Report: 'Tonight Show' staff laid off

BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Staffers who work on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" have been laid off due to the Writers Guild of America strike, TMZ.com reported Friday.

The show has been shut down since the WGA went on strike Nov. 5.

A representative for Leno said the host has distributed his standard Christmas bonuses early to soften the blow. However, the publicist would not reveal how the money was distributed.

Sources tell TMZ.com staffers are disappointed Leno isn't doing more to help them and insulted he didn't say goodbye to them before they were laid off.

However, his representative said he couldn't cross the WGA picket line to speak to the ousted employees.

Leno's fellow late-night hosts, Conan O'Brien and David Letterman, have taken it upon themselves to make sure their staffs are paid during the work stoppage, the report said.