The comedian appeared before his own union’s
trial committee yesterday to address charges of breaking strike rules brought against him.
Leno’s announcement last year that he would keep his own show going during the writers’ strike sent the union into a tizzy of protests.
His reason for doing so was that as a performer and was writing his own monologues, therefore not breaking any rules.
Guild leaders maintain that Leno violated strike rules, and union members are barred from performing or doing work that would otherwise be done by WGA members.
Leno is among the highest profile performers whose cases will be reviewed by the union board.
After all the star dust has settled and a full review of all the cases has occurred, possible penalties could include reprimands, fines and/or expulsion from the union.
