The late-night talk shows of Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien will be the first to return to production despite the ongoing strike by Hollywood screenwriters.

The U.S. network NBC announced Monday that the two programs would return to the air with new episodes as of Jan. 2, but without material written by the shows' striking members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

Despite the ongoing writers' strike, Jay Leno will resume production on his show, with new episodes to air as of Jan. 2, NBC announced Monday.
(Associated Press)

"Both Jay and Conan have supported their writers during the first two months of this WGA strike and will continue to support them," Rick Ludwin, executive vice-president, late night and primetime series for NBC, said in a statement.

"However, there are hundreds of people who will be able to return to work as a result of Jay's and Conan's decision."

The late-night shows were among the first casualties of the strike that began Nov. 5, with programs such as Leno's The Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien immediately going into reruns.

A return to production was expected around the two-month mark based on the precedent set by the late talk-show icon Johnny Carson, who returned to work two months into the 1988 writers' strike.

The latest session of talks between the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down on Dec. 8. The major issue at the table is compensation for content distributed over the internet and on other digital media.

The guild announced on the weekend its intention to approach and deal with individual production companies that are willing to negotiate, including Worldwide Pants, the production company of Leno's late-night rival Dave Letterman. The group also produces The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

However, the heads of Hollywood's film and TV studios signed a statement of unity on Sunday.

With files from the Associated Press