NEW YORK – Bill Maher has delayed the return of his HBO talk show amid the ongoing writers and actors strike, following similar pauses by “The Drew Barrymore Show,” “The Talk,” and “The Jennifer Hudson Show” over the weekend.
Maher announced last week that he would restart production on his show, but on Monday, he said he would wait since conversations between producers and writers are set to begin on Wednesday.
“My decision to return to work was made when it seemed like nothing was happening and there was no end in sight to this strike,” Maher explained on social media. “Now that both sides have agreed to return to the negotiating table, I’m going to postpone the return of ‘Real Time’ for the time being in the hopes that they can finally get this done.”
Barrymore chastised for filming new episodes of her daytime chat program amid current writer and actor strikes, announced on Sunday that she would wait until the labor concerns are resolved.
“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore wrote on Instagram on Sunday. “I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt, and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today.”
Talk programs are protected under a different labor contract, known as the Network Code, than the one under which actors and writers are striking. Reality TV, sports, morning news broadcasts, soap operas, and game shows are also covered by the Network Code.
Bill Maher has delayed the return of his HBO talk show amid the ongoing writers and actors strike.
Barrymore’s decision to return to the air on Monday — without her three union writers and with picketers outside her studio — drew criticism on social media. Last Monday, her show resumed taping in New York, picketed by striking writers.
“We support Drew’s decision to pause the show’s return and understand how complex and difficult this process has been for her,” a CBS Media Ventures spokeswoman stated.
Other daytime programs have returned. “The View” has returned to ABC for its 27th season, while “Tamron Hall” and “Live With Kelly and Mark” — neither of which is subject to writers guild restrictions — have also been airing new episodes.
“The Talk” has likewise canceled its Monday return. “We will continue to evaluate plans for a new launch date,” CBS stated Sunday.
The ongoing strike opposes the Writers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and others against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, representing Disney, Netflix, and Amazon.
SOURCE – (AP)
