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Strike Update: ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’ Returns January 2, 2008

by Chandra on December 17th, 2007

Late-night chat show fans, host Conan O’Brien issued a statement earlier today indicating that his NBC series Late Night with Conan O’Brien will return to the air with new episodes starting the second day of the New Year. Here’s what the man himself had to say in his own, I presume, words.

For the past seven weeks of the writers’ strike, I have been and continue to be an ardent supporter of the WGA and their cause. My career in television started as a WGA member and my subsequent career as a performer has only been possible because of the creativity and integrity of my writing staff. Since the strike began, I have stayed off the air in support of the striking writers while, at the same time, doing everything I could to take care of the 80 non-writing staff members on Late Night.

Unfortunately, now with the New Year upon us, I am left with a difficult decision. Either go back to work and keep my staff employed or stay dark and allow 80 people, many of whom have worked for me for fourteen years, to lose their jobs. If my show were entirely scripted I would have no choice. But the truth is that shows like mine are hybrids, with both written and non-written content. An unwritten version of Late Night, though not desirable, is possible - and no one has to be fired.

So, it is only after a great deal of thought that I have decided to go back on the air on January 2nd. I will make clear, on the program, my support for the writers and I’ll do the best version of Late Night I can under the circumstances. Of course, my show will not be as good. In fact, in moments it may very well be terrible. My sincerest hope is that all of my writers are back soon, working under a contract that provides them everything they deserve.

O’Brien’s decision to return to the air has quite a bit more significance than Carson Daly’s choice to do the same on November 27, if only because O’Brien has acquired more respect and longevity in the industry. What will all of the critics who’ve been bashing Daly day in and day out say now?

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POSTED IN: Talk Shows, Television, Winter 2008, Writers Strike