When the present WGA strike was introduced on Might 1st, lots of selections needed to be made to regulate to the state of affairs. Speak exhibits went darkish. Scripted exhibits minimize their seasons quick and despatched everybody dwelling. And one dwell award present misplaced its host.
“I've listened to the writers, and as a way to really respect them, I'll pivot from internet hosting the MTV Film & TV Awards dwell in solidarity with the strike,” mentioned Drew Barrymore in an announcement on Might 4th. “The whole lot we rejoice and honor about films and tv is born out of their creation. And till an answer is reached, I'm selecting to attend, however I’ll be watching from dwelling and hope you'll be part of me.”
Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Expertise, Programming and Occasions at Paramount World, and an government producer of the MTV Film & TV Awards, was quoted (in the identical Selection piece linked above) saying that since Barrymore had even introduced alongside a few of her workforce to work on the award present, producers anticipated that she would possibly make this alternative: “She will not be surprisingly, standing in solidarity with the writers, which we have now full respect for.”
That was then. Now, Season 4 of The Drew Barrymore Present is premiering September 18th, however not all members of her workforce shall be contained in the constructing — many shall be outdoors, picketing with the WGA.
The speak present’s renewal was introduced in January, but it surely’s been on hiatus throughout the WGA strike. In a fast survey of stories studies saying the Season 4 premiere date, most don’t point out the strike in any respect; solely Parade notes, “Whereas a lot of speak exhibits have been impacted by the continued WGA strike, The Drew Barrymore Present, which won't be performing any writing work lined by the WGA strike, will air all new episodes this fall.”
Evidently, WGA management isn’t so certain this declare has any advantage. Members in New York shall be picketing this week, and included a schedule that was despatched out final Thursday, the identical day the information of Barrymore’s return broke.
Given the unequivocal language Barrymore used to elucidate her withdrawal from the MTV Film & TV Awards, her resolution to return to work does come as a shock. Granted, the AMPTP’s refusal to barter means different manufacturing staffers are additionally struggling financially, however for Barrymore to position herself on the identical aspect as executives whose technique is letting “union members begin shedding their flats and shedding their homes” doesn’t align together with her picture as an exemplar of “energetic love.” Possibly it wouldn’t be on-brand for Barrymore to assist her staffers with a daytime-host model of Strike Pressure 5. However slightly than return to work with out key personnel — her writers — Barrymore might have earmarked a share of income from her housewares line. Or her magnificence line. Or her cleansing merchandise line.
That didn’t occur, although, so: Do you know anybody can be part of a picket line — you don’t need to be a member of the Writers Guild or any union? Which implies you may nonetheless see who's showing on her new episodes — alongside her placing workers outdoors the studio.
