The Talk to resume during Hollywood strike
Update: Real Time with Bill Maher also signals a return.
- Published by David Knox
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US talk show The Talk (!) is set to return to screens in the US in the middle of the WGA strike.
The show reportedly has one WGA writing position, which won’t be filled during the strike, and hosts will be ad-libbing.
It follows The Drew Barrymore Show returning but without promoting struck work. Despite this it has been subjected to picket lines and came under fire for throwing out two audience members who supported the strike (the show has since apologised).
The @DrewBarrymoreTV Show is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers. The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on “The Drew Barrymore Show” is in violation of WGA strike rules.
— Writers Guild of America, East (@WGAEast) September 10, 2023
The Talk is hosted by Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Jerry O’Connell, Natalie Morales and Sheryl Underwood but it isn’t clear if all will return.
WGA members are also picketing outside CBS.
The Jennifer Hudson Show is also resuming. While chat shows are allowed to continue under the SAG-AFTRA strike rules (talent may not promote struck shows) some shows employ WGA union writers.
The Talk screens in Australia on 10.
Update: Real Time with Bill Maher will also return.
Real Time is coming back, unfortunately, sans writers or writing. It has been five months, and it is time to bring people back to work. The writers have important issues that I sympathize with, and hope they are addressed to their satisfaction, but they are not the only people…
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) September 14, 2023
Source: Deadline
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- Tagged with Real Time with Bill Maher, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Talk
6 Responses
Tip of the hat to what Bill Maher has said… it’s all well and good for the writers to go on strike, but TV shows employ a hell of a lot more people than just writers, so while the strike is in, there are a lot of people without work who may not be in a position to tough it out. The approach he has taken is spot on – yet it’s amusing how many people in Twitter have whinged and complained. He’s already openly said the show won’t be anywhere near as good as it normally is, will be missing all it’s “written” segments, and not only supports the writers but is bringing it back to keep his other staff employed. I’d rather a poor-watered-down version of something still be produced to at least keep some people employed, than nothing at all – and it doesn’t entirely detract from what the writers are trying to achieve.
Don’t these presenters know that they only need one hand to show the number four??
Feels like its all falling apart for the unions, they have really stuffed this. Their only strategy is to play along with the game of chicken that they don’t have the leverage to win. If i was a producer i’d be turbo charging investment in AI, human workers seem like a real nuisance.
General Hospital has been using non WGA writers for some weeks now. Not sure about CBS soaps Y&R & B&B but Days fims about 6 months in advance so they will have to think about that soon.
There is going to be chaos in the US the longer this goes on. Jerry O’’Connell & Drew Barrymore are in interesting positions being SAG members.
I believe that soap operas are actually excepted from the strike I believe there is something in the contracts for soap opera actors stating they are unable to go on strike but can support them. I believe Nancy Grahn from General Hospital said something about this. Soaps are not effected even if they are shot months in advance. This is the same thing for Game shows, reality and competition shows. That is the thing that any member that is a SAG member can appear is something like a Celebrity Wheel of Fortune as long as they dont promote any work that isnt excepted. I am going to say at least with the point of view of talk shows whether daytime or primetime more and more will go back as they are looking after the majority of its staff and not just the ones who are striking.
“more will go back as they are looking after the majority of its staff and not just the ones who are striking”
..and fair enough too. My work’s last negotiations went on far longer than they should have and we were all losing out in the meantime while the majority of the sticking points in reality affected a minority of the workforce..