It took ‘em a while, but NBC is finally handing out a few back-nine orders — and methinks you guys will be very pleased with the recipients.

Sources confirm to me exclusively that the Peacock has picked up Chuck and Life for the full season. (Sorry, Jaime Sommers.)

What Chuck and Life have lacked in ratings might, they’ve more than made up for in buzz — a fact I’m reminded of every time I peer into my Ask Ausiello mailbag. That’s not to say that either show is tanking in the Nielsens. Chuck is holding its own in a tough Monday timeslot, while Life is showing signs of just that Wednesdays at 10 pm. In fact, last week it built on its sagging Bionic Woman lead-in for the first time in viewers and adults 18-49.

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I gave this show a try…but it was SO stupid!  I quit recording it ages ago, and that’s really saying something.

In its first dramatic move since the beginning of the Writers Guild strike, NBC has fired “nearly the entire production staff” of its struggling, late-night staple, “Saturday Night Live,” sources told Page Six.

One tipster says, ” ‘SNL’ laid off all their staff until further notice. Their production staff, even long-term employees, were let go.” Another source confirmed that “90 percent of the ‘SNL’ staff was fired.”

And while The Washington Post reported yesterday that NBC might lay staff off at Jay Leno’s “Tonight” show, “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and “Last Call With Carson Daly” – all of which immediately went into rerun mode on Nov. 5 – those staffers would at least get paid for two more weeks. But an insider confirmed to us that “SNL” staffers got no severance.

Although no official announcement had been made as of last night about firings at any of NBC’s late-night shows, multiple sources confirmed to us that “SNL” staffers learned of their axing yesterday morning. Reps for NBC declined comment.

Despite being scrooged out of their Christmas-season paychecks, the “SNL” crew still has a big heart. Playbill reports that the cast plans to perform a nontelevised show tonight at the New York Upright Citizens Brigade Theater on West 26th Street. Ticket proceeds from the sold-out performance, which was produced by Lorne Michaels, will benefit the Writers Guild’s strike fund.

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