Ingenious move or simple desperation?
I’m thinking it was a bit of both that encouraged producers at Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk shows to have each comedian appear on the other’s show this week.
It’s a one night swap that will make history and at the very least solve the problem of filling time on shows that have been hit hard by the ongoing Hollywood writers strike.
Set your TiVos for Thursday night, that’s when the madness is scheduled to occur. According to show producers, Kimmel will travel to Leno’s studio in Burbank, California, and Leno will return the favor by heading over to Kimmel’s studio in Hollywood. Both shows are taped on the same day they air.
Both wise guys made the most of the set up while promoting the shows today. Kimmel joked: “If Jay and I can come together and guest on each other’s shows, then surely there is hope for peace in the Middle East.”
Leno, meanwhile noted that he plans to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to get a daily show on the air with fresh material night after night.
“There are only a few people in the world that know how tough this job is,” Leno told reporters. “Jimmy is one of them. It will be fun to discuss who’s a good guest, who’s a difficult guest and everything else that comes with sitting behind these desks.”
The men have a lot to commiserate about—not only are they out writers because of the ongoing work stoppage by the Writers Guild of America. Their jobs have been made even more difficult because A-list stars are reluctant to cross picket lines. Adding insult to injury is the fact that cross-country late-night rivals David Letterman and Craig Ferguson are back on the air with writers and big name celebrities who don’t have to worry about crossing picket lines.
David Letterman’s production company owns both his show and Ferguson’s and was able to hammer out a deal that would allow writers on each show to get back to work. As a result, Letterman has lined up actors Tom Hanks, Lucy Liu and Morgan Freeman for shows this week. Meanwhile, back in L.A., besides Kimmel, Leno’s only other announced future guest is Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul on Monday night. The same night Kimmel plans to welcome D-list stars with reality TV shows Kathy Griffin and Scott Baio.
Leno also has to deal with the fact that writers have threatened to take disciplinary action against him. The guild contends Leno, who is a member, cannot write his own jokes and perform them in a monologue (which he has) while Leno and NBC contend the guild’s own contract allows this.
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