Bill Maher and Drew Barrymore to restart talk shows during WGA strike.
Talk Show Hosts Bill Maher and Drew Barrymore Announce Return of Shows Amid Writers Strike
Despite the ongoing writers strike, popular talk show hosts Bill Maher and Drew Barrymore have made the bold decision to bring back their respective shows. The strike, which has been going on for 135 days, is a result of the Writers Guild of America’s demand for higher wages from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Bill Maher, host of “Real Time,” took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his thoughts on the matter. “Real Time is coming back, unfortunately, sans writers or writing,” he wrote. Maher sympathizes with the talk shows during WGA strike.”>writers’ important issues but believes that there are other individuals who also have concerns that need to be addressed. He expressed his love for his writers but emphasized that he cannot bear to see an entire year go to waste and witness the suffering of many below-the-line workers.
Maher admitted that the show will not be up to its usual standards without the contributions of the writers. The absence of a monologue, desk piece, New Rules, and editorial segment, all of which are written parts of the show, will undoubtedly impact its quality. Despite this, Maher is determined to bring people back to work.
The Writers Guild of America responded to Maher’s decision, expressing disappointment and reminding him of his obligation as a WGA member to follow the strike rules and refrain from performing any writing services. The union also announced plans to picket at the show’s studio.
Drew Barrymore, who now hosts her own talk show, also announced the return of her show for its fourth season. However, she made it clear that she will not discuss or promote any film or television that is struck. Barrymore acknowledged the larger significance of her decision, stating that her show was built for sensitive times and aims to provide a way to bring people together and make sense of the human experience.
The Writers Guild of America, consisting of approximately 11,500 members, has been on strike for months. The last time both the WGA and the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists were on strike simultaneously was in 1960, with Ronald Reagan leading the charge before his presidential run. As of Thursday, SAG-AFTRA has been on strike for 62 days.
It remains to be seen how these talk shows will fare without their writers, but one thing is certain: the writers’ strike has sparked a heated debate about the value of their labor and the importance of their work.
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