Drew Barrymores WGA writers decide not to return to her show
When last we checked in with The Drew Barrymore Show — and by that I don’t mean her talk show, I mean the series of blundered PR moves she’s been performing for us since mid September — the topic was how production was likely to resume in October thanks to the end of the writers strike, but it will still be awhile until people forget about her scabby decisions. A quick recap for those who haven’t been tuning in: Drew announced she was bringing her show back amid the WGA strike despite having union writers on staff, Drew’s show crew kicked out two audience members for wearing WGA pins to a taping, Drew doubled down on her decision to return, Drew relented and put production on hold until the end of the strike. And all that happened in one week! When the WGA strike ended I suggested Drew have her union writers on as guests as a way to make a teachable moment out of her mistakes. I don’t think that will be happening, as the latest story in The Drew Barrymore Show is that the union writers, three women who had been with the show from the beginning, have decided not to return to their roles of Co-Head Writers. Plot twist!
The writers say thank u, next: But with the WGA strike now over, the show is set to come back Oct. 16, and those writers — Chelsea White, Cristina Kinon and Liz Koe — have declined an offer to return with it, according to sources. The production is now interviewing new writers and will be in compliance with the guild. As for White, Kinon and Koe, all three were visible and vocal in their protest during the show’s initial return to production in mid-September. The trio of women, who shared the title co-head writer and have been with the series since season one, could be seen picketing outside of Drew’s Manhattan studio on multiple days, with signs that read, “Honk if you [love] union labor” or “Drew’s News: Strikes.”
Drew didn’t even tell them the show was returning mid-strike: On Sept. 11, which was the show’s first day back in production, they told THR that they’d found out that Drew was returning, not from their boss or colleagues, but rather via audience ticket giveaways that had been posted on social media. “It is a bummer to hear that the show is going back because it sends a message that union writers are not valuable,” White told THR that morning. Kinon added: “I understand that everybody has to do what they feel is best for them. For me and the WGA writers on the show, it’s important for us to stick with our union. We deserve a fair contract, so we are here today outside.” Asked at that time whether they planned to return to the show once the strike was resolved, White simply said: “Maybe no comment.”
Another (completely irrelevant) reminder that Drew didn’t break SAG-AFTRA rules: While controversial, Barrymore’s initial decision to return without her writing staff did not violate SAG-AFTRA rules. As a SAG-AFTRA rep stated at the time, “The Drew Barrymore Show is produced under the Network Television Code, which is a separate contract and is not struck. It is permissible work and Drew’s role as host does not violate the current strike rule.” Nevertheless, Barrymore preemptively defended the decision to bring her show back in a now infamous Sept. 10 social media post, which quickly made her a target.
This has not aged well: “I own this choice,” she wrote at the time, reminding her legions of fans that she had made a very different choice back in May, when she bowed out of her hosting duties at the MTV Movie and TV Awards in solidarity with the WGA. Barrymore ended up winning best host that evening, for which she submitted a prerecorded acceptance speech in which she name-checked White, Kinon and Koe, whom she called “our amazing, amazing writers.” She added, “this is definitely for them and every single person who makes this show.” (The three have also earned two Emmy nominations for their writing contributions to the show.)
Wow. It would have been bad enough for Drew with the simple headline that the writers are leaving, but there are so many juicy details in here that make it even worse. I love it! What have we learned here? Not only was Drew a scab in bringing back her show amid the WGA strike, she didn’t even have the decency to tell her WGA writers what she was doing! For a period of time, the three lead writers for The Drew Barrymore Show were picketing The Drew Barrymore Show. When these three writers visit Drew at Christmas as ghosts they will be chanting her MTV Movie and TV Award acceptance speech: “Our amazing, amazing writers. This is definitely for them…”
And for the umpteenth time, the SAG-AFTRA strike rules mean nothing here!! Drew did not break SAG-AFTRA rules because her contract as host is different from the contract currently in dispute. The strike rules she broke were with the WGA, because she resumed production despite having WGA members on staff (and not really just on staff, they were the Co-Head writers as well as the only credited writers since 2021, per IMDB). Hey producers, you can’t fool us with this “but look over there!” tactic.
photos via Instagram and credit Getty
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