- Hollywood Writers to Protest Drew Barrymore’s Talk Show
- Barrymore’s Response and Commitment to Strike Guidelines
- Impact of the Strike on Hollywood Productions and Show’s Return
Hollywood writers on strike have stated that they will protest Drew Barrymore’s talk show when it returns later this month.
The actress and television hostess stated that the return of the program would adhere to the guidelines of the Sag-Aftra and Writers Guild of America (WGA) strikes.
She stated that the series “may bear my name, but this is bigger than me.”
In response, the WGA stated, “The Guild will continue to picket struck shows that are in production during the strike.”
The guild has been on strike since the beginning of May, and actors joined them in July due to concerns over pay, working conditions, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the industry.
WGA spokesman Jason Gordon stated to Vanity Fair, “The Drew Barrymore Show is a WGA-covered struck television program.” It has been off the air since the 2nd of May, when the writers’ strike began, but has (unfortunately) decided to return without its writers.”
However, although writers will not work on the program when it returns, Variety noted, that Barrymore’s employment as a performer on The Drew Barrymore Show is not a violation of current strike rules.
The CBS programme has a different Sag-Aftra deal. Union members renewed and ratified the contract that encompasses talk shows, game shows, variety shows, and soap operas last year.
When the program returned, Barrymore stated that it would not “discuss or promote film and television that is subject to a strike of any kind.”
In May, Barrymore resigned as presenter of the MTV Film and Television Awards in solidarity with the striking WGA members.
In an Instagram post, she explained: “It was in direct conflict with the strike’s focus on studios, streaming services, film, and television.
“Also, it was the first week of the strike, so I did what I believed to be appropriate at the time to show solidarity with the writers.”
She continued, “I am also deciding to return for the first time during this strike for our show, which may bear my name, but this is about more than just me.”
“I own my decision,” she emphasized.
Barrymore, who rose to prominence as a child actress in the 1980s after starring in E.T., also clarified that the last season of her show ended on April 20, meaning that it never had to shut down during the strikes, which began a few weeks later.
In general, talk programs employ fewer writers than scripted programs.
Barrymore stated that she anticipated the return of her show would “provide what writers do so well, which is a means of bringing us together or making sense of the human experience.
However, one writer, David Guggenheim, commented on her post: “You will bring us writers together tomorrow when we picket your show.”
Since the strikes began, production on a number of the world’s most popular films and television programs has been halted.
