The late-night show, a hugely popular staple of American network and cable television, is headed for an early shutdown for the foreseeable future, reports ‘Variety’.
ABC’s ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’, CBS’ ‘The Late Show’, Comedy Central’s ‘The Daily Show’ and NBC’s ‘Tonight’ and ‘Late Night’ are all going on hiatus as a result of the start of the Hollywood writers’ strike. And shows may be off the air for at least a few weeks.
In place of new programs, ‘Variety’, adds NBC, CBS and ABC, will air reruns of those shows. HBO will also end live production of “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “This Week Tonight” with John Oliver. There was no immediate word available on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”
Writers play an integral role in TV’s late-night schedule, curating numerous jokes, one-liners and sketches each day that promote current events and popular culture, notes ‘Variety’.
The contract between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents about 350 TV and film production companies, expired on May 1.
Late night shows often serve as a leading indicator of sentiment. When the WGA last went on strike in 2008, the hosts were off the air for two months. But Jay Leno, Kimmel, david letterman And Conan O’Brien has managed to return to the air, says ‘Variety.
Letterman did this by coming to new terms with the WGA – and was able to bring his writing staff with him. The others had to leave it, with Leno doing his monologues. “More people are protesting NBC than watching NBC” he told the audience on his first night.
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