Writers to picket late-night shows

NEW YORK, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Picket lines will be set up outside late-night talk shows that go back on the air without their striking writers, the Writers Guild of America East announced.

The WGA has been on strike against U.S. TV networks and Hollywood film studios since Nov. 5.

While the guild reached an independent agreement that allows "Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" to return to the air Wednesday with their writing staffs, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" are poised to return the same night without their striking writers.

"Leno, O'Brien and Kimmel are all members of the guild and have been and continue to be extremely supportive of our strike and their writing staffs. For that, we truly are grateful,"

WGA East President Michael Winship said in a letter posted on the WGA East Web site.

"It's a difficult and painful decision, but the Guilds East and West have determined that we will picket outside the studios of these programs, beginning Jan. 2," Winship said. "Our picket will not be of the hosts themselves, but the companies for which their shows are produced."