Name: Dave's Fun Facts: WGA Strike Edition | Letterman
Uploaded: 2023-09-20T15:00:37.000Z
Description: Watch the stand-up comedy video 'Dave's Fun Facts: WGA Strike Edition | Letterman' from Letterman on Comedy Buff. Published 2023-09-20. Transcript available.

Watch the stand-up comedy video 'Dave's Fun Facts: WGA Strike Edition | Letterman' from Letterman on Comedy Buff. Published 2023-09-20. Transcript available.

These all have to do with striking because of the Writers Guild.
Every time I see myself on the monitor, I think,
oh, look, they gave General Grant a show.
But it's you.
In 2006, there were 11,397 members of the Writers Guild of America.
Wow, that's a pretty good-sized body of people to be out of work because of the
strike.
Although the Writers Guild of America East is affiliated with the AFL-CIO,
the Writers Guild of America West is not.
Is not.
Why would there not be a dual affiliation there? Anybody know?
It probably incorporated at different times.
That's a good thought, yeah, probably.
The last strike by the Writers Guild in 1988 lasted 21 weeks and six days.
I remember that. You remember that one, Paul?
We were in that strike.
Yeah, we sure were.
Yes.
Until 1971, the chief labor negotiator for the AMPTP, those are the producers,
chief negotiator for the producers was Monty Hall.
No kidding.
Monty Hall, yeah.
Let's make a deal, that guy.
Exactly right.
Now listen to this.
If the strike lasts longer than three months, it is decided by a coin toss.
Well, we know that there's a way to put an end to it.
I don't know why I have to wait three months.
I got a coin right here.
Let's go.
Well, I don't think it would count.
Oh, all right.
I think you have to be a representative of the producers of the Writers Guild.
I'm not.
Well, then it wouldn't count.
But you have a coin.
I have a coin.
I'm not a member of the guild.
That's all right.
Hang on to the coin.
The most frequently asked question on the picket line is, are those donuts for
everyone?
There is no T. I'm sorry.
There is no I in Teamsters.
Of course there is a T.
There is a T at the very beginning.
Until 1958, now listen to this.
I didn't realize this.
This is fascinating.
Until 1958, television and film writers were paid in saltwater taffy.
During an average day of picketing in New York City, 15 writers are mugged.
That seems about right.
Thanks to webcam technology, many striking writers now telepicket from their
own homes.
Of the 12,000 members of the Writers Guild, most work for law and order
programs.
That's probably true.
During the last eight weeks of the writer's strike, Dave Letterman spent much
of his time on a tree.
That is true.
That is absolutely true.
You were building a tree house.
Building a tree house.
Yes, I am.
I'm building a tree house.
Most negotiations break off because the two sides can't agree on appetizers.
They should just share appetizers.
Just get a lot of appetizers.
I know.
Just have them bring out something.
Share family style.
That's what you call family style.
That's right.
You know what I would like is just a little dish of pasta with like a simple
red sauce.
Just simple.
That's all you want.
That's right.
Tomato, basil, maybe a little parmesan.
A little basil, yeah.
That's all I want.
That's all you want.
I'll take care of it next time.
Okay, thanks.
Mr. Letterman, this is all he wants.
Just simple, some pasta.
That's right, yeah.
A little sauce, tomato sauce, some basil, garlic.
That's it.
That's all I'm looking for.
Simple.
Yeah.
Yeah.
During the height of his popularity, Elvis Presley received 10,000 pieces of
mail a day
or half as much as Nicky Fink at Deadline Hollywood Daily.
I remember Nicky Fink.
She broke that story a while ago.
I'm going to go right to the bottom of the pile.
Turn all the cards over.
Put everybody out of their misery.
All right.
Yeah, I'm going to turn it over.
Even if the strike ended tomorrow, people still wouldn't know what the hell was
happening
on Lost.
Lost.