The Drew Barrymore Show will return to TV screens earlier than expected amid the writers’ and actors’ strikes, even though the WGA says it will picket the show’s studios Monday and Tuesday as a result.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Drew Barrymore announced that her daytime talk show will soon begin its fourth season, in accordance with Writers Guild of America rules and the SAG-AFTRA strikes. However, a spokesperson for the Writers Guild said this The Hollywood Reporter That Drew is a standout show, and union members are ready to picket outside Barrymore’s studios in New York City on Monday and Tuesday.
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“It has been off the air since the strike began on May 2, but has now (sadly) decided to return without the writers,” the spokesperson said in the statement. “The Guild has and will continue to organize any strike that will continue production during the strike.”
Drew plans to premiere its fourth season on September 18. That is obvious Drew has signed the WGA and that the show will be produced without literary material, similar to that of ABC The view.
“The Drew Barrymore Show will not be doing any writing covered by the WGA strike,” a spokesperson for CBS Media Ventures said THR.
Barrymore began her Instagram post by referencing her decision to walk away from hosting the MTV Film and TV Awards in May in solidarity with the writers who had just gone on strike.
“It was in direct conflict with what the strike was about, which was studios, streamers, film and television,” she wrote in the post and caption. “It was also the first week of the strike and so I did what I thought was the right thing at the time to stand in solidarity with the writers.”
She pointed out that season three of her show was wrapped before the strike so they never had to wrap it up. But she’s now making another conscious choice to return to work amid the strikes by both writers and actors, because the show is “bigger than just me.”
“I own this choice,” Barrymore continued. “We are in agreement with not discussing or promoting film and television that have been affected in any way. We launched live into a global pandemic. Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned because of what the real world is going through in real time.
The host explained that her desire to return to the talk show stemmed from wanting to provide work for writers and entertainment for viewers during a difficult time.
“I want to be there to provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us understand the human experience,” she concluded. “I hope for a solution for everyone as soon as possible. We’ve been through some tough times since we first hit the airwaves. And so I take a step forward to begin Season 4 again with astute humility.
Under WGA strike rules, most daytime talk shows are allowed to continue because many do not employ writers who are part of the union. Two exceptions include The Drew Barrymore Show And The conversation, which went dark at the start of the strike and continues to play reruns, much like the late-night talk shows. Other daytime shows that also air originals include Tamron Hall And Live with Kelly and Mark.
While Drew will begin its new season, unlike the WGA, actors appearing as guests will have to adhere to SAG-AFTRA’s strike rules, which include not discussing or promoting successful work.
According to a press release, the new season will feature a new face: celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, who will join the show’s team of lifestyle experts including News co-anchor Ross Mathews, interior designer Mikel Welch, chef Pilar Valdes and sustainable living guru Danny Seo. The show will also launch a new segment, “Take Care Everywhere,” featuring The Menopause Bootcamp founder Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, and bringing back other segments including Drew-Gooders, Design by Drew and Cookbook Club.
“I’m so excited to see what Drew has in store for season four,” said Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures. “From its launch during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to its successful transition to a groundbreaking half-hour format, this show has demonstrated spectacular resilience and creative agility on its path to becoming the fastest-growing show in daytime. We couldn’t have had a better partner in Drew Barrymore and look forward to bringing new episodes to our fans and station customers this fall.”
Read Barrymore’s full post below.
Kimberly Nordyke contributed to this report.
Updated Sunday September 10 3:46 PM: Added statement from Wendy McMahon.
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