Total Demonstration Live with Carson Daly

Carson Daly's move to jumpstart production on his late-late-late night NBC talk show hasn't earned him many fans within the Writers Guild. Now, armed with word that Daly will be taping a musical guest tonight on an outside stage, the WGA is throwing a quickly-organized protest outside the NBC lot in Burbank.

An as-yet unnamed band will tape a set on the stage -- near NBC's California Gate on Alameda Avenue -- for "Last Call with Carson Daly" around 6 p.m. (Another band taped a segment last night for "Last Call" as well.) A WGA spokesman said striking writers and Guild supporters will be there to "protest Daly’s disappointing decision to cross the picket line."

Expect more than a few scribes to imitate Jimmy Fallon's famous -- and less than flattering -- take on Daly from "Saturday Night Live."

"Last Call" is set to return next Monday. Show airs at 1:36 a.m. weeknights.

-- Michael Schneider

Comments

[crew]

Carson was given a choice: cross the picket lines or sit by and watch his 100+ staff and crew get laid off. Going back to work is the right decision, shame on the WGA for focusing it's efforts against him. GE doesn't really care if Carson's show is on the air, after all, it airs at 1:30AM, when nobody watches TV. There are much bigger fish to fry in these networks than Carson and his late night show.

[Unrepresented Television Professional]

As soneone who has worked in the television industry for 20 years, and has never had union protections or representations, I applaud Carson Daly's decision to put himself and about 95% of his staff back to work, where they belong. The average person may not realize this, but a very small percentage of highly skilled televsion personnel belong to unions and live gig-to-gig, paycheck-to-paycheck.

This is not sour grapes and I support the Writers and their right to organize and strike in general, but when I see friends not be able to support their families who work every bit as hard, that's when I find I need to draw the line.

[Ray]

The WGA needs to ease off of Carson. He is not a member of the guild and his show is not heavy on a monologue or comedy sketches like the other late night shows. His show is more like The View or Regis and Kelly than anything else and no one seems to mind that they are still on the air. And NBC would not have hesitated to cancel his show if given the opportunity... hell Fallon's already got an office over at 30 Rock. If people can't understand sacrificing the feelings of 10 or so writers for 60 staff members' economic well being, especially around the holidays, then its not Carson who is the douche....

[Ray]

The WGA needs to ease off of Carson. He is not a member of the guild and his show is not heavy on a monologue or comedy sketches like the other late night shows. His show is more like The View or Regis and Kelly than anything else and no one seems to mind that they are still on the air. And NBC would not have hesitated to cancel his show if given the opportunity... hell Fallon's already got an office over at 30 Rock. If people can't understand sacrificing the feelings of 10 or so writers for 60 staff members' economic well being, especially around the holidays, then its not Carson who is the douche....

[Ray]

The WGA needs to ease off of Carson. He is not a member of the guild and his show is not heavy on a monologue or comedy sketches like the other late night shows. His show is more like The View or Regis and Kelly than anything else and no one seems to mind that they are still on the air. And NBC would not have hesitated to cancel his show if given the opportunity... hell Fallon's already got an office over at 30 Rock. If people can't understand sacrificing the feelings of 10 or so writers for 60 staff members' economic well being, especially around the holidays, then its not Carson who is the douche....