‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ Faces Delay Amid Controversy Over Writer’s Strike
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Photo by Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Contour RA by Getty Images
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” is the latest daytime show to be delayed owing to criticism from many in the Hollywood industry, as the talk show had intended to air without writers during the WGA strike. The show had resumed production last week and planned to return to the airwaves on Monday, Sept. 18, but several on the picket lines considered the choice of daytime talk shows to continue without writers as detrimental to their campaign for a fair agreement with the studios. Drew Barrymore said on Sunday that, after suffering backlash for her plan to return to “The Drew Barrymore Show,” the show will now be postponed until the strike is ended. “The Talk” quickly followed suit, and now “The Jennifer Hudson Show” will suspend production and not air as planned.
‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ has pushed back its previously-planned premiere date amid backlash.
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Sherri Shepherd’s chat show “Sherri” will air on Monday as planned, although it is not a WGA-represented show. “Real Time With Bill Maher” is the other show that has recently stated it will continue production without writers, but has yet to do so. “The View” never ceased production and has been showing new episodes without its two WGA writers throughout the summer, despite being picketed as a result. Hudson’s syndicated series, distributed by Warner Bros., debuted in 2022 and quickly became a smash, earning six Daytime Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Daytime Talk Series. The WGA bargaining committee indicated last week that they will meet with the studios again this week.
‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ Postpones Premiere Due To Actors And Writers Strikes’
The Jennifer Hudson Show will not return as anticipated due to Writers Guild of America (WGA) & SAG-AFTRA strikes, according to Rolling Stone. The announcement comes on the heels of Drew Barrymore’s announcement that her show would similarly be paused following considerable criticism when she originally announced plans to resume production. Hudson’s Fox show was supposed to debut its new season on Monday, September 18. The Talk, a CBS show that was scheduled to return on Monday, has likewise modified its plans and will not air tomorrow. “The Talk’s season premiere on September 18 has been postponed,” a CBS spokeswoman informed Variety. “We are going to continue to assess possibilities for a new launch date.” “Jerry O’Connell, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, as well as Sheryl Underwood co-host the show, which has only one writing position on staff.” On Sunday, Barrymore stated that her daytime chat programme would “pause” until the continuing strikes have been settled, contradicting a week earlier statement that production on the Drew Barrymore programme was going to resume — sans writers — notwithstanding the double strike that is presently paralysing Hollywood.
Her decision to return was met with harsh criticism, and the set was picketed, despite the fact that she was not in violation of SAG-AFTRA strike rules: she is technically permitted to film the daytime talk show because, despite being a member of the actor’s guild SAG, guild contracts for talk shows were renewed last year. “I have no remarks to properly express my heartfelt regrets to anyone I have caused harm and, of obviously, to our amazing team who devotes themselves to the show & contributed to making it what it is today,” Barrymore said on Instagram on Sunday. “We made all of our attempts to figure out our way forward.” And I genuinely hope that the entire matter is resolved quickly.” Meanwhile, Sherri from Fox is slated to return on Monday (though it is not a strike show covered by the Writers Guild of America), and ABC’s The View, which currently has two WGA writers on staff as well as has been picketed by striking WGA members, has been running without its writers throughout the strikes. The premiere date for Kelly Clarkson’s NBC chat show has yet to be revealed.
