Strike update: Leno and Conan to return to work

Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien are returning to work, despite the ongoing TV writers’ strike.

NBC made the announcement on Monday.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O'Brien will resume broadcasting new shows on January 2, 2008. The shows have been broadcasting reruns since November 5.

Leno and O’Brien have been among the many supporters of the striking writers and will continue to support the writers, they say. O’Brien was quoted as saying his show “may very well be terrible” without his writing staff.


The bottom line is that Leno and O’Brien are comedians, so I’m betting that they can come up with enough jokes to entertain us. I’m curious though as to how many guests will actually be booked, as many celebrities refuse to cross picket lines.

No word yet on whether David Letterman will return.