Leno Scabbed on Own Show During Writers Strike: Union

The Writers Guild of America claims Jay Leno broke union rules when he hit the air with his own material during the 2007-08 strike, the Los Angeles Times reports. Leno denies wrongdoing. The accusation against the host, who was publicly supportive of striking writers, was kept mum until he appeared before the union’s trial committee yesterday. Leno could be expelled from the guild.

Leno cites a provision governing “material written by the person who delivers it on the air.” But the WGA says the provision applies only to performers not credited as writers, and that Leno broke rules by performing work usually done by striking writers, and, as a credited writer himself, he should not have been working at all during the strike. (More Jay Leno stories.)