The Writer’s Guild of America began their labor strike this week, putting many TV and late-night shows on pause. Here’s what you need to know. Approximately 12,000 of Hollywood’s film and TV writers are out-of-office and street picketing for a new and fair contract over new phenomena like streaming pay and AI regulation.
“Once we got into the evening, there was a moment where it became very clear that they had nothing more to give, and were, in fact, asking us to drop most of our key proposals.”
Michele Mulroney, Vice President of WGA WEST (Variety)
Here, New York Times Best Selling Author Victoria Aveyard of the Red Queen series breaks down a denied WGA request.
The WGA has a long history of striking against the industry’s major studios over similar technological expansions and pay injustices. The last walk-out lasted 100 days (breaking into the ’08 new year,) sparked by unpaid revenue from their movies, television shows and other creative works distributed on the internet.
How Does The WGA Strike Affect The Entertainment Industry?
Screenwriters are the backbone of TV favorites like Abbott Elementary, Saturday Night Live, and The Drew Barrymore Show. The WGA strike halts TV productions like House of Dragon (Season 2) despite having finalized scripts. The association’s existing contract prohibits any potential rewrites without screenwriters present on set or in the writer’s room.
Pro screenwriter and actress Julia Yorks details WGA strike misconceptions and her day-to-day now.
Following the same regulations, daytime and late night tv are the main brunt of this strike. The Talk, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, SNL, and Late Night with Seth Meyers curate daily happenings into segments for lively entertainment. But it will also affect upcoming live televised events like award shows.
However, many entertainment celebrities stand by the writers’ strike. Jimmy Fallon spoke with Variety: “I wouldn’t have a show if it wasn’t for my writers, and I support them all the way. They gotta have a fair contract, and they got a lot of stuff to iron out.”
“I’m a member of WGA, and support WGA, you know them getting what—we, us, getting what we need. No one wants a strike, but I hope that we’re able to rectify this, whatever that means.”
Quinta Brunson shared with the AP
Drew Barrymore has stepped down as host of this Sunday’s MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity with the writers. “I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike,” she said in a statement to Variety.
“Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation. And until a solution is reached, I am choosing to wait. But I’ll be watching from home and hope you will join me.”
Drew Barrymore’s statement conclusion.
Although pre-taped moments will make the live event, Barrymore confirmed she’s looking forward to emceeing next year’s award show.
TV shows also halted by the WGA strike include Yellowjackets, Big Mouth, American Horror Story and Cobra Kai.
This piece will be updated upon further information on The Writer’s Guild of America strike.
