Dimitrios Kambouris/Variety via Getty
Sherri Shepherdis clearing things up.
During Monday’s season 2 premiere, theSherrihost affirmed her support for theWriters Guild of America (WGA)andSAG-AFTRAunions and acknowledged the “confusion” around why her talk show is resuming production amid the ongoing strikes.
“This summer you all may have seen your favorite actors and Hollywood stars havebeen on the picket lineswith the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes,” she began. “There has been so much confusion about who can work and who can’t work.”
Shepherd, 56, noted that she is SAG member herself, noting that she’d been on the picket line withViola Davis,Niecy Nashand others. She then went on to explain that talk shows who do not employ WGA writers fall under a “different union contract code.”
“Here’s the thing, talk shows in general fall under a different union contract code, so we’re allowed to come back unless you’re a WGA show,” she said. “TheSherrishow is not a WGA show and we have never employed WGA writers, so us coming back to work isn’t crossing the picket line.”
The host added, “Asa comic, my comedic take on the headlines is my voice. I write the jokes. I’m the writer … producers help me shape my words. That’s why we don’t have WGA writers.”
Shepherd reiterated her support for SAG-AFTRA. She specifically expressed her support of their ask for higher residuals in the streaming age, noting that residuals helped her take care of her sonJeffrey Jr.when he was born prematurely.
“I stand in solidarity with my union,” she continued. “One of the things that we’re fighting for is better residuals. … Resduals during times that I was not working kept the lights on. My residual payments helped me care for Jeffrey when he was born at 25 weeks. So good residual payments are important to actors.”
Sherri Shepherd attends Vulture Festival 2021 at The Hollywood Roosevelt on November 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.David Livingston/Getty
She also addressed the “big sticking point” of artificial intelligence (AI) — which both actors and writers are seeking to limit — with a quip that AI “can’t replace all of this sass.”
She summed up, “My heart is breaking for all of the people that can’t work right now, and I hope our industry can get this strike resolved soon.”
Drew Barrymore, 48, initially announcedplans to continuework onThe Drew Barrymore Showearly last week, only to receive swift criticism for the choice.
Drew Barrymore attends the 2023 Time100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 26, 2023 in New York City.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Barrymore seemed todouble down on her decisionlate last week with asince-deleted Instagram apology videoin which she addressed the backlash and called the situation “complex.”
The actress and host eventually announced on Saturday that she wouldpause productionafter all.
“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” she wrote on Instagram. “I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today. We really tried to find our way forward.”
“I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon,” she concluded.
The WGA has been on strike since May 2 after negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers did not result in an agreed upon contract before the previous one expired. The writers are seeking higher pay, minimum staffing requirements, residuals from streaming and regulation of AI, amongst other asks.
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Sherriairs weekdays on Fox (check local listings).
source: people.com
