Even though the writers strike that crippled talk shows has lifted, the three co-head writers for Drew Barrymore’s daytime show have declined to return, sources close to the production said.
It was not clear from the sources why the three writers are not returning.
The production sources said offers were extended to all three when they could be extended after the end of the strike, which was lifted on Sept. 27, and all three declined.
Barrymore was criticized after she announced in September that she would resume “The Drew Barrymore Show,” a daytime talk show, even though the strike by the Writers Guild of America had not yet been resolved.
Barrymore was dropped as the host of the National Book Awards in response.
She later walked back the decision, apologized to anyone who felt hurt, and said she would wait to resume production until the strike was over.
I just don’t understand how the late night talk show hosts were able to do it last strike but the daytime talkshow host wasn’t allowed to do it this time? What’s the difference?
Last time, the shows went to air without the writers. IIRC the way it worked was that they did away with sketches and monologues so there was no writing, basically just interviews and improv. Leno did write his own monologue at one point, despite being a WGA member and deservedly caught shit for it.
Letterman and Conan paid for the writers salary out of their own pocket for the duration of the strike.
SNL and Colbert set up live shows to raise money for the striking writers.
All of this was done in solidarity with the writers, which were never replaced or supplemented throughout the entire 08-09 strike.
Barrymore and Maher were gonna hire scabs.
Ah makes sense, so it was possible but they just weren’t doing it right.
She’s a woman?
The problem with that argument is that Bill Maher received similar backlash for announcing he would return without writers, only to U Turn as well.
The long and short of it is that, 3 writers felt disposable by Drew Barrymore and didn’t want to return to a working environment where they could be thrown under the bus at any moment.
Thank you for additional context.