Late-Night Talk Shows Could Be Back In A Week (Or Two)

By Andrew Sanford | TV | September 25, 2023 |

By Andrew Sanford | TV | September 25, 2023 |

The WGA and the AMPTP have reached a tentative agreement. The WGA strike could end soon, with SAG still waiting for a fair deal. After a long summer of being forced to write about Kardashians and RFK Jr., I can return to telling you how funny Seth Meyers was last night. Like a scared, lonely barnacle, I am thrilled for these late-night boats to return to shore.

I am happy for myself. That is true. I’m also excited for the myriad of late-night writers who have been such vocal advocates for the strike. They’ve gone months without work and haven’t lost a step (at least not publicly). They’ve staged YouTube shows to keep people familiar with the goings-on of the strike. They’ve built snowglobes to support themselves. They’ve stayed strong and deserve a win this big (if it is as big as we hope).

I’m most curious to see the status of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Usually, the show would be less than two months away from its season’s end. Could the deal extend the show until the end of the year? Would Oliver and his staff want to prolong the show’s schedule? Would the families of John’s staff want them home for Christmas if they’ve already been home all summer? People need a break sometimes.

While the direct future is uncertain, what’s exciting is that we can talk about it. If the deal goes through, writers can start contemplating their next steps. If the agreement is as successful as being touted by the WGA, then the opportunities for all manner of writers will be better than when the strike began. That was the end goal. Anything positive that happens as a result is some sweet, sweet gravy.