Strike Update: TV Goes To The Stage & Internet

As the Hollywood writers strike closes out its second full week, the prospects of a settlement between the writers and the studios do not look any brighter.

Yet, the grim situation has not stopped some writers from getting their work out to the people in non-traditional ways which do not break the strike rules.

Writers from “The Daily Show” are producing a strike version of the show from the strike picket lines on streets of New York City. This bare bones version of the show doesn’t have Jon Stewart, but is still laugh out loud funny.

In another attempt to keep their shows alive, the stars behind “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” will be performing versions of their shows at the New York Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Nov. 17 and 19.

“Saturday Night Live” will feature a collection of favorite sketches, hosted by Michael Cera, the star of “Superbad” and the upcoming “Juno.” The musical guest will be Yo La Tengo. The entire current cast of “SNL” has been confirmed for the 11:30PM performance on Nov. 17.

The live performance of “30 Rock,” scheduled for Nov. 19 at 8PM, will feature the complete cast of “30 Rock,” including Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski and Alec Baldwin. The cast is scheduled to perform a live version of an episode from the NBC series.

All proceeds from the live performances will benefit the production crews of both shows.

Could your favorite late-night talk show be coming back before the strike ends?

According to a report in Variety, reps for the “‘Late Show with David Letterman,‘ ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ and ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’ have been engaging in secret backchannel conversations with each other about when it might be appropriate for their hosts to return to their studios.”

The three major late-night talk show hosts want to be respectful of the striking writers, but are concerned about the impact the strike could have on their non-WGA staffs.

The WGA responded to the rumored late-night talk shows returning, telling Access, “Late night hosts who are WGA members are prohibited by our strike rules from performing writing services. As many of the hosts have themselves commented, it is extremely difficult to produce first-rate shows without writers.”

Today, the striking writers will get some help from presidential hopeful, John Edwards, who is scheduled to join the picket lines in front of NBC studios.