Drew Barrymore Delays New Season of Her Talk Show Amid Hollywood Strikes

Drew Barrymore, who previously faced disapproval for continuing to tape new installments of her daytime chat show during the ongoing labor strikes involving writers and actors, has now announced a halt in production until the labor disputes are settled.

“In response to public opinion, I have opted to delay the debut of the new season until the conclusion of the strikes,” Barrymore shared via Instagram this past Sunday. “I can hardly articulate the extent of my apologies to those I may have offended, as well as to our dedicated team that has contributed to the show’s current success.”

Initially, Barrymore had planned to air new episodes starting Monday, in spite of the absence of her trio of union-affiliated writers and amidst protests outside her New York studio. Striking writers picketed the studio when filming resumed last week.

Other daytime programming such as ABC’s “The View” has kicked off its 27th season, while “Tamron Hall” and “Live With Kelly and Ryan” — both of which are not subject to Writers Guild regulations — have been releasing new content. “The Jennifer Hudson Show” and “The Talk” are set to restart their schedules on Monday.

Additional Coverage

• Labor Strikes in Hollywood Continue as Daytime Shows Like Drew Barrymore’s Resume Amid Protests
• National Book Awards Disinvites Drew Barrymore as Host Following Her Show’s Resumption Amid Strike
• Drew Barrymore Suspected Stalker Interrupts Fashion Show in Search of Emma Watson, Say Authorities

Ariel Dumas, the chief writer and overseeing producer for “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” commented via X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, “This is a positive development,” indicating that “The Drew Barrymore Show” “has chosen to take the correct course of action. I hope programs like @TheView will emulate this behavior.”

Notably, hosts and guests of these shows are not formally violating the strikes as long as they refrain from discussing or promoting work falling under TV, theater, or streaming contracts. This exemption exists because talk shows operate under a different contractual framework, known as the Network Code, which is distinct from the contracts that writers and actors are contesting. The Network Code encompasses various other forms of content such as reality television, sports, morning news, soap operas, and game shows.

Barrymore’s actions led the National Book Awards to rescind her invitation to host their event in November. The organization withdrew her invitation, stating it was “in light of the news that ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ would be continuing its production.”

The ongoing labor action involves the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. They are at odds with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents industry giants like Disney, Netflix, Amazon, among others.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hollywood Strikes

More about Hollywood Strikes

• Drew Barrymore’s Announcement on Instagram: Drew Barrymore’s official Instagram post where she announced the postponement of her show’s new season launch.
• Ariel Dumas’s Twitter Response: Ariel Dumas’s tweet on X (formerly Twitter) reacting to Drew Barrymore’s decision.
• The National Book Awards Announcement: The National Book Awards organization’s statement regarding the withdrawal of Drew Barrymore as host.
• Hollywood Labor Strikes: Background information on the ongoing labor strikes in Hollywood involving writers and actors.
• The Network Code: Information about the contractual framework that covers talk shows and other content in the entertainment industry.