Drew Barrymore's talk show to return amid strike; WGA plans to picket outside studio
Writers are picketing at "The Drew Barrymore Show" lot on Monday to protest the show's return amid the ongoing writers strike.
Drew Barrymore announced the return of her namesake talk show on Sunday, telling fans in a lengthy statement on Instagram that she is "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."
"I own this choice. We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind," she wrote.
The Writers Guild of America, the union representing most of Hollywood's scribes behind your favorite TV shows and films, went on strike at the beginning of May for issues related to fair compensation, pension plans and health insurance.
Barrymore acknowledged that some people may feel conflicted because she stepped down as the host of the MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity with writers, but is returning to her show.
"I was the host and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with which was studios, streamers, film, and television. 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," the actress said.
Previous:Drew Barrymore pulls out of MTV Movie & TV Awards 'in solidarity' with striking writers
"The Drew Barrymore Show" wrapped filming Season 3 in April for a summer hiatus. Upon return to film Season 4, a CBS Media Ventures spokesperson told USA TODAY in a statement shared Monday that the show will "not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike."
The WGA has since added "The Drew Barrymore Show" to its East Coast picketing locations for Monday and Tuesday. "Drew" is taped at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York.
"The View" is also being met with picketers on Monday because of the show's return earlier this month.
Contributing: Kelly Lawler
Every Hollywood awards show,major movie postponed by writers' and actors' strikes