Late-night shows return with mixed results

Arts and Culture

Letterman, Leno, Conan et. al. were back on the air on Wednesday.

Late-night talk shows returned to the air on Wednesday after a two-month absence caused by a writers strike. While the negotiations continue, the jokes must go on ...

David Letterman reached an agreement with the guild to allow writers to work on his show, while Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel were flying solo. Letterman joked: 'I hear you at home thinking to yourself, This crap is written?'

Letterman's top 10 list consisted of writers' strike demands: 'Complimentary tote bag with next insulting contract offer' and 'Hazard pay for breaking up fights on 'The View.''

Letterman grew a full beard during his two-month break, and Robin Williams took advantage of the material, referring to him as Gen. Robert E. Lee, a rabbi and an Iraqi mullah.

Letterman's show was 'union-sanctioned,' but Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee crossed the picket lines to play with 'Tonight Show' band director Kevin Eubanks and talk with Jay Leno.

Leno joked that the strike 'has already cost [L.A.] over half a billion dollars. Five hundred million dollars! Or as Paul McCartney calls that, a divorce.'

Over on Conan O'Brien's show, the writers strike was costly, too. The bearded host danced on his table to the Clash's 'The Magnificent Seven' and tried to see how long he could spin his wedding ring on his desk.

Craig Ferguson, host of 'The Late Late Show,' which is produced by Letterman's company, had writers but no guests. 'I just want to send a message to the D-list celebrities of Hollywood: You're still welcome here.'

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Late-night talk shows returned to the air on Wednesday after a two-month absence caused by a writers strike. While the negotiations continue, the jokes must go on ...

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