the "charlie rose" show settled with bickerton and about 40 other interns for back pay.also abolished its internship program. "since they weren't performing work," said attorney lyle zuckerman, "these lawsuits will do nothing but deprive students of real educational opportunities." eliastam's case is in its early stages. but the news is that nbc- universal has begun paying all of its interns. rachel bien, lawyer for all three clients, says their cases promise not just to help interns, but workers in general. >> if interns are able to get the minimum wage, that's going to help people who are farther up the totem pole as well. >> reporter: and give students who can't afford to work for free a shot at opportunities otherwise out of reach. but at least one former unpaid intern thinks the lawsuits, and their success, is a setback for his generation. >> a lot of these disgruntled interns are really just trying to make a splash in the media. >> reporter: michael moroney works at the franklin center, a conservative group in alexandria, v.a., which has lots of interns, though all