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· Following NBC's Monday announcement that it's sending Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien back to work without writers, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel is the next late-night domino to fall, as he'll join his competitors in producing scribe-free shows on January 2nd. The now-obligatory "I support the cause but I don't want the rest of the staff losing their jobs" back-to-work statement: "Though it makes me sick to do so without my writers, there are more than 100 people whose financial well-being depends on our show. It is time to go back to work. I support my colleagues and friends in the WGA completely and hope this ends both fairly and soon." [THR]
· Universal's State of Play, which recently weathered an acting upgrade/heartthrob downgrade when Russell Crowe replaced a fleeing Brad Pitt, is now officially troubled™: Ed Norton has also left the project, and up-and-coming director Ben Affleck is now "in talks" to resume his acting career by taking Norton's place. [Variety]

· Just a few days after threatening it would begin its own negotiations with the AMPTP shortly after the new year if the writers and studios didn't get their bargaining shit together immediately, the DGA is now offering to share its research on new media compensation with the WGA. [Variety]
· NBC and ABC's strike-proof primetime schedule spackle, Clash of the Choirs and Duel, respectively, bomb in their debuts. [THR]
· Guy Oseary, superstar manager to the likes of Madonna and David Blaine, signs the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez to his client roster, agreeing to "help him have more control of [the] image and brand" he seems to fuck up at every opportunity. [Variety]