The nation's late-night comedy titans returned to air Jan. 2 after a two-month hiatus because of the writer's strike.  Though Writers Guild rules prohibit the hosts from using scripted monologues, sketches, or fictional characters,   Letterman returned with his writers after securing an independent deal.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorWed, 03 Dec 2008 22:49:08 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/43920/how-comedy-turned-serious.html?refid=rss_all_defaultPolitics and comedy are trading places, Lee Siegel writes in the Wall Street Journal , as the antics of politicians get more outlandish and comics are increasingly the people speaking truth to power. Fake newsmen like Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, with their stern commentary, lean more towards the "dark, piercing and wise" humor of Mark Twain than simple belly laughs, Seigel writes.http://www.newser.com/story/43920/how-comedy-turned-serious.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 28 Nov 2008 21:57:23 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/43675/last-calls-daly-to-be-a-dad.html?refid=rss_all_defaultCarson Daly is going to be a dad, People reports. The late-night talk show host is expecting his first child with girlfriend Siri Pinter. In a nod to Daly’s love of cycling, “Friends are already looking for bike helmets for the little one,” a rep said. The baby is due in early spring.http://www.newser.com/story/43675/last-calls-daly-to-be-a-dad.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 26 Nov 2008 6:03:48 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/43585/palins-top-10-excuses-for-ignoring-turkey-slaughter.html?refid=rss_all_defaultDavid Letterman couldn't let news of Sarah Palin's gruesome turkey farm visit fly past him without comment, the Huffington Post notes. Palin pardoned one turkey but was oblivious to others being slaughtered behind her during a TV interview last week. Among Letterman's Top 10 purported excuses for Palin's disregard of the gorefest:http://www.newser.com/story/43585/palins-top-10-excuses-for-ignoring-turkey-slaughter.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 25 Nov 2008 2:05:18 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/43462/sarah-palin-come-back-snl-needs-you.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWithout Sarah Palin and with a dull Barack Obama impression on its hands, Saturday Night Live is in election withdrawal, Alex Carnevale writes for Gawker. The show’s opening skit about congressional hearings on automaker bailouts was “less than hilarious,” and it “tried to squeeze jokes out of country singer and host Tim McGraw saying slightly unexpected things for an hour.”http://www.newser.com/story/43462/sarah-palin-come-back-snl-needs-you.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSun, 23 Nov 2008 13:34:55 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/43338/with-election-gone-snl-enters-rebuilding-phase.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe election may be over, but SNL still has 14 episodes to fill. Lorne Michaels says the show will be in one of its periodic "rebuilding" periods, but he has much praise for three new faces. Here's the lowdown, from USA Today : Abby Elliott: The daughter of former cast member Chris Elliott is only 21, but Michaels says "her sense of humor was clearly there."http://www.newser.com/story/43338/with-election-gone-snl-enters-rebuilding-phase.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 21 Nov 2008 13:19:59 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42517/fox-cancels-mad-tv.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMad TV will bid adieu after 14 seasons of Saturday night sketches, the final nail in its coffin coming from a failure to boost ratings during the presidential campaign, reports Defamer. Fox's Saturday Night Live competitor, which has been on the chopping block for years, will finish up the season before being relegated to DVD collections.http://www.newser.com/story/42517/fox-cancels-mad-tv.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 12 Nov 2008 16:46:25 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42410/mccain-to-leno-dont-blame-palin.html?refid=rss_all_defaultJohn McCain poked fun at himself and his campaign on Jay Leno tonight but refused to place blame for his loss on Sarah Palin or the media, Politico reports. "The one thing I think Americans don't want is a sore loser," said McCain. "I'm a fighter. I knew I had a headwind. I can read the polls. They tried to keep them away from me. But I knew we had a real headwind."http://www.newser.com/story/42410/mccain-to-leno-dont-blame-palin.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 11 Nov 2008 20:56:54 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42077/leno-gets-first-mccain-interview-on-veterans-day.html?refid=rss_all_defaultJohn McCain will help Jay Leno celebrate Veterans Day by appearing on NBC’s “Tonight Show,” Monsters & Critics reports today. The Tuesday appearance will mark the Republican’s first TV interview since his loss to Barack Obama in the Nov. 4 election.http://www.newser.com/story/42077/leno-gets-first-mccain-interview-on-veterans-day.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 07 Nov 2008 17:31:36 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42051/white-comics-lack-nuance-needed-to-mine-obama.html?refid=rss_all_defaultBill Maher recently said Barack Obama “needs to give comedians something to work with.” The President-elect is “too perfect,” he groused, and worse, liberals are afraid to laugh at black people. If only Dave Chappelle were working, laments Salamishah Tillet for the Root. He’d quickly prove Obama is plenty funny, if only white comedians learned the “cultural nuances of black America.”http://www.newser.com/story/42051/white-comics-lack-nuance-needed-to-mine-obama.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 07 Nov 2008 12:20:32 CST