WGA Allows David Letterman's Writers to Return to Work

Authored by Scott Goldberg on December 28, 2007 - 1:51pm.

Beginning next Wednesday, January 2nd, writers for CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman and Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson will return to work after 8 weeks on strike, the AP writes. The Writers Guild of America came to an interim agreement with Worldwide Pants, the production company for both shows owned by Letterman. "I am grateful to the WGA for granting us this agreement," the AP quoted Letterman as saying.

"This is not a solution to the strike, which unfortunately continues to disrupt the lives of thousands. But I hope it will be seen as a step in the right direction."

With the exception of Carson Daly, who returned to work on December 3rd, all of the major late-night talk show hosts are planning to return.

Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show, and Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report, were the last to announce their return.

The return of Late Show writers bodes well for the quality of Letterman’s show. Conan O’Brien commented after announcing his return that an unscripted show would fall short: "If my show were entirely scripted I would have no choice. But the truth is that shows like mine are hybrids, with both written and non-written content. An unwritten version of 'Late Night,' though not desirable, is possible.”

But as the AP points out, a picket line still exists, and it remains to be seen the caliber of guests the talk shows will attract.