Drew Barrymore Announces Talk Show Return, Says New Season Will Still Follow WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike Rules

Drew Barrymore has announced on social media that her eponymous daytime talk show will begin its new season soon, in accordance with the rules of the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strikes.

The actor first referred to her decision to step down as host of the MTV Film and TV Awards in May, in a show of support and solidarity to the striking WGA members.

“It had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with which was studios, streamers, film, and television,” Barrymore wrote in the post and caption. “It was also in the first week of the strike and so I did what I thought was the appropriate thing at the time to stand in solidarity with the writers.”

She also explained how “The Drew Barrymore Show” wrapped its last season on April 20, so the talk show never had to shut down due to the writers strike.

“However, I am also making the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but this is bigger than just me,” Barrymore wrote.

“I own this choice,” she continued. “We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind. We launched live in a global pandemic. Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned through what the real world is going through in real time.”

After Barrymore posted about the return of her talk show, the Writers Guild of America, East shared a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter): “The @DrewBarrymoreTV Show is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers. The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ is a violation of WGA strike rules.”

However, Barrymore’s work as a performer on “The Drew Barrymore Show” is not a violation of current strike rules because the syndicated daytime show, distributed by CBS, is covered by a different SAG-AFTRA contract than the one in dispute. The contract that covers talk shows, game shows, variety shows and soap operas was renewed and ratified by union members in 2022.

“The Drew Barrymore Show,” which was renewed in January for a fourth year on CBS stations, is set to premiere on Sept. 18. Actors who appear as guests on the upcoming season will have to follow SAG-AFTRA strike rules, which include not discussing or promoting any struck projects.