Drew Barrymore, who has been criticized for recording new episodes of her daytime talk show despite ongoing writers and cast strikes, says she is now waiting for labor issues to be resolved. Hours later, another CBS talk show, The Talk, decided to delay its return.
„I have listened to everyone and have decided to postpone the premiere of the show until the strike is over.” Barrymore posted on Instagram On Sunday. „I don’t have the words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I’ve hurt and, of course, to our incredible team that worked on the show and made it what it is today. We’ve really been trying to find a way forward. I hope the entire industry finds a solution soon.”
The actor and host’s initial decision to air The True Barrymore Show on Monday, Sept. 18 — without his three union writers and with people picketing outside his studio — drew backlash on social media. His CBS show was rebroadcast last week in New York and picketed by striking writers.
„We support Drew’s decision to suspend attendance on the show and understand how complicated and difficult this process has been for him,” a CBS Media Ventures spokesperson said.
According to Variety, episodes of The True Barrymore Show taped last week will not air; Instead, it will be screened repeatedly for the time being.
Over the weekend, Barrymore issued a tearful apology in an Instagram video, which has since been deleted, in which she took responsibility for wanting to bring back her show to comply with the sack-offtra and WGA strike rules. „I wanted to do this because, like I said, it’s bigger than me, and other people’s jobs are on the line,” he said.
Other daytime programs have resumed. The View is back on ABC for its 27th season, while Tamron Hall and Live with Kelly and Ryan (not governed by Writers Guild rules) are also producing new episodes.
The Jennifer Hudson Show was scheduled to resume on Monday, but Miscellaneous report It has been pushed over and over again.
A speech scheduled for Monday has also canceled its restart. „We will continue to evaluate plans for a new launch date,” the CBC said in a statement on Sunday.
Ariel Dumas, head writer and supervising producer of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, previously responded to X on Twitter: „It’s great,” she wrote, adding that The True Barrymore Show „decided to do the right thing. I hope @TheView and others follow suit.”
If hosts and guests do not discuss or promote work covered by television, theatrical or streaming contracts, they do not technically break the strike. Talk shows are governed by a separate contract — the so-called network code — under which actors and writers strike. The network code also includes reality TV, sports, morning news shows, soap operas and gameshows.
Barrymore’s stance prompted the National Book Awards in November to not invite her to host. The organization rescinded his invitation „in light of the announcement that 'The True Barrymore Show’ will resume production.”
Against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents Disney, Netflix, Amazon and others, the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.