Although I'm of the opinion that someone is, in some way, helping to write late-night TV despite the supposition that there are no writers during the strike (I simply have a hard time buying that everything is improvised, or that the hosts are writing all their material with no help), there is a certain amusement in seeing what zaniness can become possible when one is forced to put on a TV show while hamstrung without one's WGA-card-carrying staffers.

Check this beating the shit out of each other out (Fig. 1).

Specifically, I'm talking about the mock feud between Stephen Colbert, Conan O'Brien, and Jon Stewart that started a few weeks ago and eventually took on a life of its own. It centers on the question of who "made" Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, with each late-night talk-show host taking credit for the success of Huckabee's campaign, and leading to a battle of goofy one-upmanship.

The "feud" culminated Monday with all three talk-show hosts appearing on each of the other's shows, ending on Conan's show with a hilariously pointless slapstick free-for-all that reminds you how random Three Stooges mock violence becomes possible amid a desperate attempt to fill time. I must say, this is a good example of turning your restrictions into strengths and using comic teamwork to pull off a multi-show stunt gag.

I won't explain any more because the video is explanation enough. Go watch it.