‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ Halts Production Due to Severe Backlash
Photo Credit: The Drew Barrymore Show/CBS Reading Time: 3 minutes
Drew Barrymore has decided to postpone the start of her talk show, due to ongoing strikes in the TV and movie industry. This decision comes after the actress received criticism for resuming production while thousands of writers were on strike. The 48-year-old actress also publicly issued an emotional video apologizing for the people she has offended.
Drew Barrymore Halts Production of Her Talk Show
Initially, Barrymore’s talk show began filming its fourth season, even though the Writers Guild of America strike was still ongoing. This choice faced heavy criticism from various quarters, including the Writers Guild itself. People on social media accused Barrymore of not supporting the striking writers.
As the backlash grew, Barrymore found herself at the center of a public relations crisis. The Writers Guild East even announced plans to protest outside her show, calling it a “struck show” that violated WGA strike rules.
In an attempt to address the mounting criticism, Barrymore posted a video where she expressed her regret and took “full responsibility” for her actions. She clarified that she never intended to “upset or hurt anyone” and recognized the complexity of the situation. However, social media users widely mocked the video and Barrymore eventually deleted it.
Sitting here lying like this with that ugly ass wallpaper, Drew Barrymore have you no shame???? pic.twitter.com/7SXrG3XSyU
— Meech (@MediumSizeMeech) September 15, 2023
Under increasing pressure and criticism, Barrymore made a surprising decision. She decided to delay the start of her show until the strike came to an end. Barrymore shared this decision on her Instagram page and apologized to those she had hurt along the way. CBS, her home network, also supported her choice, acknowledging the difficult circumstances.
Other Talk Shows Are Returning With a Compromise to Avoid Backlash
As Barrymore grapples with the controversy surrounding the return of her daytime talk show amid industry strikes, it’s become apparent that her situation isn’t unique. Several other talk shows are gearing up for a return this week, but they’re doing so with a unique compromise to mitigate the backlash and respect the ongoing strikes.
The Jennifer Hudson Show and CBS’ The Talk are among those launching new seasons, but they’re taking a different approach. These shows, unlike Barrymore’s, are not syndicated and have the flexibility to make adjustments to their schedules.
Rather than returning without their writers, these talk shows have chosen to wait until a new WGA contract is in place before fully resuming production. This compromise aligns with the WGA’s stance that writing is a critical part of talk show content and avoids the controversy that Barrymore’s return initially generated.
While this decision comes with its own set of challenges, including contractual obligations to local stations and advertisers, it demonstrates a willingness to find a middle ground that respects both the rights of writers and the needs of the industry.
