Can Talk Shows Continue During Hollywood Strikes Without Being Scabs? The Answers Are Tricky

variety.com:

Drew Barrymore’s decision to resume taping her talk show on Monday has kicked off a fight over whether she is violating the rules, or at least the spirit, of the Writers Guild of America strike.

On Sunday, WGA East said that the show is “struck” and that any writing on the show would be against the rules. But SAG-AFTRA, which is also on strike, issued its own statement on Monday defending Barrymore. “The Drew Barrymore Show is produced under the Network Television Code, which is a separate contract and is not struck,” a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said. “It is permissible work and Drew’s role as host does not violate the current strike rules.” Several other daytime talk shows have already been in production during the strike, including “The View” and “Live with Kelly and Mark.” “The View” employs two WGA writers, but it has been making shows without them since May.

CBS, which produces “The Drew Barrymore Show,” said that her show will operate the same way — without its WGA writers. “The Drew Barrymore Show will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike,” said a CBS Media Ventures spokesperson.

But many writers believe that’s not possible. “By going back on the air without her writers, Drew Barrymore is 100% ensuring that someone — either herself, one of her non-writing producers, or all of the above — will be doing the writing work that WGA writers normally do,” wrote David Slack, a former WGA board member, on Twitter.