The TV Zone

Clever Dave. Or...Too Clever?

And today, a very interesting development in the writers' strike.

The Big Bad Studios have been trying to fracture the unity of the writers, but the writers - who aren't dummies, after all - are now apparently trying the same tactic.

This time, they're trying to fracture the Big Bad Studios.

And who's leading the charge?

Dave!

In a - let's call it "unusual" - side-step, Worldwide Pants and "Late Show with David Letterman" have apparently won a surprising "interim agreement" with the Writers Guild to negotiate separately with CBS. This is an open door for Letterman to talk, mano a mano, with CBS chief Leslie Moonves and get "Late Show" back on the air, probably by early January. (Reports yesterday suggested Jan. 7). Of course, it's also cleverly designed to make it appear that Dave and his writers aren't scabs. They - and the WGA - just can't get any traction with the AMPTP (the negotiating arm of the Big Bad Studios). So they may as well go it alone! As I said, sneaky! Maybe smart too. If I was Jay and NBC, I'd be thinking - WHY AREN'T WE THIS DEVIOUS!?

Why is so interesting? Because it potentially allows other writers to talk individually with their "partner" studios and networks. (The Big Bad Studios are either very nervous at this minute or are trying to figure out how to do an end-run around this unexpected move.)

Needless to say, the WGA is trying to sugar-coat the move by Dave. After all, he doesn't have to worry that much about the number one issue for writers who work for scripted shows - namely residuals from the Internet, which will one day make quaint old technologies like "videos" and "DVDs" seem like horse n' buggies.

Meanwhile, the WGA said that Letterman's company wasn't the only one that could cut "a deal separately" with the Writers' Guild; a spokeswoman added, "there will be no deals that don't include the Internet; the new media IS our deal [and] if somebody [any of the members of the negotiating arm of the studios] wants to step up to the plate and take our deal, we're ready."

Here's the WGA statement (signed by some heavyweight writers - we'll spare you the list):

"As you know, the AMPTP is currently unwilling to bargain with us. The internal dynamics of the AMPTP make it difficult for the conglomerates to reach consensus and negotiate with us on a give and take basis. We believe this multi-employer structure inhibits individual companies from pursuing their self-interest in negotiations. We nonetheless continue to hope that the AMPTP will return in good faith to negotiate a fair contract with writers, as two television seasons and numerous feature projects are currently at great risk.

We want to do everything in our power to move negotiations forward and end this devastating strike. We have therefore decided to reach out to major AMPTP companies and begin to negotiate with them individually."

Now, the statement from Rob Burnett. He's the prez of Worldwide Pants:

“Worldwide Pants has always been a writer-friendly company. Dave has been a member of the WGA for more than 30 years, and I have been a member for more than 20. Because we are an independent production company, we are able to pursue an interim agreement with the Guild without involving CBS in that pursuit. Therefore, since the beginning of the strike, we have expressed our willingness to sign an interim agreement with the Guild consistent with its positions in this dispute. We're happy that the Guild has now adopted an approach that might make this possible. It is our strong desire to be back on the air with our writers and we hope that will happen as soon as possible.”

And finally, CBS - which, you'll note, doesn't seem too unhappy about this development:

"We respect the intent of Worldwide Pants to serve the interests of its independent production company and its employees by seeking this interim agreement with the WGA. However, this development should not confuse the fact that CBS remains unified with the AMPTP, and committed to working with the member companies to reach a fair and reasonable agreement with the WGA that positions everyone in our industry for success in a rapidly changing marketplace."