Wednesday night. They went dark when the Writers Guild of America East and West went on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in mid-November.

What does it mean for the Idols? Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis and Carrie Underwood can re-schedule appearances that were canceled when the strike began–at roughly the same time they dropped their albums and began promtional tours.

Blake Lewis is scheduled for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno TONIGHT. He’ll appear on the Jimmy Kimmel Show Tuesday, January 8 and on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Thursday January 10.

I expect that the Carrie Underwood Late Show with David Letterman appearance that was canceled when the strike began will be re-scheduled soon.

Blake will have to cross picket lines to appear on Tonight and Jimmy Kimmel. Leno, Kimmel and Conan, employees of NBC, are back at work without their writers. Letterman owns his show and managed to strike an independent deal with the WGA. He’s back with his writers, the blessing of the WGA and no picket lines. The deal also covers the Late Late Show, which Letterman also produces through his production company, World Wide Pants.

Have you been following the WGA strike? If you have, what do you think? I’ve been following it obsessively. It’s like a soap opera. I can’t get enough WGA strike coverage! The best web site for strike news, by far, is Nikki Finke’s Deadline Hollywood. Nikki has sources in both the writers and producers camps, and the comments section is filled with insider opinions. Good stuff.


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9 Responses to “Late Night Talk Shows Back In Production”


  1. 1 jdanton2 Jan 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Jordin will be on Jimmy Kimmel on January 16th.

  2. 2 meme Jan 4th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Is Blake getting couch time with Jay or just a singing gig?

  3. 3 Lu Jan 4th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

    Oh goodie Carrie Underwood. Where has she been? I haven’t heard anything about her in the last 5 seconds!

  4. 4 jersey Jan 4th, 2008 at 6:20 pm

    LOL, Lu.

  5. 5 pj Jan 4th, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    I don’t know about couch time, but Blake might get to do more than one song, time permitting. The second song will be “How Many Words” if they get to do it.

    I’m on the side of the writers, but haven’t been following the strike too closely, except for the major happenings (like the return of late night talk shows). That blog looks interesting. I plan to check it out in more detail. Thanks for the link, MJ.

  6. 6 BATTay Jan 4th, 2008 at 10:04 pm

    Blake may get couch time because the writers are still on strike on Leno. He’ll have to cross the picket line though

  7. 7 Lu Jan 4th, 2008 at 10:22 pm

    Drinking coffee so I can stay up to watch Blake!

  8. 8 pj Jan 4th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    Come to chat! :)

  9. 9 foxydonna Jan 5th, 2008 at 12:38 am

    Not a huge fan, but I thought Blake was outstanding on Leno! Good job.