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☆ John Oliver returns to his HBO show, urging more workers to unionize
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Comedian John Oliver returned to his HBO show “Last Week Tonight” on Sunday, becoming the latest late night host to air a new program following the end of the writers’ strike. (Oliver’s show airs on HBO, which like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Bill Maher returned to his show last Friday and the network hosts, such as Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, will air new programs Monday. Now the focus turns to negotiations between SAG-AFTRA, the union representing about 160,000 actors, and the AMPTP. The two sides are expected to begin negotiating again Monday and hopefully get closer to ending their strike, which has been happening since mid-July.

Persons: John Oliver, “, Billy Joel’s, ” Oliver, —, ”, don’t, ’, I’m, Bill Maher, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon Organizations: New, New York CNN, HBO, CNN, Warner Bros ., Writers Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, SAG Locations: New York

The iconic Hollywood sign is pictured the day after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced it reached a preliminary labor agreement with major studios in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 25, 2023. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) leadership voted unanimously to end the strike on Wednesday, the guild said in a statement. In other areas, the guild said it won guarantees of minimum staffing in writers’ rooms, a key issue for many of its members. Maher and Drew Barrymore had angered writers by saying this month that their talk shows would return before the strike ended. The end of the WGA strike does not return Hollywood to normal.

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Walt Disney, Adam Conover, WE, Conover, David Slack, Bill Maher, Maher, Drew Barrymore, Lisa Richwine, Dawn Chmielewski, Jamie Freed, Leslie Adler, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Writers Guild of America, REUTERS, Guild of America, WGA, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, SAG, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, United States

NEW YORK (AP) — TV's late-high hosts planned to return to their evening sketches and monologues by next week, reinstating the flow of topical humor silenced for five months by the newly-ended Hollywood’s writers strike. “Last Week Tonight” with John Oliver was slated to return to the air Sunday. Scripted shows will take longer to return, with actors still on strike and no negotiations yet on the horizon. On artificial intelligence, the writers got the regulation and control of the emerging technology they had sought. ___For more on the writers and actors strikes, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/

Persons: — TV's, Bill Maher, Bill Maher ”, Jimmy Fallon ”, Seth Meyers, ” ABC’s, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert ”, they'd, John Oliver, Fallon, Meyers, Kimmel, Colbert, Oliver, —, Maher, “, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Hudson, Max, ___ Dalton Organizations: HBO, CBS, Netflix Locations: Instagram, Los Angeles, hollywood

☆ Writers Guild board votes to authorize members to go back to work
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Hollywood writers strike is finally over after 148 days. Leaders of the Writers Guild of America have unanimously voted to authorize its members to return to work following the tentative agreement reached Sunday between union negotiators and Hollywood’s studios and streaming services, effectively ending the months-long strike that has paralyzed the industry. This allows writers to return to work during the ratification process, but does not affect the membership’s right to make a final determination on contract approval,” the WGA wrote online. Most writers’ minimum pay will increase 5% immediately, another 4% in May 2024 and then another 3.5% in May 2025. Bill Maher, who said he would return to air during the writers strike before backing off that pledge, announced Tuesday his show would officially come back Friday.

Persons: ’, ”, Bill Maher Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, WGAE, WGA, SAG, Netflix, Disney

☆ The WGA strike might be ending, but Hollywood’s bigger problems aren’t
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Demonstrators carry signs during the WGA strike in New York City in May. Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty ImagesWhatever the outcome of this battle, though, there are signs Hollywood overall is losing the war. Now with streaming gains slowing, the revenues from those new subscribers aren’t fully offsetting what’s being lost. That’s bad for the creative class.”So, were there “winners” and “losers” in the writers’ strike? To the extent the strike left their fall TV lineups looking relatively bare, this was a loss for them and gift to the streaming services.

Persons: –, Frederic J . Brown, Leonardo Munoz, they’re, “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer, Indiana Jones, ”, CHRIS DELMAS, ’, Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw, Strong ”, Oscar, Drew Barrymore, Bill Maher, Barrymore Organizations: CNN, Guild of America, WGA, Netflix, ”, Getty, Hollywood, Disney, Charter Communications, ESPN, SAG, Warner Bros, of America Locations: AFP, New York City

But when will your favorite shows return? Late-night talk shows were the first to be affected when the strike began, and they may be among the first to return to air now. The actors strike limits promotional appearances that are the lifeblood of late-night shows. “Real Time with Bill Maher.” The host plotted a return without writers but ended up postponing once last week’s negotiations were set. Director Quentin Tarantino's 10th film, “The Movie Critic,” is among the scripts that are written whose makers are awaiting actors' return to sets.

Persons: ”, Quentin Tarantino, JIMMY KIMMEL, Jimmy Fallon, ” ABC’s, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert ”, Drew Barrymore, Bill Maher, ” “ Severance, “ Abbott, Quentin Tarantino's, BARRYMORE, Jennifer Hudson, Barrymore Organizations: ANGELES, Hollywood, CBS, Apple, ABC, Writers Guild of America

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Union leaders and Hollywood studios reached a tentative agreement Sunday to end a historic screenwriters strike after nearly five months, though no deal is yet in the works for striking actors. The Writers Guild of America announced the deal in a joint statement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that represents studios, streaming services and production companies in negotiations. “WGA has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP,” the guild said in an email to members. The tentative deal to end the last writers strike, in 2008, was approved by more than 90% of members. In that walkout, the writers strike started first and ended second.

Persons: —, would've, NBC’s, Jimmy Fallon ”, ABC’s “ Jimmy Kimmel, AFTRA, ”, Bob Iger, Ted Sarandos, David Zaslav, Donna Langley, NBCUniversal, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Gavin Newsom, Netflix's, ABC's, Drew Barrymore, Bill Maher ” Organizations: ANGELES, — Union, Hollywood, Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, WGA, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio, Crew, SAG, Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros ., Los Angeles Mayor, California Gov, Writers Guild of America Locations: Hollywood

☆ The agreement could put talk shows back on the air.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Daniel Victor | More About Daniel Victor | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the actors’ strike continues on, most television shows and movies will not be able to resume without them. But late-night and daytime talk shows could return after the resolution of the writers’ strike, potentially bringing relief to one corner of the industry. There were no immediate announcements of shows returning to air. Some shows, including “The View,” have continued to air new episodes filmed without its unionized writers. Though the same was possible at other shows, many network hosts have opted to stay off the air, reluctant to be seen as not supporting the strikes.

Persons: Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Hudson, Bill Maher ”

☆ Writers Guild making progress in strike talks. But that doesn't mean filming would resume
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The Writers Guild of America could be getting close to a deal to end a nearly five-month strike against Hollywood studios and streaming services. But filming of movies and shows would not be able to resume unless the union representing actors also reaches a deal. Many productions had halted even before SAG-AFTRA joined the WGA on strike July 14. But who appears on those shows should they return before the end of the actors strike is unclear. SAG-AFTRA members are prohibited by union rules from promoting their films and shows while on strike.

Persons: ”, AFTRA, Bill Maher, ” “, Drew Barrymore, Maher Organizations: New, New York CNN, Guild of America, Hollywood, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, CNN, SAG, Warner Bros Locations: New York, Southern California

☆ Drew Barrymore, Bill Maher Delay Return of Their Shows After Backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | Joe Flint | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/business/media/drew-barrymore-halts-new-season-until-writers-strike-is-resolved-e12fe29a

Persons: Dow Jones, barrymore

☆ Writers union will resume strike negotiations with studios this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Members of the Writers Guild of America East are joined by SAG-AFTRA members as they picket at the Warner Bros. The Writers Guild of America said Monday that the union will resume negotiations with Hollywood studios on Wednesday as a shutdown of productions across the TV and movie business drags on. The union told its members to continue joining picket lines as the talks resume. In a first for visual effects workers, Marvel Studios VFX artists voted unanimously last week to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees union. Elsewhere, actor Drew Barrymore and comedian Bill Maher faced widespread criticism when they announced the return of their talk shows despite the WGA strike.

Persons: Drew Barrymore, Bill Maher, Barrymore, Maher Organizations: Writers Guild of America, SAG, Warner Bros, Discovery, The, Guild of America, Hollywood, WGA, Alliance, Television Producers, Marvel Studios, International Alliance, Employees, Marvel, Disney Locations: New York City, Hollywood

☆ Bill Maher Reverses Decision to Restart Show
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Santul Nerkar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Bill Maher said on Monday that he would delay the return of his show, just days after he had said it would resume despite the ongoing screenwriters’ strike against Hollywood studios. Mr. Maher said he reversed his decision to restart his weekly HBO show, “Real Time With Bill Maher,” because contract negotiations between Hollywood studios and striking screenwriters were set to resume this week. Mr. Maher said in a post on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that his earlier decision to restart the show — which he announced last week — came when “there was no end in sight” to the strike. His change of heart followed similar reversals from talk show hosts like Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Hudson over the weekend. Ms. Barrymore said on Sunday that she was pausing the restart of her talk show, “The Drew Barrymore Show,” after facing a barrage of criticism, including being dropped as the host of the National Book Awards.

Persons: Bill Maher, ’, Maher, ”, —, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Hudson, Ms, Barrymore Organizations: Hollywood, HBO

☆ Bill Maher isn’t bringing back his HBO talk show during the writers’ strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Bill Maher has changed his mind and isn’t bringing back his HBO talk show amid the ongoing writer’s strike. “My decision to return to work was made when it seemed nothing was happening and there was no end in sight to this strike,” Maher wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Last week, Maher said he would bring back his talk show, which ignited outrage from members of the WGA since his show employs a number of union members. Over the weekend, Drew Barrymore changed her mind about bringing back her talk show this week after she caught a slew of backlash from Hollywood. CBS’s “The Talk,” as well as Jennifer Hudson’s syndicated talk show, also postponed their season premieres.

Persons: Bill Maher, ” Maher, Maher, “, Drew Barrymore, CBS’s, Jennifer Hudson’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, HBO, Guild of America, WGA, Max, Warner Bros ., SAG Locations: New York

Bill Maher arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar party during the 94th Academy Awards in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., March 27, 2022. The WGA, on strike since early May, said they will resume talks on Wednesday. The WGA said it was "difficult to imagine" how Maher could host the show and still comply with strike rules. The proposed return of "The Drew Barrymore Show" to CBS drew picketers from the striking writers' and actors' unions as taping resumed last week. Following Barrymore, other popular talk shows, including "The Talk" and "The Jennifer Hudson Show" will not be returning during the WGA strike and the Screen Actors Guild strike.

Persons: Bill Maher, Danny Moloshok, Drew Barrymore, Maher, Barrymore, Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, Tomasz Janowski, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, HBO, Twitter, Writers Guild of America, WGA, CBS, Screen Actors Guild, Warner Bros, Discovery, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Hollywood

☆ Wasserman Merges Sports and Entertainment by Buying Brillstein
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For decades, Casey Wasserman has insisted that he would never enter the traditional entertainment business. Film and TV felt too incestuous — his grandfather, Lew Wasserman, reigned as Hollywood’s power broker from the 1960s to the 1990s — and too financially challenged, he would say. Never say never: Mr. Wasserman, 49, on Monday announced that his sports-centered conglomerate, Wasserman, had finalized a deal to buy Brillstein Entertainment Partners, a Hollywood management firm and content production company. Brillstein represents stars like Brad Pitt, Tiffany Haddish, Adam Sandler, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek and Elizabeth Olsen. The lines have blurred a lot more than I think anyone would have expected even five years ago.”

Persons: Casey Wasserman, Lew Wasserman, Wasserman, Brad Pitt, Tiffany Haddish, Adam Sandler, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Elizabeth Olsen, Bill Maher, ” Organizations: Monday, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Paramount Television Studios, Netflix, Disney, “ Locations: Hollywood, “

☆ Drew Barrymore to pause show until Hollywood writers' strike ends
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Rich Mckay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 17 (Reuters) - Actor Drew Barrymore on Sunday said she had backed off plans to bring back her daytime talk show while strikes in Hollywood continue, yielding to an outcry of criticism. The proposed return of "The Drew Barrymore Show" drew picketers from the striking writers' and actors' unions as taping resumed last week. Crew members on the show have been out of work since the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike began in May and shut down production. Other talk shows have also announced plans to return to television. The WGA said it was "difficult to imagine" how Maher, a WGA member, could host the show and still comply with strike rules.

Persons: Drew Barrymore, Barrymore, Bill Maher, Maher, Rich McKay, Deepa Babington Organizations: Sunday, Writers Guild of America, WGA, HBO, Thomson Locations: Hollywood, Atlanta

NEW YORK (AP) — “The Drew Barrymore Show” will begin airing fresh episodes on Monday but a lot of off-air controversy will be clinging to its typically bubbly host. That's because talk shows are covered under a separate contract — the so-called Network Code — from the one actors and writers are striking. People do not forget it.”Viewers who tune into new episodes of daytime talk shows these days will find a changed landscape. Guests aren’t always the A-listers with blockbuster TV shows or films to promote. But Bill Maher and Drew Barrymore and the hosts of ‘The View’ are not just getting by.

Persons: — “, Drew Barrymore, ”, Barrymore —, “, it’s, Michael H, LeRoy, Kelly, Ryan ” —, —, Jennifer Hudson, don’t, they're, Barrymore, It’s, Zayd Ayers Dohrn, Dohrn, Alyssa Milano, I'm, ” LeRoy, aren’t, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ryan ”, Cedric, Matthew McConaughey, ” Bill Maher, ” Dohrn, Bill Maher, We’re, They’re, Krysta Fauria, ___ Mark Kennedy Organizations: University of Illinois, ABC, of America, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, Alliance, Television Producers, Disney, Netflix, Northwestern University, WGA, SAG, MTV, Writers Guild, Major League Baseball Locations: Urbana, Champaign, “

☆ Drew Barrymore 'deeply apologizes' to unions ahead of show return
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Drew Barrymore poses on the red carpet as she arrives for the Time Magazine 100 gala celebrating their list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world in New York City, New York, U.S., April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Actor Drew Barrymore issued a video apology to striking Hollywood writers on Friday but said she will go forward with plans to resume her talk show next week. Barrymore has been subject to protests by members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) who argue that she is violating terms of their work stoppage by filming new episodes of "The Drew Barrymore Show." Thousands of crew members have been out of work since the WGA strike began in May and shut down production. In addition, Barrymore said she "wanted to make a show that was there for people in sensitive times."

Persons: Drew Barrymore, Andrew Kelly, Barrymore, Bill Maher, Maher, Lisa Richwine, Sandra Maler Organizations: Time, REUTERS, Writers Guild of America, WGA, SAG, HBO, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S

☆ Bill Maher Says Show Will Return Despite Writers’ Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( John Koblin | More About John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“The writers have important issues that I sympathize with, and hope they are addressed to their satisfaction, but they are not the only people with issues, problems, and concerns,” he wrote. Tens of thousands of actors have been on strike for two months as well, the first time writers and actors have walked out at the same time since 1960. But over the past three weeks, bargaining has again stalled out, frustrating some big-name Hollywood showrunners in the process. More than 11,000 writers walked out in early May, arguing that their compensation levels and working conditions have deteriorated in the streaming era. The strike caused many talk shows to go dark, including “The Tonight Show,” “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and “Saturday Night Live.”

Persons: ”, “, Stephen Colbert ” Organizations: Labor, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America

☆ Bill Maher is returning to air despite the writers’ strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Bill Maher said his show is returning to air — despite the WGA writer’s strike raging on. “Real Time is coming back, unfortunately, sans writers or writing,” Maher said on Instagram Wednesday. “It has been five months, and it is time to bring people back to work.”Maher’s show is an HBO original. Maher said he is not willing “to lose an entire year and see so many below-the-line people suffer so much.”“Real Time with Bill Maher” is not the only show coming back on air. Maher said the quality of his show won’t be as good without his writers but that he will “honor the spirit of the strike.” Maher said he won’t perform written pieces such as a monologue, desk piece, New Rules or editorial.

Persons: Bill Maher, ” Maher, ”, Maher, Writers Guild of America West, “, Bill Maher ”, Drew Barrymore, Sherri Shepherd, Jennifer Hudson Organizations: New, New York CNN, WGA, HBO, Warner Bros ., Labor, Writers Guild of America Locations: New York, “

☆ Bill Maher says he 'loved' talking to Elon Musk but he 'doesn't get' his beliefs on making more babies and colonizing Mars
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Bill Maher recounted his time interviewing Elon Musk, on his podcast "Club Random." Bill Maher said he "loved" interviewing Elon Musk but he doesn't understand his beliefs about making more babies and colonizing Mars, on a Monday episode of his podcast "Club Random." But while he was largely complimentary on the podcast, Maher added: "I don't agree with everything." Maher said on his podcast that he thinks Musk isn't being motivated by profit, even if he doesn't agree with him. "It's not because he's making money off Mars or babies, it's because he really believes that," he said.

Persons: Bill Maher, Elon Musk, Tesla, Maher, he'd, Musk, Insider's Julia Black Organizations: Morning, HBO, SpaceX Locations: Mars

☆ Twitter is starting to look a lot like Fox News
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk's Twitter is starting to morph into a version of Fox News. Earlier this month, Tucker Carlson announced he would relaunch his show on the platform. Twitter is starting to look a lot like a certain conservative cable giant. Earlier this month, disgraced former Fox News host Tucker Carlson announced he'd be bringing his show to Twitter. Ron DeSantis would be announcing his presidential campaign on Twitter in a conversation with Musk.

☆ Elon Musk called downtown San Francisco — where Twitter is headquartered — a 'derelict zombie apocalypse' amid its huge homelessness and drug issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk commented on the drugs and homelessness crisis in San Francisco calling it a "disaster." The billionaire CEO said the "once beautiful and thriving" area has become a "zombie apocalypse." Twitter CEO Elon Musk tweeted his thoughts about downtown San Francisco lamenting the decline of the "once beautiful and thriving" area and called it a "disaster." San Francisco is also a major tech hub with the likes of Google, Twitter, Apple, and Meta headquartered in or near the city. She considered the conditions in San Francisco as bad as in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, which are notorious for having some of the worst poverty crises on earth.

☆ Late Shows Go Dark in First Fallout From Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( John Koblin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The fallout from the writers’ strike is beginning to hit. Late night shows, including “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” will immediately begin showing repeats, according to several people briefed on the plans. The Comedy Central program “The Daily Show,” which has no dedicated host, will also air repeats, as will the HBO shows hosted by John Oliver and Bill Maher. The writers have said that their compensation has stagnated even as television production has rapidly grown over the past decade. leaders have said the current system is broken, arguing that the “the survival of writing as a profession is at stake in this negotiation.”

☆ Elon Musk tells Bill Maher he's a 'moderate' who has championed sustainable energy, which is 'not exactly far-right'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Tesla chief said he'd spent a "massive amount" of his life developing sustainable energy. "I spent a massive amount of my life energy building sustainable energy, you know, electric vehicles, and batteries, and solar. Musk wants to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy with electric vehicles as well as renewable energy generation and storage. He's also put free speech at the forefront of why he bought the social media platform. Musk told Maher: "Free speech used to be a left or liberal value, and yet we see from the quote 'left' a desire to actually censor, and that seems crazy."

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