Leno faces backlash from striking writers
US chat show host Jay Leno is facing a backlash from laid-off members of his 'Tonight Show' staff - after failing to pay them a regular salary amid the ongoing writers' strikes.
Unlike colleagues David Letterman and Conan O'Brien, Leno - who makes an estimated $27m (€18.4m) a year - has refused to offer staff of his late night show their normal paycheques after they were laid off on Friday, according to the New York Daily News.
TV network NBC stopped paying all non-striking show members - around 100 of them - who have not been able to work for almost a month since the action began.
As a result, 'Late Night' host Conan O'Brien was prompted to step up and pay staff out of his own pocket to avoid backlash.
David Letterman did the same - agreeing to pay his staff regular salaries until the end of the year.
While a spokesman for Leno confirmed he had not offered to pay worker's salaries, he was keen to point out the comic has distributed "substantial" bonuses this week that he claimed amounted to almost $500,000 (€340,989) combined. However, individual bonuses have been as little as $100 (€68.19), it has been claimed.
The layoffs at 'Tonight' are the latest casualties in the ongoing battle between the Writers Guild of America and show producers.
The strike immediately shut down the late-night comedy shows and has gradually shut down the production of network-produced prime-time series.
