Late’s Back
After a two-month hiatus, TV’s late-night funny guys packed up their punch lines and returned to the air Wednesday night.
Dave Letterman, who came back with his writers, walked on stage amid
dancing girls holding picket signs, according to the Associated Press.
His Top 10 list was delivered by striking writers, offering their
strike demands, including "Complementary tote bag with next insulting
contract offer." Hillary Clinton appeared on tape from Iowa, and Lupe
Fiasco performed.
Conan O’Brien, who came back without his writers, opened with a
commentary supporting the strikers and quipped that with all of the
late-night shows off the air, "Americans have been forced to read books
and occasionally even speak to one another, which has been horrifying,"
according to NBC transcripts.
Both Dave and Conan grew beards during their break—with Conan saying
his was in solidarity with his writers.
Over on Jay Leno’s stage, presidential candidate Mike Huckabee appeared
as a guest. Craig Ferguson (with writers) and Jimmy Kimmel (without
writers) also were back at work Wednesday.
Besides being without writers, Leno, O’Brien and Kimmel will be unable
to perform many familiar comic bits, including traditional monologues,
because of strike rules.
