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Writers' Strike Costing Jay Leno and David Letterman $100,000 a Night
Wednesday November 14, 2007
January 12, 2006; July 12, 2007
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com; RD/Leon / Retna Ltd.
Wednesday November 14, 2007
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com; RD/Leon / Retna Ltd.
The writers' strike is no laughing matter for Jay Leno and David Letterman — especially when it comes to their wallets.
It is costing the late night talk show hosts a reported $100,000 a night.
Leno, 57, and Letterman, 60, have not received a paycheck from their networks — NBC and CBS, respectively — since the strike started November 5, the New York Post quotes TV industry sources as saying.
In the first nine days of the strike, they have each lost a total of more than $700,000, according to the Post. (They are not paid on the weekends.)
Leno, host of The Tonight Show, earns around $27 million a year, while Letterman, host of Late Show with David Letterman, rakes in a reported $31.5 million.
Letterman is continuing to pay his production stuff, the Post reports, though it remains unclear how long that will continue. Meanwhile, NBC officials said they may layoff non-writing staffers by the end of the week.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, producers are considering bringing in guest hosts so taping of The Tonight Show can resume. But it is unknown who would write the monologues.
“Our preference is that we return to production of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as host as soon as possible," executive producer Debbie Vickers told the Reporter.
For more on the strike, grab the latest issue of Us Weekly on newsstands Friday!
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Posted by Mark Cina at 9:27 am ET
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22 Comments
3:02 PM
Thomas J. Tague Says:
8:33 PM
Anonymous Says:
He looks so familiar. Seems saw him on a celebrity and millionaire dating site called wealthymingle.com. I'll help you guys check it out. What if it is true. That would be great.
4:00 PM
Anonymous Says:
Am I suppose to feel sorry for them losing $100k per night? Please!
2:28 PM
Anonymous Says:
Where in the article does it say that Leno and Letterman are complaining? It doesn't. Quit ragging on everybody, especially if there's no reason for it. Sheesh.
2:01 PM
~*Wicked*~ Says:
1:31 PM ~*Wicked*~ Says:
Anon 1:26
Who the f-ck cares about your pathetic life? Noone, anywhoo, can i have some of lenos & lettermans money? My stocks are plummeting
No, they went up, dimwit. You're trying way too hard. Sad.
1:36 PM
Anonymous Says:
Leah, if you hate this site so much, why do you bother to:
1. read the articles
and
2. post your own comments
?????????????????????????
1:32 PM
Mia Says:
Writers do make a lot of money when they are working but they aren't employed 12 months out of the year. They don't get great residuals....so averaging everything out, they don't make terrific money.
1:31 PM
~*Wicked*~ Says:
Anon 1:26
Who the f-ck cares about your pathetic life? Noone, anywhoo, can i have some of lenos & lettermans money? My stocks are plummeting
1:28 PM
Leah Says:
I doubt either Jay or Dave said anything about the amount of money they aren't making right now. I think it's US Weekly who calculated this figure, perhaps it is accurate, but neither of them is worried or suffering. It's another empty, air-headed story because this site, for one let's absolute dumbsh!ts post absolute idiotic comments and encourages it...they have nothing good or true to post, so they make stuff up.
1:26 PM
Anonymous Says:
Jan, well I do own a house that the house payments are sucking the life out of my savings account so I will sell. If I could, and I could, hang onto this house until the market improves, it might be a good thing. But the IT MIGHT factor loses in light of the downside, IT MIGHT NOT. I don't pay car insurance myself, so I don't know what that costs, my child pays it for me. Sweet kisses to him. Still, I'll get a job, I hope by the first of the year, and all will be good.
It's worth living in Southern California because the weather is lovely, the beaches are fantastic, the food is excellent and the stuff to do here is amazing.
Good times.
1:26 PM
Anonymous Says:
maybe they should start writing there own jokes ;-)
1:12 PM
Jan Says:
Jay Leno has CASH.
He has approximately 85 cars and over 70 motorcycles in his collection.
Not that he shouldn't enjoy his money, but seriously - this guy is LOADED. I doubt this strike will hurt him one bit.
1:03 PM
Anonymous Says:
Lame-ohs can't even write their own jokes.
12:56 PM
Anonymous Says:
Yeah, don't really feel too sorry about these guys, but I agree with what person said about the camera crew and stuff. I'm sure they are the ones having a real hard time.
12:45 PM
Jan Says:
12:41 PM Anonymous Says:
I agree. The rents are sky high out here, and don't get me started on car insurance.
12:41 PM
Anonymous Says:
They can afford to pay their entire crew themselves, with all their millions.
12:41 PM
Anonymous Says:
And I should have sympathy for these two who make 100 grand a night. I don't think so. I'm just trying to find a job that pays 27 or more an hour which is not out of the question in Los Angeles. It's expensive to live her.
12:41 PM
Anonymous1234 Says:
Its the average Joe behind the cameras on their show who are suffering. Leno and Letterman or not. I find it hard to muster any pity for Leno and Letterman.
12:35 PM
Anonymous Says:
The average person, works multiple jobs, just to make ends meet, have a roof over their heads, and food on the table for thier children. These two men have MILLIONS, they have alot of nerve to complain! I just don't get it, it is so sad to see what this world is coming to!
12:30 PM
Anonymous Says:
Who cares if they lose 100,000 a night, when they make 27 MILLION a year??
12:26 PM
BamaGirl Says:
MAN!! If I made that much a night I would seriously sh!t a golden brick! I hope this writers strike comes to an end soon, otherwise many people will be without a job. I also hope the writers can come to an agreement that would benefit everyone involved, but who knows, they might not come to an agreement at all.
12:24 PM
Beep Says:
Awwwww. Poor things. They'll just have to survive on their OTHER millions.
We are supposed to feel sorry for them?????
