No deal for Letterman

David Letterman has failed to reach an agreement with the Writers Guild of America.

The CBS host, who runs the production company Worldwide Pants, was hoping to strike a separate deal with the WGA that would allow him to return with writers in January.

But talks on Friday stalled.

“Representatives from Worldwide Pants and the Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East met today. A lively exchange of information took place. The WGAW and WGAE will not comment further,” the writers union said.

Worldwide Pants offered an even shorter statement, “We had a substantive discussion today with the WGA and look forward to continuing these talks next week,” Pants’ president and CEO, Rob Burnett, said.

Letterman and fellow CBS host Craig Ferguson now plan to return on January 2 without writers.

Despite his being a big supporter of the WGA, new media rights are said to be controlled by CBS not Letterman’s company.

Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, as well as Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert are all planning a January return.

Source: AHN