On Tuesday night, a group of striking writers (including some well known names, including one Oscar-nominated screenwriter and one creator of a TV cult series) infiltrated and interrupted a taping of NBC's Last Call With Carson Daly. This may well have been the first time the show wasn't boring if it had aired.
Carson, of course, was the controversial first of the late night network hosts to return to the airwaves during the WGA labor action because NBC threatened to cancel his show. (Talent-free Daly is not a member of the WGA unlike the other hosts.) During an interview with former NFL great Jerry Rice, a WGA member incognito in the audience heckled Daly, claiming he “needed a writer” to ask better questions. Production assistants and NBC security swooped down on the scribe and escorted him from the building. The writer didn't resist.
A clearly disconcerted Daly asked whether Rice would be willing to start the interview over again, which he was. After reintroducing Rice to the audience, who repeated their cheers, Daly was horrified when another incognito writer stood up and loudly declared: “I feel so bad for the striking writers! Can I please leave?” The scribe also pointed out Daly’s use of cue cards and asked who was writing the show now. NBC security, still expelling the first troublemaker, instantly scrambled back into the studio, then hurriedly ejected three more WGA members from the audience. Daly, now visibly rattled, had no impromptu comment to offer the perplexed audience. Rice was also upset because he was perplexed, audibly asking: “What’s going on?” A tense Daly responded with a nod, saying darkly: “I know what this is about.” After that, someone associated with the production took the stage to declare, “Anyone else interrupting the show will be prosecuted” and urged “any other striking writers” in the crowd to “leave now.” Over 20 people -- though some sources say just 5 -- scattered throughout the stands dutifully shuffled out. The audience gasped. Daly paled. Ironically, one member of this departing group had been given a prize moments earlier for being “such a great audience member.” The award was a gift certificate to El Pollo Loco. Moments later, a traumatized Daly asked Rice whether he’d “mind starting the interview again.” For the 3rd time.
Quoting Donald Glover
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