Other talk shows join The Drew Barrymore Show in ignoring the WGA strike
The Talk and other daytime talk shows are joining The Drew Barrymore Show in resuming production without union writers
Aux News The Drew Barrymore Show
Drew Barrymore recently announced that she’s going to be crossing the WGA picket line starting next week when her eponymous talk show returns, claiming that she will be “in compliance” with strike rules by “not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck” and that she will be “there to provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us make sense of the human experience.”
But, to be clear, she will be doing that without union writers, despite the fact that her show is covered by the WGA, meaning anybody who writes for The Drew Barrymore Show is a scab and that anyone who improvises an interview question or a monologue joke in lieu of using a writer is also a scab because they’re replacing work that should be done by union writers. But sure, “bring us together.”
It sucks, and Barrymore has been getting rightfully roasted for it since the announcement, with WGA members picketing outside of CBS’ offices for more than eight hours on today. Surprisingly, though, the negative response wasn’t enough to stop some other daytime talk shows from deciding to cross the picket lines as well, with The Hollywood Reporter saying that The Talk, The Jennifer Hudson Show, and Sherri will all resume production soon despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. THR says that The Talk and The Jennifer Hudson Show are WGA shows that used WGA writers in the past—meaning anyone who writes (or does not write) for them during the strikes will be scabbing—but that Sherri Shepherd’s Sherri does not (though it’s still gross and an insult to the striking workers to go back into production now).
THR notes that all of the hosts are in compliance with SAG-AFTRA rules when it comes to hosting, since these talk shows are covered by a different contract than the one that the struck studios use, but that does not give them free rein to just ignore the WGA and the striking writers like this. These past few months should’ve made it clear to everyone in this business that nothing of value can exist without writers, whether it’s a major Hollywood blockbuster, a thoughtful news article, or The Talk.
43 Comments
By far the worst part about this strike is the Drew Barrymore Show going on hiatus, so this is excellent news.
Had exactly the opposite reaction. I will boycott Drew forever now. But what makes me sad is that I haven’t ACTUALLY had to boycott anything good since the gosh darned 1970s (Nestle chocolate and grapes, children). Drew is definitely the Coors beer or Discover credit card of film and tv; she’s never been in a watchable movie and there has never, ever been a watchable daytime talk show.
Remember: Stewart, Colbert and others were doing their shows during the LAST strike in ‘07-08
Yep, and being praised for putting their crews back to work. Maybe it’s different because now it’s women doing it?
I don’t know that they were being praised. I definitely remember some people being upset that they went back to doing their shows, and the narrative that they were doing it to put their crew back to work coming from the shows themselves. But maybe I misremember the final consensus.
If putting on a bad show to remind people of the value of writers is what it takes to get everyday consumers to demand the AMPTP return the negotiating table, then I’m behind it.
I’m sure there’s more behind the scenes as well. Like, the set crews aren’t on strike. There could also be contractual obligations for X number of shows with crazy penalties where even being ‘here so I don’t get fined’ beats shutting down.This backlash just seems -really- harsh compared to last time.
“Maybe it’s different because now it’s women doing it?”
Fuck you.
This isnt Jezebel. Nobody gives a shit about bitches here
That’s because they were contractually obligated to do the shows and did them without any writers at all, improvising everything. If Drew was returning to her show because it was a contractual thing and she stated this up front, that would be one thing, but from what I’ve heard, it doesn’t appear so.
Drew Barrymore said she was owning the decision because it was bigger than just her. It is being reported that CBS which distributes the show gave her an ultimatum to either go back or the show would be cancelled and the crew laid off.She is contractually obligated to appear under the Netcode contract.
Adding to this, from what I understand, Colbert and Stewart were paying their writers out of their own pocket, as was Conan.
Please stop with spreading this. In 07 there was a loophole that allowed the late night shows to continue. This has since been cleared up BECAUSE of what those shows did in 07:https://x.com/slack2thefuture/status/1701122664172273879?s=20
Except last time, there was no writing either. They came in cold and did improv. So…that doesn’t clear anything up.
The shows in 07 were not considered to be in violation of strike rules by the WGA because there was a loophole exempting talk show writing. Those shows coming back to work were not considered scabbing because they were not breaking the rules that existed at the time. These types of talk shows are now covered under WGA strike rules and bringing them back without writers is scabbing. This is why the WGA is calling attention to it now when they didn’t then.
And yet with more shows now filming, it feels like there’s more to the story than what -one side- is telling us. Everyone knows what they’re doing; they’re not idiots.
Remember: Comedy Central forced Stewart and Colbert to return to their shows during the LAST strike in ‘07-08, despite the fact that they didn’t want to and that they supported the strike publicly and privately.
It’s exceedingly easy to find quotes from both of them talking about how they didn’t want to return without their writers but were being forced to.
If I remember, didn’t Letterman negotiate a contract with the WGA that allowed him reopen with union writers?
The difference – to me, anyway – is that I believe these talk shows are coming back because they are marginal performers who see a real opportunity to capitalize on the entertainment vacuum caused by the strike. Colbert, Conan, Stewart, et al., on the other hand, were leaders in their category. And I understand how the latter coming back on the air in ‘07 would rankle and infuriate strikers, but I personally believe there was something to their statements about keeping their staffs solvent over the duration, both because of the kind of people they are off the air and because they each spent time on each other’s shows (cross-network) to pass the time. Probably quite naive of me, and it’s a fair point.But it seems to me that this latest round of scabbery is wholly opportunistic – none of the shows that are going back into production are top-performing ones and, to be brutally honest, they have all been fighting for the same scraps of attention bandwidth in the past. So coming back online during the strike is, to me, a completely cynical and exploitative move to try and gain ground at the expense of solidarity.
LMAO so much for solidarity. The millionaires are quietly going back to work with their tails between their legs. This was the only possible conclusion.
Die bitch
The approximately five minutes of her show that I watched were unbearable.And because I think it’s funny I’m sharing this comment from someone who knows the show well: “It’s on the TV at work whenever I go on break. It’s the only channel we get clearly and I’m thinking about lighting the TV on fire.”
I don’t know where this person works but I wish to whomever that doctor’s offices and hospital waiting rooms would get rid of the flat screen tvs because there is always something so egregious on them that I’m convinced it’s just passive aggression on the staff’s part.
At one clinic where I worked, my work space was just around the corner from the children’s waiting area. They showed the same Dora the Explorer DVD on a loop for weeks at one point. There’s only so many times a human can endure hearing that “Come On, Vamanos” song in one day.
:O !!!
My god – I cannot imagine
I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map, I’m the map …
For some reason my doctors and dentists like to play that home renovation channel, which I guess is neutral, although there is a limit to how often you can deal with people talking about swapping the location of their kitchen and living room.
Oh yes, I’ve seen so many ‘flippers’. I spent two hours in the ER being subjected to ‘Wrestling’. Personally, I detest that but I don’t think anyone should have to deal with that annoying MC screaming his narratives while hairy sweaty guys toss each other around. It would give a person a seizure.
Acting like this is a black and white issue and Barrymore (along with these other hosts) are terrible is incredibly absurd. These shows didn’t rely on much writing and can clearly get by without it. And they’re putting hundreds of crew members back to work.As somebody who works in Los Angeles, in the film industry, these strikes are absolute killers. Yes I support the writers. And the actors. And I do support them over giant corporations. Do I think the writers are in the right about everything? Nope. But that’s not the point. At the same time, for the thousands upon tens of thousands of people who work in this industry who aren’t part of the couple powerful unions, a six month work stoppage is a backbreaking scenario with no future payoff ever to come. So maybe just consider that, slightly, when attacking these silly morning shows for going back to work.
I get that this headline gets more click, but to reiterate what was already said about Drew Barrymore: All of the on-screen talent for these shows are not subject to the strike. Drew Barrymore, Sherri Shepherd, Jennifer Hudson, whoever currently hosts The Talk are all under the SAG-AFTRA Netcode contract and REQUIRED by their union to work. This is also true of all actors and actresses on soap operas currently filming with scab writers. Also as always, sloppy reporting by the AV Club – Jennifer Hudson had mixed writers room where some writers were WGA and some were not. They are returning with the writers who are not WGA. This is also true of The View which has already been back for a while. Drew Barrymore and The Talk were the only two with all WGA writers and they will be doing the SAME THING the Late Night hosts did last time and were praised for.
The late night hosts were paying their writers from their own pockets while they kept striking. No evidence any of the folks in this article will be doing that.
That doesn’t change that they were required to go back to work. The same is true here. Netcode SAG-AFTRA members have to work.
There was a loophole that allowed the Late Night hosts to work last time. That loophole was closed since then. There’s been plenty of comments explaining why it was different back then.
Those comments are not accurate. There was no loophole. On air talent for talk shows are represented by the Netcode SAG-AFTRA contract and studios can require them to return to work. Per Vulture at the outset of the strike: “These shows are technically allowed to remain on air according to WGA rules, but if they do, they’ll bear little resemblance to the shows you know and love. They’ll feature no monologues or prewritten sketches and desk bits — just guest interviews and other unscripted passages of time.” There is nothing that stops them from returning. They aren’t returning because actors are also on strike so they have no guests. The only loophole not being allowed this time is interim agreements – Letterman was the only one who signed an interim agreement to use his WGA writers. While it is true the late night hosts largely paid their writers’ salaries, that was not a requirement for going on air, even if it is seen as the moral high ground.
Then why wouldn’t she just say that? Her exact words were “I own this decision.” It’s been two days of intense backlash and she didn’t bother to mention that she’s contractually obligated to come back. I’ve seen so much conflicting information on this strike I really feel like nobody actually knows what they’re talking about and the rules are completely arbitrary.
Her statement was much longer than one phrase.Among the other things she said:“…our talk show actually wrapped on April 20th so we never shut down the show. However, I am making the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but is bigger than just me.
I own this choice. We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind.”Emphasis mine. Awkward punctuation Drew’s. CBS (who owns and distributes the show) then said the following: “[the talk show] will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike.”This is per Vulture from the 2007 strike relating to the Late Night shows (emphasis mine): “These shows are technically allowed to remain on air according to WGA rules, but if they do, they’ll bear little resemblance to the shows you know and love. They’ll feature no monologues or prewritten sketches and desk bits — just guest interviews and other unscripted passages of time.”The rules aren’t completely arbitrary and there are some very clear facts here:Drew Barrymore is covered under the SAG-AFTRA Netcode contract. They are no on strike. This is why actors on soap operas are being made to work with scab writers. Game show hosts and talk show hosts and new readers are also covered there.WGA rules have not changed since 2007 when the Late Show hosts were deemed to be in compliance when they returned without their writers. The part that is arbitrary is whether or not improvising would be considered writing. It is not stated under WGA that it is inherently covered and during the last strike it was *not* considered covered. If you look at what some of the WGA members are saying such as David Slack that is a big point – whether or not it is *technically* violating the strike.
“but that Sherri Shepherd’s Sherri does not (though it’s still gross and an insult to the striking workers to go back into production now).”
If Shepherd’s show is not a WGA show there is zero reason for it not to continue.
Sherri Shepherd should get a pass as there’s no nor was there ever WGA content on a show that is primarily her just babbling, it’s fine
meaning anybody who writes for The Drew Barrymore Show is a scab and that anyone who improvises an interview question or a monologue joke in lieu of using a writer is also a scab because they’re replacing work that should be done by union writers.So much “value” in this work… can’t possibly be done by anyone else…
Crew besides writers exist. I am sure they’d also like to feed their families.
That’s awesome. Sounds like Drew started a real movement! A revolution if you will. Piss off Union woketards!
Die bitch