When Jimmy Fallon was asked about his thoughts on the Writers Guild of America strike at Monday night’s Met Ball, he said, “I wouldn’t have a show without my writers, I’d support them all the way.” But that “support” didn’t extend to appearing on Tuesday, when it was announced that NBC would stop paying them starting next week, according to one of his show’s staff.
“She wasn’t even at the meeting this morning to tell us that we won’t be paid after this week,” said Sarah Kobos, who works as senior photo research coordinator. This show tonight, tweeted on Tuesday. He added, “@jimmyfallon Please support your staff. We bowled with you last week, but a fun party won’t pay my rent.”
Kobos, who previously led the fight for the Wirecutter union’s deal, New York TimesHe explained that he is not part of the WGA and therefore not a striking worker, but is among those whose jobs will be affected by the action.
“At a meeting that Jimmy was not attending, we were told that NBC has decided to stop paying after this week and end our health insurance after this month if the strike continues,” he wrote. “They don’t even say whether we’re technically allowed. Only active employees who are not paid.”
Kobos discovered later show tonight While on the picket line in New York City on Tuesday afternoon, announcer Steve Higgins revealed to The Daily Beast that NBC top echelons will keep staff’s health insurance “at least” until the end of May and can file for unemployment from Monday.
Like Chicago Tribune critic Nina Metz tweeted In response, he said, “It’s worth understanding the ways the studios have chosen to jeopardize the livelihoods of other staff/equipment. Considering Fallon is the face of his show, it seems pretty indecent not even to be at this meeting.
In response, Kobos added, “I was told that Seth Meyers is at a zoom production meeting and will try to take care of his staff and crew after NBC stops paying.” During the previous writers’ strike, which lasted from November 2007 to February 2008, late-night presenters such as David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Conan O’Brien reportedly paid their non-striking staff salaries out of their own pockets.
The Daily Beast reached out to Fallon representatives and Tonight Show for comment but has not yet received a response.
Last week, before the strike went into effect and production was halted on all major late-night shows—except Greg Gutfeld’s “comedy” show on Fox News—Meyers used his platform to deliver a message of support to the union.
“I am good at one thing, and that is writing and I love writing. “I’m deeply proud of the fact that I’m a professional writer,” Meyers said on Friday’s “Corrections.” “I brought it up because there might be a writers strike from midnight on Monday. And if a writers strike happens, it shuts down production of many shows.”
This late night The host said a strike “would be a really miserable thing for people, especially considering we’re on the verge of that terrible epidemic that’s affecting all of us, not just show business.” He concluded by saying, “I also strongly believe that the writers’ wishes are not unreasonable. And as a proud member of the Guild, I am very grateful that it is an organization that looks after the best interests of the writers.”
As of Tuesday night, along with shows hosted by Fallon, Meyers, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel Daily ShowFeaturing a lineup of guest presenters, all will begin airing reruns. HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher And Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Will do the same this weekend.
Saturday night live He was due to return on May 6 with an episode presented by former cast member Pete Davidson, but that comedian’s frequent co-author Dave Sirus confirmed that the series would be cancelled. tweeting“We had no choice but to hit, so SNL is off.”