Daytime Talk Shows Resume Production Amid Ongoing Labor Strikes.
Amidst the ongoing dual labor strikes led by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, several daytime talk shows follow Drew Barrymore's lead in resuming production.
CBS' popular panel show, “The Talk,” along with two syndicated talkers, “The Jennifer Hudson Show” and “Sherri,” hosted by Sherri Shepherd, are gearing up for their season premieres in the coming weeks. The strikes, which have impacted numerous TV and film productions over the past five months, revolve around demands for improved pay and residuals, greater transparency in streaming data, and safeguards against artificial intelligence implementation, among other critical issues raised by the unions in negotiations with studios and streamers.
Drew Barrymore's decision, announced on September 10, to commence taping episodes for the upcoming season of her eponymous daytime show without WGA writers sparked controversy among striking writers. In an Instagram post, she stated, “I am… choosing to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it, but this is bigger than just me.” She further emphasized compliance with not discussing or promoting any struck film or television content.
The show faced picketing by writers in New York, with two audience members reportedly asked to leave the taping after showing support for the strike by wearing pins.
Sources indicate that “The Talk” is set to resume taping, with a planned premiere on September 18. CBS has refrained from providing a comment. The show, aligned with the Writers Guild's minimum basic agreement, halted production at the onset of the writers' strike in May.
Jennifer Hudson's show, syndicated by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, is gearing up for its second season, also scheduled to debut on September 18. Promotion for the upcoming season has featured clips from the first season. Last season, the show enlisted WGA writers, and according to the guild's website, it is a signatory to the union's minimum basic agreement. Warner Bros. has yet to respond to THR's request for comment.
“Sherri,” entering its second season and distributed by Lionsgate's Debmar-Mercury, follows the model of fellow daytime shows like “Live With Kelly and Ryan” and “Tamron Hall,” which continue to operate without WGA writers. ABC's “The View” has also remained on the air despite usually employing a few WGA members, leading to pickets by guild members.
Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Hudson, Sherri Shepherd, and the panelists of “The Talk” (Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O'Connell, and Sheryl Underwood) are all by SAG-AFTRA regulations for hosting their respective shows. These shows fall under a separate contract, known as the Network Code, distinct from the one under which actors are currently striking.
As of now, “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” syndicated by NBCUniversal, has not yet returned to production. The show is in preproduction at its new home in New York as it prepares for the 2023-24 season debut, for which NBCU has yet to announce a specific date.
