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Letterman Gets Last Laugh; His Writers To Return First

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 29, 2007

After eight weeks of reruns, David Letterman should be in a joking mood Wednesday: Not only does he join his late-night brethren back on the air, but he'll have his writers backing him up.

So Dave was the last to announce his return. Big deal - now the joke's on Jay, Conan and the other writer-less hosts.

An interim agreement with the Writers Guild of America will allow the full writing staffs for "Late Show with David Letterman" as well as "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" to return to work, even as the Hollywood writers strike continues to shutter much TV and movie production. It could prove to be a huge advantage for both these CBS late-night shows, which are produced by the Letterman-owned Worldwide Pants.

NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" as well as ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" have announced they would resume Wednesday without benefit of their writing teams. (Letterman goes head-to-head against Leno, as well as the first half-hour of Kimmel's show.)

Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert" planned to return writer-less on Jan. 7.

Brandy Cleared In Fatal 2006 Wreck

The Los Angeles city attorney's office said Friday it will not charge Brandy in a deadly December 2006 freeway crash.

Spokesman Nick Velasquez said there is "insufficient evidence" for a jury to find the 28-year-old actress-singer guilty of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter beyond a reasonable doubt.

The decision runs counter to a recommendation from the California Highway Patrol that Brandy, whose real name is Brandy Norwood, be charged in the Dec. 30, 2006, crash.

Brandy was driving on a Los Angeles freeway when traffic slowed and her Land Rover smashed into the back of a Honda. The driver, 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, died in the accident.

And The Oscar Goes To ... Ask A Lawyer

Lawyers will decide who gets these Academy Awards. A judge has ordered mediation in a lawsuit over two Oscars presented to Mary Pickford and a third given to Charles "Buddy" Rogers, who was married to the actress.

If the mediation ordered Friday fails, a trial will be held next year.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is suing heirs of Rogers' second wife, Beverly, to prevent the public sale of the statuettes.

Pickford won the Academy Award for best actress in 1930 for "Coquette." She received an honorary Oscar in 1976. Rogers won a humanitarian award Oscar in 1986.

San Juan Street Festival Honors Martin

A decades-old street festival in San Juan's colonial district will dedicate its 2008 celebration to Ricky Martin.

Martin's international singing career and charitable work for children will be saluted at the San Sebastian Street Festival, which kicks off Jan. 17 in the Puerto Rican community of San Juan, organizers announced Thursday.

The ex-Menudo member long has been one of Puerto Rico's top-selling artists. His hits include "Livin' la Vida Loca" and "She Bangs."

Today's Birthdays

Actor Clarence Swensen is 90. Actress Mary Tyler Moore is 70. Actor Ted Danson is 60. Comedian Paula Poundstone is 48. Actor Jude Law is 35. Actor Mekhi Phifer is 33. Actor Diego Luna is 28.

Source: The Associated Press

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