Jimmy Kimmel, back with writers

I almost forgot Jimmy Kimmel. My bad. Kimmel returned to the airwaves, too, last night, and mentioned the writers right off the bat. Confetti dropped. Horns blared. "So sit back and get ready for top-notch professionally-made comedy," Kimmel said. "And I’ll let you know when it kicks in." He talked …

The Colbert Report, back with writers

Barack Obama has hope? "I hope I can get through this script," Stephen Colbert declares in the intro to Wednesday night’s show. Something he learned? "Reading is a muscle. And it can go soft on you." Also? "I was able to shave my strike beard. (pause for laughs) Downtown." And …

Late Night with Conan, back with writers

Conan O’Brien showed the most tact during the WGA strike, and unsurprisingly, he returned to the airwaves early Thursday morning "striking" just the right notes. As he did during the strike, he mentioned the return of his writers early in his monologue. "I just want to say personally, it’s great …

The Tonight Show, back with writers

Jay Leno is back, with a monologue written by Writers Guild members, still a wreck. He flubs an early joke saying Osama instead of Obama. Just great, Jay. Just great. So he blames it on the writers. Where is the improvement? "Are you sure the writers came back?" he cracks. …

The Daily Show, back with writers

First of multiple reports from the late-night TV landscape, post WGA strike. Jon Stewart mentioned the writers first thing, and the show reverted back from "A" Daily Show to The Daily Show…"I believe the finest writing staff in the business," he said. "It’s like Christmas morning. From what I’ve been …

30 Rock, The Office, Scrubs, SNL returns

NBC has announced that new episodes of 30 Rock and The Office will be back on the air starting Thursday, April 10. Scrubs, too, which means it will likely get a proper series finale, after all. Saturday Night Live, meanwhile, gets back into gear next week. Reportedly guest hosting Feb. …

Nate’s ode to Rififi

I feel like I’m living in a bizzaro world. While I’m running wild and free online, Nate Sloan runs his print comedy column streak to three in this week’s New York Press with an ode to Rififi. Makes me wonder if Nate and I are remaking Trading Places? If so, …

Leno, Larry and the 10-minute monologue

The good folks at New York magazine’s Vulture blog kindly deconstructed Jay Leno’s mind-boggling strike-breaking 10:18 monlogue from last night’s Tonight Show, which of course, you can relive on the Internet. Leno really must’ve wanted to show those writers a little what’s what, eh? In related news, Larry the Cable …

Writers back on Leno, Conan, Stewart, Colbert

The WGA strike officially over, writers expected to report back to work today. So tune in tonight to see how Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert all address their respective returns. Will the writers have anything to say on-air about their hosts trying to go on without …