Originally published Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Letterman's company to seek deal with writers
David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, jumped Saturday at the chance to negotiate independently with the Writers Guild of...
Los Angeles Times
NEW YORK — David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, jumped Saturday at the chance to negotiate independently with the Writers Guild of America (WGA), saying it was eager to make a deal with its writers and get new episodes of its late-night shows back on the air.
The move by Worldwide Pants, which produces the "Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," could bolster the union's efforts to break apart the alliance of studios and networks with which it has been at loggerheads.
Hours after the union told members it would try to break the logjam by dealing with individual companies, Worldwide Pants Chief Executive Rob Burnett said the company would take the guild up on its offer.
"Because we are an independent production company, we are able to pursue an interim agreement with the Guild without involving CBS in that pursuit," Burnett said.
Guild officials did not have an immediate response as to how quickly negotiations with the company could proceed.
Talks broke off Dec. 7 after the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, insisted it would not bargain further unless the union dropped proposals that included the authority to unionize writers on reality shows and animation projects.
Both sides in the strike, which began Nov. 5, have said the central issue is compensation for programs, movies and other content streamed or downloaded over the Internet.
On Saturday, guild officials sent their members a letter detailing their new strategy, which they plan to present to individual studios Monday.
A spokesman for studio group dismissed the union's tactic, saying the guild was "grasping for straws."
Material from The Associated Press is included in this report.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Seattle Symphony looks to 'Final Fantasy' to help score points with young audiences
NEW - 03:41 PM
Movie review: Well-acted 'Humpday' delivers fresh take on friendship
Movie review: "Brüno" struts his stuff to hilariously expose intolerance
NEW - 03:31 PM
Movie review: In 'The Hurt Locker,' a complicated hero addicted to the rush of war
NEW - 03:33 PM
Movie review: "Management": A romantic comedy not living up to its potential

Gen. David Petraeus: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Watch highlights of General David Petraeus discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan War at the Global Leadership Series sponsored by the World Affairs Council.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping

events for Thursday, Jul. 9th
- South Lake Union Farmers Market
- IKEA Summer Sale
- Impulse + Totokaelo Spring Inventory...
- Market Street Shoes and Market Street...
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- UW Football | Tailbacks David Freeman, Brandon Johnson ineligible
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- Drunken man shocks Spain with his generosity
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Experts work to untangle US, Korea cyber attack
- Nickels gives City Light chief $40,000 bonus
- Coffee City | New "sexpresso" stand coming to Ballard
- Mass. files lawsuit against federal marriage law
907 - Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
602 - Health-plan costs soar for individuals
392 - Mariners game thread, July 8
186 - Judges strike broad ban on Washington's Plan B rules
157 - Teen charged in pit bull attacks ordered held after pleading not guilty
139 - Sheriff's Office: Man not armed when fatally shot by deputy
119 - Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
76 - Pay parking in West Seattle?
68 - Wednesday night notes
66
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- Rick Steves' Europe | Beware of new and classic travel scams
- Happy Hour | Ruth's Chris has super rib-eye sliders and quality cocktails
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- All You Can Eat | "Top Chef": Seattle chefs tapped for Bravo knife fight in Vegas!
- Grab the kids and hop on Amtrak for a stress-free getaway to Portland
- All You Can Eat | Oceanaire files bankruptcy, shutters Seattle, former chefs weigh in
