I am – Hercules!!

It looks like David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants could be the first to break away from the AMPTP to strike a deal with the writers’ guild that could put CBS’ “The Late Show” and “The Late Late Show” back in production.

From Monday morning’s Variety:

Letterman’s production banner owns the CBS latenighters “Late Show With David Letterman” and “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson,” and the company confirmed Saturday that it is seeking an interim agreement, separate from CBS, that could put the shows back into active production early next month.

A much better tactic, perhaps, than the one employed by Carson Daly, who rushed NBC’s “Last Call” talk show back into production without WGA writers. A report from an eyewitness and longtime AICN contributor:

Last night a group of striking writers, including a couple of recognizable names, infiltrated a taping of “Last Call With Carson Daly.” The program was wrapping up the final two episodes of the season before going dark for the rest of the year.

During an interview with former NFL great Jerry Rice, a writer pretending to be an audience member heckled Daly, claiming he “needed a writer” to ask better questions. Production assistants and NBC security swooped upon the scribe and escorted him, without resistance, from the building.

A clearly disconcerted Daly asked whether Rice would be willing to start the interview over again, which he did.

After reintroducing Rice to the audience, who replicated their cheers, 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, plaintively asking who was writing the show now.

NBC security, still expelling the first troublemaker, instantly scrambled back into the studio, then hurriedly ejected three more.

Daly, visibly rattled, appropriately enough had no witty impromptu comments to offer the perplexed audience. Rice was also addled, audibly asking: “What’s going on?” A tense Daly responded with a nod, only offering: “I know what this is about.”

After that, someone associated with the production took the stage and declared: “Anyone else interrupting the show will be prosecuted.” This same person also advised “any other striking writers” in the crowd to “leave now.”

Over twenty people scattered throughout the stands rose and dutifully shuffled out. The audience gasped at this. Daly visibly paled.

Ironically, one of this departing group had been awarded a prize moments earlier for being “such a great audience member.” The prize was a gift certificate to El Pollo Loco.

Moments later, a traumatized Daly asked Rice whether he’d “mind starting the interview again.”

The AMPTP walked away from talks with the WGA last week after reportedly offering the WGA a “take it or leave it” deal that the WGA did not take.

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