Drew Barrymore and Bill Maher Bullied into Canceling Their Shows’ Returns
Over the past couple of weeks, two celebrities announced that they would be bringing back their talk shows amid the writers’ strike, in both cases complying with WGA rules and not having scripted content. Since then, both have been brow-beaten into backing down.
First, Drew Barrymore said that The Drew Barrymore Show would resume production, defending her position in a now-deleted Instagram video where she explained that other people’s jobs were on the line, which is true. The response was quick and savage, with strikers picketing her show. Well, she caved, and The Drew Barrymore Show will remain off the air until the strike is over. Her apology is below (via EOnline)
Then, Bill Maher announced that his long-running HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher, would return, in compliance with WGA rules as well. While expressing sympathy for the striking writers, Maher made the same point Drew Barrymore did: other people need to earn a living, and the strike has gone on for five months now.
Real Time is coming back, unfortunately, sans writers or writing. It has been five months, and it is time to bring people back to work. The writers have important issues that I sympathize with, and hope they are addressed to their satisfaction, but they are not the only people…
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) September 14, 2023
Similarly to Barrymore, Maher was attacked, called all sorts of names, and threatened with pickets and protests. Yesterday, just five days after the initial announcement, Maher stated that Real Time would remain off the air; he claimed it was because of the new negotiations, but I think everyone knows that’s a crock.
My decision to return to work was made when it seemed nothing was happening and there was no end in sight to this strike. Now that both sides have agreed to go back to the negotiating table I’m going to delay the return of Real Time, for now, and hope they can finally get this…
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) September 18, 2023
Apparently, the same happened to some CBS talk shows.
I have lost every shred of sympathy I had for these fucking people. Barrymore and Maher are correct; a lot of workers who make less money than Hollywood writers do have been out of work since this strike began. But the writers not only never offer an apology for this or even acknowledge it, but they demand the workers remain unemployed until they get high enough residuals for Batwoman reruns. And their cause is so righteous and just, and they’re so oppressed by massive studios, that they’re willing to divert resources to attack two talk show hosts who want to feed their employees. It’s even been suggested that Barrymore simply continue to pay her workers out of her own pocket; can you imagine the gall it takes to demand other people spend their money to cover the fallout of your strike while you’re demanding more money for your work?
You know who else is striking right now? The auto workers. You know what the auto workers aren’t doing? They’re not demanding car dealerships shut down so salesmen can’t feed their families or pay their mortgages. Fighting for a fair work environment doesn’t have to be this vile and selfish. But Hollywood is Hollywood, and the self-proclaimed arbiters of morality continue to be the most disgusting people on Earth.
