Summary
- Two audience were kicked out of The Drew Barrymore Show after one of them was spotted wearing a pin in of the WGA strike.
- Drew Barrymore's decision to continue with her talk show despite the strike drew criticism from the WGA, and writers have been picketing outside the studio.
- The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are the first time the organizations have gone on strike together since 1960, with disagreements over residual payments and the use of AI representing major issues.
Two audience at a taping of The Drew Barrymore Show were reportedly kicked out due to a showing of for the ongoing WGA strike. Best known as an actor in movies like Scream, Charlie's Angels, and Donnie Darko, Barrymore began hosting a popular daytime talk show in 2020. Barrymore recently announced her controversial decision to move forward with season 4 of her show in a way that complies with WGA and SAG strike rules, which drew criticism from the former.
According to a recent report from THR, crew at The Drew Barrymore show kicked out two audience during a recent taping. The audience , identified as Dominic Turiczek and Cassidy Carter, say they were handed pins from WGA writers who were picketing outside. When Turiczek was spotted wearing his pin inside the studio space, a crew member reportedly asked them both to leave. Turiczek and Carter, who had not previously been familiar with the strikes, proceeded outside and then ed the picketing writers.
Striking screenwriter Nick Hurwitch addressed the incident on Twitter with a 50 First Dates reference, joking that Barrymore "has short-term memory loss and needs to have [the] strike explained to her each day by Adam Sandler."
WGA & SAG-AFTRA Strikes Explained
The WGA went on strike back in May, with SAG, the actors' guild, ing them in July over similar types of issues. The dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike marks the first time the organizations have gone on strike together since 1960.
The WGA and AMPTP, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, are in disagreement over a number of key issues. One issue relates to residual payments, which, have not been updated to reflect the changed TV landscape and rise of streaming. The use of AI in the script-writing process is another major sticking point, with writers demanding more exhaustive regulations regarding how AI is employed when it comes to written material.
The actors are also fighting for fair pay and contracts, with SAG-AFTRA's demands sharing many elements in common with the WGA's. The use of AI, for example, has become a very explosive issue, especially following reports of clauses in actors' contracts that would allow studios to digitize their likenesses for use in perpetuity without compensation. It's unclear when the strikes will be resolved, but the latest incident at The Drew Barrymore Show is certainly not a good look for the show or its host.
Source: THR