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How the Writer's Strike Gave Us The Best Late-Night TV Ever

alwayswatching.org — For some, the strike has been disastrous, but for others, the strike has been a shot in the arm to late night TV, showing how brilliant the minds of some of these hosts can be, completely unfettered by scripting or in some cases, time constraints. Necessity is the mother of invention, and these hosts were forced crazily invent, with great results.

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  • kensavage, on 01/15/2008, -6/+147amen to this. Now if we can only get rid of all the reality shows.
    • mookst3r, on 01/15/2008, -51/+7Except for The Amazing Race and Big Brother.:p (go on...digg me down.)
      • skatastrophy, on 01/15/2008, -21/+3Bah... I had to digg you up for Amazing Race. It's like relationship therapy for my girlfriend and I :)
      • nekochan, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1big brother is the epitome of terrible, terrible, reality tv.

        "O HAI. IF I DANCE NAKED IN FRONT OF THIS "HIDDEN" CAMERA, I'LL GET MONEYS!"
    • themastersb, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2The only video I could play shown in the blog was the Youtube one. Anyone have youtube links for the other ones?
    • DesertDude, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1"For some (e.g. Leno), the strike has been disastrous"

      LOL. I like how he tries to paint his views as some objective reporting of truth, instead of the simple and honest "Idon't prefer Leno". Disastrous, because this blogger doesn't like Leno? So the essence of the article is "Conan rulz! Leno sux!" Yeah, that kiddie YouTube-comment-section-level was surely worth 1200+ digs.
  • ebaycoach, on 01/15/2008, -28/+8I agree with KENSAVAGE - I am over the reality crap. Unless it is Deadliest Catch - that I can handle.
    • greenlight2001, on 01/15/2008, -2/+23If you agree with him, then do it by REPLYING to his comment.
    • HigherLogic, on 01/15/2008, -8/+6...but...but...but then no one will see my comment *waaaah*
    • turpenine, on 01/15/2008, -1/+5deadliest catch is more of a documentary, not a reality show, it shows reality yeah... but thats not the point so much.
      • YoctoYotta, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1No no, no, no, no, you're wrong.

        Reality TV trash like Nova and Mythbusters and Frontline and Everyone Loves NY needs to get the hell off of the air and STAY OFF!!!!
    • LiquidFusion, on 01/15/2008, -6/+11Mike Rowe FTW!
      • elmetald00d, on 01/15/2008, -4/+2that's dirty jobs......
        • Pake, on 01/15/2008, -1/+5He's the narrator for The Deadliest Catch...
        • carfey, on 01/15/2008, -4/+0Uh huh, he also narrates Deadliest Catch.
        • greenlight2001, on 01/15/2008, -1/+3and American Hotrods... and American Choppers.... and... etc

          The man is Discovery Channel's ONLY voice talent.
    • sjohnson0881, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1I agree...and note that I am replying to the comment!
  • Memles, on 01/15/2008, -0/+105If there's anyone who can make a strike standout, it's Conan - I can never, ever listen to Sabotage again without hearing Edith Bunker.
    • nbcaffeine, on 01/15/2008, -0/+10It's sabotage, Archie!
    • zeiben, on 01/15/2008, -1/+17See, that sounds like something I'd find hilarious, but I've never been into watching Conan. Maybe I'll check out that clip on YouTube and see if the show is funny after all... [tappity tap tap tap...click] "THIS VIDEO IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE DUE TO A COPYRIGHT CLAIM BY NBC UNIVERSAL".... aw fiddlesticks.... movin' on....
      • Parkinsons, on 01/15/2008, -3/+9nbc.com shows the whole ep. I for one support this, producers will never accept piracy and consumers are starting to rebel against inconvenient shows with long ads. The videos on nbc.com play on my computer (linux) and only have 30 sec ads. I think it is a fair compromise.
        • humanerror, on 04/03/2008, -0/+2nbc.com does NOT show the whole ep.

          Maybe it does for you, but for me and everyone who doesn't use one of their favored ISPs every single clip returns a "this clip is not available in your location" error. I live in Japan but I tried it when I was in the USA and I got the same error.

          So really it's worse than if they had no site at all, because now sites like eztv are not even holding the show.
        • zeiben, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3The videos on NBC.com play for *****, and timeshifting is clunky. I don't want the whole damn video, I just want the two minutes that everybody thought was so funny. If I like it, I might be more likely to flip to the show late at night as I'm drifting off. Seeing that message on youtube makes me lose interest utterly.
          • mrASSMAN, on 01/15/2008, -1/+2Sign up at hulu.com if you live in the US. Their interface is eons better than NBC.com.
      • YoctoYotta, on 01/15/2008, -3/+2Bittorrent mofo!
        • zeiben, on 01/16/2008, -0/+1Cease and desist letter from NBC, mofo!
      • theaceoffire, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1http://tubemall.net/undeletube.php
    • Pake, on 01/15/2008, -23/+1Conan is worse now than he was with writers... I'm honestly surprised he's managed to stay on air this long.
  • sjohnson0881, on 01/15/2008, -33/+2I'm just glad they are back. I'm sick of reality shows and lame game shows. Here's hoping the strike ends ASAP.
    On a related note, someone posted this story about humorous effects of the strike and it made me laugh: http://digg.com/odd_stuff/WGA_Writers_Strike_part_ ...
  • muslax27, on 01/15/2008, -8/+108I just want the Office back!
  • mattisallama, on 01/15/2008, -1/+59true, stewart and colbert are just as funny as ever
    • merreborn, on 01/15/2008, -12/+3...No, they really aren't. They're good, but they're better with a room full of writers behind them.

      There are a lot of people who agree, e.g., EW:
      http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008/01/jon-stewar ...

      If anything, TFA is the minority opinion on this issue.

      Don't get me wrong, I'm still watching both shows -- but I'll be glad when the writers are back
    • merreborn, on 01/15/2008, -1/+7In fact, Stewart even said as much in his first show back on the air.
      Hence renaming the show "A daily show" -- because it's *not* "the daily show" without the whole crew there.
    • MioTheGreat, on 01/15/2008, -0/+7But we have got a little bit of a technical snafu going on here tonight. The situation is foobar. It's, eh, that's show-biz talk. Nobody is to blame here, other my director Jimmy.

      Uh Jim. I've got a problem here. There are no words in my prompter. What the hell?

      What the hell's going on? Where are my words?

      "We have no script, Steven"

      Why not?

      "The writers are on strike."

      Yeah, I know that, Jim. I'm not a complete idiot. But how does that affect me?

      "We have nothing to put in the prompter."

      N-- Uh, that's not my understanding of how this works, Jim. My understanding is that this little, this little magic box right here: It reads my thoughts, then it lays them up on the screen right there into little words that I read. It's a labor saving device, Jim. That's how I understand this works.

      "Well, no actually. It's what the writer's put in."

      The Writers. The guys on the fourth floor with the opium bongs, and the playing Guitar Hero all day? You're telling me that those guys are responsible for what I say. I find that a bit of a stretch Jim, I'm sorry.

      Get it fixed, and get it fixed now.
    • Spoomeister, on 01/15/2008, -3/+2Well, Jon's fine but Stephen is floundering.
  • spyd3rweb, on 01/15/2008, -21/+35Stay on strike and kill TV off once and for all, the world would be a lot better off without the idiot box.
    • breaker3000, on 01/15/2008, -6/+8Amen to that.
    • KingGorilla, on 01/15/2008, -1/+11You could always steal an expired nuclear weapon from the air force and threaten the major channels to cancel all programming via inside a blimp. Ironically I learned that from television
    • Hewolf1982, on 01/15/2008, -1/+3If you hate tv so much then why bother reading and responding to a thread about television? If you don't like it then thats fine, but why bother commenting on it then?
  • superyounan1, on 01/15/2008, -1/+29i know right! Conan has been hilarious
  • Rizin, on 01/15/2008, -2/+88GERMAN LIGHT SHOW!
    [/Conan]
    • mrASSMAN, on 01/15/2008, -3/+15What else could you do? Those bitches had to die.

      /Conan
  • bingobongony, on 01/15/2008, -23/+8*****. I have loved Conan since Day 1. Had a friend who wrked on the show and got to go backstage many times. But watching him spin a wedding ring is NOT entertaining. And the stupid laser show was funny (mildly at best) ONCE. Not three times.
    As for his statement that it has been disastrous for Leno, well, I hate Leno, but he has CLEARLY been the biggest winner in all this. His ratings have IMPROVED over his pre-strike ratings, which were already high to behin with. He is DESTROYING Letterman, even though Letterman has his writers.
    • VitriolAndAngst, on 01/15/2008, -5/+5Leno will be shown as a self-centered jerk. He isn't loyal to his workers. He can't afford to do without a steak? What, is he going to go hungry during the writer's strike?
      By betraying the Writer's Union, after the strike is over, there is going to be a definite "DO NOT TOUCH" stigma on his show.
      But I NEVER thought they had good writing on Leno's show. It's been two shades above hee-haw whenever I watched it. So, I guess for the audience, it won't matter.
      The Stats show that Letterman, Conan and the Daily Show have smarter viewers than Leno. And all of them are smarter and better informed than people who watch Fox News.
      So the writers strike will HURT programs that have been favoring good writing, like CSI and TDS. The industry has been moving to more reality shows to cut costs. IF the create a more brain-dead public, they can fire all the writers and just have guys kick each other in the balls for two hours a day.
      • bingobongony, on 01/15/2008, -7/+6He didn't betray anyone you stupid *****. He and the WGA have alreay sorted the whole thing out.
        Andhte stats about smarter viewers thing...well, you just made that up. entirely. I notice you didn't even TRY to post a link to a source for that. And since you are so desperate as to blatantly lie about that, I really don't consider you worthy of a debate anymore.
      • bingobongony, on 01/15/2008, -6/+2And by the way, even by your completely stupid standards your post doesn't make sense. Again, let me repeat something since you are too stupid to grasp simple concepts. Leno's ratings WENT UP. So it is not just that his audience is dumber. People who used to not watch perhaps watching Letterman) and now watching Leno. Even though Letterman is completely business as usual. Full staff of writers, and no WGA/SAG ban on big stars coming on.
        Still waiting for your sources for that silly statement.
      • Norochj, on 01/15/2008, -2/+3I would argue that the writers are the selfish ones since they don't care about all the people that lost their jobs and cannot support their families because of this. Don't get me wrong, the studios are jerks too, but the writers aren't standing up for the little guys.
      • rlahiff, on 01/15/2008, -3/+1Damn Vitriol, i liked everything you said up until you pissed on people that watch fox news.
        Leno is an idiot. Conan is amazing since day 1. I watch fox news all the time and am much more informed (political bias aside) from any of the people that I know that laugh at Leno's stupid *****.
    • mrASSMAN, on 01/15/2008, -1/+11Wrong. Conan's show is better than ever. End thread.
      • jerrycurley, on 01/15/2008, -6/+1You are really entertained by someone spinning a ring?
        Even Conan strongly disagrees with you, by the way.
        • rlahiff, on 01/15/2008, -0/+5It's funny because its not supposed to be.

          Some of those stupid characters are supposed to be funny but just come off as trying to hard.
    • rarson, on 01/15/2008, -4/+3That's because Letterman is really only funny with good writing (as demonstrated in Cabin Boy). I had a friend who was a guest on Letterman many years ago, and to no surprise of anyone, Letterman goofed around and ran over, so he had to wait until the next show to appear. Letterman does ***** like play with his pencil for 5 minutes.

      It doesn't take much to entertain more than Letterman.
    • Parkinsons, on 01/15/2008, -2/+3I think Conan is very funny now, but I don't think he could keep the funny for years like his writers have.
  • Alix7, on 01/15/2008, -6/+7Oh noez, all my favorite episodes of, "Without a Trace" are no longer going to be playing.

    If anything, this writer's strike has shown how useless television shows are. The only thing I really watch is CSI, LOST and a little Prison Break.

    All those other sitcoms can go die in a ***** fire for all I care.
    • everslim101, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3My Name Is Earl, The Office, Chuck...

      YOU Burn. I'd watch that!
    • rlahiff, on 01/15/2008, -3/+1Watch "How I Met Your Mother" and then come back and say that. Its easily the modern day friends with much more intelligent humor. They aren't afraid to make jokes that some people wont get.
  • NotOptium, on 01/15/2008, -2/+62Has anyone noticed that over the past year or two, Jon Stewart has looked a little embarrassed at points, usually after a joke where he has to do an accent or something? Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but since he came back on I haven't seen that look on his face once. Leads me to believe that he didn't always agree with the script or the writers. Either way, I've found the show funnier than it has been in a while, the improvisation and less rushed feeling to it really make it better imo.
    • Daggity, on 01/15/2008, -0/+13Yeah, I've actually liked this season more so far. For example, Stewart's reply to the guest in the clip in the link, "I don't think you want President Homer." "I /have/ President Homer."
    • bizchris, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3If you've seen Ricky Gervais in "Extras", it reminds me of that - he has to play a character in a way he didn't want, and it just keeps snowballing while it's not where his passion is.
  • monkeyrun, on 01/15/2008, -2/+54Conan O'Brien is awesome without writers lol.
    • VitriolAndAngst, on 01/15/2008, -1/+15Conan O'Brien WAS a writer for the Simpsons. He may not be part of the Union now, which is what is getting Jay Leno in hot water.
      • flickerbrain, on 01/15/2008, -0/+6I think Conan is part of the WGA, but if you look closely, he's not really doing any scripted jokes or bits that require writers, he's being his weird, abnormal, funny, self. Climbing up to the catwalk, GERMAN DISCO LIGHTSHOW!! and his Rockabilly performances are all HIM.
    • benstudley, on 01/15/2008, -1/+11He was also a writer for SNL.
    • KingGorilla, on 01/15/2008, -2/+1I put two and two together and realized that he was the one to name the pet lizard on the simpsons Jub Jub
  • metalclay, on 01/15/2008, -7/+2lol, leno's disastrous? I don't find him too bad. oh well...last year. but...agreed, i found conan funnier than ever (and i used to not like conan that much) the whole "a day at: late night with conan o'brien" was awesome. I also found leno to be pretty good :D
    • monkeyrun, on 01/15/2008, -0/+9If you want to see disastrous, stay awake and watch the Carson show.
      youtubers have better material than he does.
      • rarson, on 01/15/2008, -0/+7Carson still does that show?

        I thought it was just like a void in late night programming where celebrities go to die.
      • metalclay, on 01/18/2008, -0/+1lol, carson was bad even with writers xD I still watch him though...I find it interesting
    • Puppyfam, on 01/15/2008, -4/+2Leno's been amazing since he returned; it's going to be sad when the writers come back and he goes back to being mediocre.
      • lynx44, on 01/15/2008, -0/+0I agree, I hardly watch the Tonight Show because its not usually funny, but since his writers have been gone I've felt like its been much better. I still like Conan the best, but I think Leno should avoid writers in the future.
  • gypsi, on 01/15/2008, -9/+5i support the writers 100%! i support fair wages, but i'm getting sick of hearing about the writer's strike. it's just not my damn fault. apparently, the writers aren't willing to bargain and are the reason negotiations keep breaking down. ***** the writers strike already.
    • VitriolAndAngst, on 01/15/2008, -1/+9The writers are getting ripped off. They tried to bargain in good faith on DVD sales and were made to take a lower cut because the studios were "risking" on the venture. Well, time after time, new media has paid big for studios and now they want the Writers to take nothing with on-line sales, saying they are unsure of the new venture.
      Look, paying your talent should be the COST OF BUSINESS. If you want good writing in the future, which to me is at least 75% of the value of any movie -- then you want people making a living at it rather than supplementing with waiting tables. This is about fairness. Writers need to make a living, and the studios want to line their own pockets.
      If they don't want to play fair, they can just keep showing TV Wrestling.
      • rarson, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1The problem is that we're not getting good writing, and these writers aren't exactly aching for more money. I mean, I could understand if one of two possible situations were true:
        the writers were producing such amazingly good material that they were reinvigorating Hollywood, or
        the writers were getting so little pay that they couldn't afford to make ends meet.

        The fact is that neither is true, and I'm left wondering how long this strike is going to go on.
        • RemnantSith, on 01/15/2008, -0/+0Wierd, i'm in florida and that hulu crap just keeps lagging during the stream =/, and i have Fast access DSL
        • writerchick4, on 01/16/2008, -0/+0Thing is, unless you've read the script, you can't really judge how good the writing is. TV and Film are extremely collaborative mediums. The scripts are subject to both studio and network execs before they air in the case of TV.
          As for the pay, the reason writers need residuals is because writing gigs are not steady. At any given time nearly half of the Guild is unemployed. It's these residuals that allow talent to make ends meet until they get another job. Don't assume that all writers receive the same high wages as the A-Listers you've heard about. They make up a very small percentage of the writer ranks. Most writers can barely make ends meet.
          If you're interested, here's an article talking more in depth about the strike:
          http://www.helium.com/tm/698341/browsing-helium-ac ...
    • VargVikernes, on 01/15/2008, -2/+1I feel you. I'm not really very informed about this whole strike thing, but I do know that I am getting suck of hearing it. I don't really see it fair, what they're asking. Why would a writer receive a share of the revenues in the first place? Why not just pay them a set amount and they no longer have anything to do with their script. Yes, they wrote the material, but IMO asking for a share is a little selfish to me. What's next? The crew who puts of sets will start a strike and demand a share?

      As I said, I'm not that informed about this whole thing, but I guess a lot of people are fed up with the strike already. And it's gotta hurt them that Leno has higher ratings now when he writes his own material than before. Just goes to show that they might not be that important after all.
    • writerchick4, on 01/16/2008, -0/+0Unfortunately, you were misinformed. It was the AMPTP who broke off negotiations and have refused to return to the table despite the WGA meeting the demand to remove the DVD issue from the table. If you want to blame someone for continuing the strike, blame the AMPTP. All the writers want are a fair wage.
  • pradaaddict, on 01/15/2008, -1/+49f*cking hulu, ***** doesn't work outside of the US.
    • mrASSMAN, on 01/15/2008, -3/+9That's too bad.. Hulu is fantastic. The interface is 10x better than the network sites. Hardly any ads. They're even releasing free HD streaming soon. Hopefully they reach an agreement in the future for international users (doubt it though to be honest).
      • Sornos, on 01/15/2008, -0/+6Are you trying to make us jealous?
        • rlahiff, on 01/15/2008, -0/+8When you're on digg and someone says anything positive about the US we have to jump on it. Situations just don't arise often enough.
    • nekochan, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1try openhulu.com
  • kablammo, on 01/15/2008, -0/+53"We're sorry, but the clip you have selected is not available in your country or region..."

    Damn you, NBC.
  • Kanna, on 01/15/2008, -3/+22If only I can watch any of these videos... Damn you Canada!
  • VitriolAndAngst, on 01/15/2008, -2/+1Perhaps this will bring out something good.
    But I don't think most of these talented Late Night TV hosts can keep doing this for more than a month. Pretty soon, you will see the same gag or crack once too often. We watchers of TV are spoiled. The writers have been pretty amazing on the shows I watch like the Daily Show -- and no matter how talented one person is, I don't think they can do more than one hour a week of original content. They'll have to do a lot more interviews so that they can play off someone else.
    • rarson, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2I think you underestimate funny people. Like Robin Williams for instance. He's amazing, he can come up with something funny to go along with any topic of conversation... it's unreal. I watched him on "Inside the Actor's Studio" and was amazed.
  • Cam_86, on 01/15/2008, -0/+28Wow... this story is totally useless for people who are not in america, or using american proxy's :| Region locking video's is one sure fire way to ruin your brand.
    • ThankTheCheese, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2region locking is the new DRM
  • kriminalintent, on 01/15/2008, -1/+3The best thing to happen during the strike is Cbs is going to air dexter on prime time and on network. Even if it will be cut up, its a huge deal for a great show.
    • Erfman, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3Edited for CBS; talk about draining the blood out. Love it on Showtime tho.
  • notsotricky, on 01/15/2008, -9/+1A Daily Show and The Colbert Report have been god-awful since they returned. Leno has always been terrible. And as much as I root for him, Letterman has no excuses and is still unwatchable.
    • saisumimen, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2Go back to watching the Fox Reality Channel.
  • latrosicarius, on 01/15/2008, -0/+10Well, because of this crap, Battlestar Galactica might not finish the last (4th) season :/

    All staff has been laid off.

    http://www.rondmoore.com/Site/Blog/Entries/2007/11 ...
    • VitriolAndAngst, on 01/15/2008, -0/+6Yeah, the real extent of the writer's strike will be felt mostly AFTER it is over. There will be a backlog of good shows for about as long as they've been on strike.
      I really hope BG will finish season 4.
    • CrimsonBlur, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2The staffs of almost every show have been "laid off". They can't expect to keep their jobs after being on strike for this long. They will all be rehired once the strike is over, as long as they agree to the terms, etc. It's mostly a formality.
    • anononon, on 01/15/2008, -1/+2NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
    • kymike, on 01/15/2008, -0/+2NO!!! Crap. I can handle Lost being a short season. I can even come to terms with 24 being gone (the previews for season 7 didn't look so good to me...I'll stick with my memories of seasons 1 through 5.)

      But BSG?? The whole series was about coming to closure at the end. At least 24 gives you closure at the end of each _season_. But BSG has a story to tell...and if they don't get to complete it...then that really sucks.
    • Spoomeister, on 01/15/2008, -1/+1Can't say I missed it, really. 3rd season really got unfocused toward the end.
    • shelton8706, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1the whole scifi channel could go off the air and i wouldn't miss it one bit
  • ahughes, on 01/15/2008, -0/+13Unfortunately none of these videos will play in Canada...wtf?
    • yabos, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1CRTC likes to control Canadian TV. Download hotspot shield(free vpn to a US server) and watch it anyways.
  • Scr4tchFury, on 01/15/2008, -0/+5I'm just glad porn doesn't have writers or I'd have nothing to watch.
    • MikeFallopian, on 01/15/2008, -0/+4What? Am I the only one who watches porn for the dialogue and plot?
      • Bulletbillx, on 01/15/2008, -1/+4Yes. Yes you are.
        • MikeFallopian, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3Watch "Saturday Night Beaver" and tell me the crackling wit didn't bring tears to your eyes.
      • anononon, on 01/15/2008, -1/+3Hi. Let's *****. Unf! Get out.
  • VitriolAndAngst, on 01/15/2008, -8/+3Leno will be shown as a self-centered jerk. He isn't loyal to his workers. He can't afford to do without a steak? What, is he going to go hungry during the writer's strike?
    By betraying the Writer's Union, after the strike is over, there is going to be a definite "DO NOT TOUCH" stigma on his show.
    But I NEVER thought they had good writing on Leno's show. It's been two shades above hee-haw whenever I watched it. So, I guess for the audience, it won't matter.
    The Stats show that Letterman, Conan and the Daily Show have smarter viewers than Leno. And all of them are smarter and better informed than people who watch Fox News.
    So the writers strike will HURT programs that have been favoring good writing, like CSI and TDS. The industry has been moving to more reality shows to cut costs. IF the create a more brain-dead public, they can fire all the writers and just have guys kick each other in the balls for two hours a day.
  • Jimgress, on 01/15/2008, -2/+7god hulu sucks since they went legit.
  • Slugs, on 01/15/2008, -0/+15Conan's version of "Blue Moon of Kentucky" was amazing!
  • acceleration, on 01/15/2008, -4/+12Great... except all of the "hulu" clips don't work... buried
    • mrASSMAN, on 01/15/2008, -2/+2Maybe you have to sign up.. it works with me, I'm a member.
      • saisumimen, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3I didn't even have to sign up. Worked for me.
      • acceleration, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1No, I don't think that will make it work - it says I'm not in the right "region".

        So much for the *world wide* web...
  • Newportbeachguy, on 01/15/2008, -0/+4Who needs unions?
  • AamirM, on 01/15/2008, -0/+15You just make me laugh Jordan. You're not like other people... shakes... bullwhip... *sigh* ... Rush.
  • zeiben, on 01/15/2008, -0/+4Writers want more residuals. Networks want the still-beating hearts of baby seals. Meantime, I'm still paying my ***** cable bill and getting nothin!
  • skinturtle, on 01/15/2008, -2/+6trash

    ...none of the clips work outside the US
    • Scr4tchFury, on 01/15/2008, -4/+2They don't work too well in the US either.
  • dwninjungleland, on 01/15/2008, -0/+7Hmm... I wonder what it says about us that we are still watching these clips online despite the strike being about online profits... clearly something is still wrong.
  • shadowofdeath15, on 01/15/2008, -2/+0I think the late night shows should purposely not put on great shows for the writers sake.
    Cause then whenever this strike is over the studios won't use as many as they did before
    the strike making some lose their job possibly.
  • mattonio, on 01/15/2008, -2/+0Well strikes arent fun, and even though leno and the guys may be getting more freedom on their shows, the writers need to get what they want. TV has been taken for granted by the big motion picture businesses and now they get what they deserve for being money hungry pricks. Once this is all solved things i hope will change, no more reality tv, just the good shows like CSI and the such. Im really pissed that most of the movies that are ready to be filmed have to wait for writers to write the scripts. Some reallly good movies too, and it makes me sad.
    • bombshelter13, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1No one ~needs~ to get what they ~want~, when it comes to making money. Does the RIAA need to get what it wants? Does Microsoft?
    • bombshelter13, on 01/15/2008, -0/+0.
  • shrinePL, on 01/15/2008, -0/+22The Conan interview with his producer...you can't write stuff like that, pure genius... That interview was so damn funny.
  • tomek77, on 01/15/2008, -3/+2Shows how useful the writers are. And they want residuals for everyone... Unions are so full of it.
    I say fire them all, get rid of the union, and let writers negotiate their deals one-by-one. The good ones will get a better deal than currently, the bad ones will get a second job, and shows will be free to innovate!
  • Justin6512, on 01/15/2008, -0/+6any mirrors, won't work because I live in canada!

    screw you NBC
    • rlahiff, on 01/15/2008, -11/+2Sorry to take it out on you but damn after seeing the same comment 12 times over i got angry.
      MOVE. JUST ***** MOVE. There is a reason why anyone who makes it moves to the US. Stop fighting it because of your pride.
      • acceleration, on 01/15/2008, -1/+4Great idea! Let's just pack up from our clearly inferior non-American countries, quit our current jobs, get a plane ticket and move to America! Now we can watch clips on the web that only Americans can watch!! So simple, why didn't I think of this before?
  • skaldicpoet9, on 01/15/2008, -0/+6Man, that has to be the funniest I have seen Conan or John Stewart ever. Dugg for sure.

  • Chubs879, on 01/15/2008, -1/+8Dugg for the majority of clips being Conan.
  • Beatmiser, on 01/15/2008, -0/+9Only thing the Writer's Strike has taught me is how much I love History, History International, NCG and BBC America.
  • bullcutter, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1I was saying this before the strike even started, TV can only get better with new writers (its naive to think the hosts actually came up with their entire shows as of late). It certainly couldn't get worse.
  • eminiguy, on 01/15/2008, -2/+130 sec ads a fair compromise? That's a load of bull! But, hey, Americans will buy anything, so I guess that's just okay..
  • Enigma776, on 01/15/2008, -0/+4Seems like people have finally woke up to the fact unscripted shows are a lot more funny then rehearsed script dialogue, I understand why the writers are striking but taking it this long may end up shooting them in the foot as more and more people watch unscripted shows.
    • rlahiff, on 01/15/2008, -1/+2And if they give up now they lose all leverage and set themselves up to being ***** on in the future with no recourse.
  • frontporsche, on 01/15/2008, -3/+1Dugg for "Mathew"'s YouTube plug.
  • djalbino, on 01/15/2008, -2/+3I think why Conan, Colbert, and Stewart are doing so well is because they are so creative. Leno and Letterman are old and boring. You would never seem them have a German Light Show like Conan.
  • hoovcluck, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1Eddie Murphy explains this phenomenon.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpJSLJksW9A
    switch to 7:00 for explanation
  • abledragon, on 01/15/2008, -0/+1Loved the German Light show. It's excellent to see truly talented people doing their stuff!
  • JedicodeWarrior, on 01/15/2008, -0/+3Whiney bitches wanting to get paid years after the job was finished.
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