A “Tonight Show” Staffer Blasts Jimmy Fallon For Blowing Off A Pay Meeting Amid The Writers’ Strike
The Writers Guild of America is officially on strike after negotiations to combat low wages and other issues fell through with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents Hollywood’s major studios and streaming services who are basically wiping their asses with the money they make from the stories that came from writers. And in the war between the writers and big studios, the host of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon, has been called out by one of his staffers for teetering the picket line between WGA and AMPTP like a high-wire.
While writers are striking, TV production will gradually halt, so the first programs to take the hit will be talk shows since they rely on same-day, current-events-based comedy writing. So when Jimmy was asked how he felt about the strike at the Met Gala, he pandered to the people, “I wouldn’t have a show if it wasn’t for my writers, I support them all the way,” to which a staffer on his show was like hold the fuck up- this man DGAF because he never even showed up to the meeting where the writers were told they’re not getting paid. The staffer, Sarah Kobos, took to Twitter to put him on blast, according to The Daily Beast:
“He wasn’t even at the meeting this morning to tell us we won’t get paid after this week,” Sarah Kobos, who works as senior photo research coordinator for The Tonight Show, tweeted on Tuesday. She added, “@jimmyfallon please support your staff. Had fun bowling with ya last week, but a fun party won’t pay my rent.”
He wasn’t even at the meeting this morning to tell us we won’t get paid after this week. @jimmyfallon please support your staff. Had fun bowling with ya last week, but a fun party won’t pay my rent https://t.co/hbOqiXxdFb
— Sarah Kobos (@skobos) May 2, 2023
Meanwhile, talk show hosts like Seth Meyers are armoring up to help WGA writers by promising to “take care of his staff and crew after NBC stops paying” during his show’s meeting, which he actually showed up for! [Side eyes Jimmy] BUT WAIT! After being dragged for his no-show, Jimmy snapped into PR mode and turned up for the following Tonight Show meeting, making it up to his team by getting NBC to give them two weeks of pay while the show’s in strike purgatory plus he’s going to pay them for a third week out of his own pockets:
I have a very good update! We ended up having our production meeting this morn too and @jimmyfallon was there. He got NBC to give us a second week of pay, and he will be paying us himself for a third week. We also are going to have healthcare extended through Sept. ✊ Solidarity! https://t.co/yNPMsuFLgl
— Sarah Kobos (@skobos) May 3, 2023
Now Jimmy can pat himself on the back and virtue signal, “Power to the people!” while walking past the picket line on his way home from work.
Pic: INSTARImages