Just got back from the market to a whole batch of e-mails asking me what I think of news that David Letterman's company, Worldwide Pants, has made an interim deal with the Writers Guild. I think you'd have to look at the terms of that deal to decide if it's a good thing for the WGA. If it establishes some meaningful gain that advances the ball on the issues that matter in the current strike, it's great. If it just means that CBS gets back one of its major points of profit, then I don't think much of it.
There is a slight potential bit of division possible within the Guild if some writers go back to work while most are hiking about with signs. I don't think it will divide us in any significant way if it seems like the interim contract will help our mission, even a little. Some members will complain but the WGA can't hire a new janitor without someone complaining. Most will see it as a good thing, especially if Letterman's ratings show a clear advantage over his competition, and if Dave's on every night speaking of Network Weasels. If the Guild can field a few more of these, it will do a lot to combat the AMPTP claim that it's impossible to make a deal with us.