Drew Barrymore is very busy sinking her TV career.
On Tuesday evening, the National Book Foundation announced they were dumping her as host of their November awards show.
How could they not? Barrymore’s talk show has resumed production either with scabs or “fi-core” writers during the long, protracted Writers Guild strike. Drew is also a member of the striking actors union, SAG-AFTRA.
But the violation of the Writers Guild strike has just inflamed everyone. The WGA is now picketing CBS and the studio where Drew is taped. Social media has turned against her like a pack of wild dogs. There are reports of audience members’ bags being checked for strike lapel pins.
Daytime TV shows are under a separate contract with SAG. So the soap operas like “General Hospital” are continuing with scabs or fi-core writers (the latter are union members who give up their rights in the union like voting but still receive benefits). The soaps don’t have audiences and and are self-contained. But talk shows are a different matter. They need writers. “The View” and “Live with Kelly and Mark” have been soldiering on without writers mostly because they’re adept at talking off the cuff. But the entertainment shows like “Drew” can’t possibly do that, they live on produced segments that need scripts. This has enraged union members. And plus, don’t forget– none of the talk shows can have actors promoting their TV or movie work. That means a lot of cooking segments — and they need writers.
Other talk shows are planning to return soon under the same guidelines as “Drew.” But it remains to be seen if they’ll go ahead with their plans after seeing the damage this has done to Barrymore’s credibility.
An update on the host of the 2023 National Book Awards. pic.twitter.com/aa5aLh0FIU
— National Book Foundation (@nationalbook) September 12, 2023
