• The Hollywood Reporter, Monday, December 17, 2007 10:45 AM

Jay Leno may have to sit idly on his couch and grit his teeth through a few "Top Ten" lists as writers for CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" could well be the first back on the job via an interim agreement Letterman's independent production company is working out with the union.

The deal would allow the late-night show to air again and Worldwide Pants' talks with the WGA might signal a new negotiation strategy, as the guild has decided to approach individual companies. "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," says Rob Burnett, CEO of Worldwide Pants. 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."

Late-night shows have been badly hurt by the strike, with ratings nosediving as the result of repeat. In some cases, hosts have been paying non-writing staffers on their own.

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