July 1, 2023 |
10:00am
Jimmy Fallon paid NBC staffers out of his own pocket.Getty Images
Producers, talent bookers and writers are updating LinkedIn profiles in hopes of finding work amid the ongoing writers strike, multiple sources told Page Six.
When the WGA strike hit, late-night hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers committed to pay their staffs out of their own pockets for a time — but ultimately, “they can only pay so much,” an insider told Page Six.
“They can only pay up to a certain amount until they’re taxed, and there’s only a small handful who are still getting paid by the network,” the insider added.
NBC planned to pay staffers for two weeks according to Variety.
But these days, “They’re all looking for work. Every show is in the same boat. ‘SNL,’ Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver… everyone supports the writers, but they’re hoping for a quick resolution,” the source said.
Cast and staff at “Saturday Night Life” have also been hit. Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
An NBC insider confirmed that Fallon, for example, “was definitely paying out of pocket. Now, people still have their jobs, but are on unpaid leave.”
Another person likened the situation to the days of COVID, when shows shut down and “only had a skeleton staff at each show, and a small handful of people were still getting paid by the network.”
Activist actor Jane Fonda has been hitting the picket lines. BLW Clips / SplashNews.com
“It’s the whole TV industry, and it’s taking its toll. They’re creatives and [they] are used to such a regimented schedule, and now there’s nothing,” our source said.
It seems Hollywood’s A-list performers may join the writers soon.
Seth Meyers has been supporting the WGA strike, and SAG may go out next. NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
SAG-AFTRA’s current TV and streaming contract expired Friday, and hundreds of stars — including Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence — sent a letter to their union urging them to make a “transformative” deal with studios and streamers, according to the Hollywood reporter.
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