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After Drew Barrymore, Bill Maher, Jennifer Hudson and Conversation reverse course of premiering their talk shows, which some WGA members are now targeting Dancing with the stars and wondering why the dance competition is returning to ABC after September 26.
Picketing writers like David Slack used X to remind fellow trade unionists DWTS is a WGA show, though most of the banter is improvised based on what just happened on the dance floor. A source close to the production told Deadline that the show, which otherwise employs 500 people, typically only has one WGA writer working on it. Even then, the source said, the writer is producing interview points for host Alfonso Ribeiro.
DWTS also aired during the 2007-08 writers’ strike and was not demoed.
It didn’t stop Slack from writing on X that “by appearing on a WGA-covered show using scab writing, anyone appearing on Dancing With the Stars will encourage AMPTP to refuse to make deals while they wait to see if scab writing works…The writers have been on strike for 139 days and are still increasing. Most shows are closed. By giving the studios a scabby show, the strike will last longer and every other team in Hollywood will be out of a job… I know you are all under contract and this is a tough situation. But if Drew Barrymore can step up and do the right thing on her own, I hope you can do it together in solidarity.”
Continuing union member Bill Wolkoff on X, who promises to demonstrate on the former CBS TV City lot, “I’m glad this news is finally coming to light. The DWTS live taping takes place at CBS TV City. We’re going to have a BIG week at our WGA Demonstrations that have decided to return. This extends the strike! Spread the word #DWTSisWGA.”
Many of the new contestants – including VeepMatt Walsh (who is also a member of the WGA), How I met your motheris Alyson Hannigan and The Vanderpump Rules‘ Ariana Madix – have been tagged in X posts. The show’s most famous participant, Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, was even asked directly on social media whether her participation violated the rules of the strike.
The actress replied, “No, we can do reality / unscripted / competition or documentary shows. It’s a different contract.”
He’s right: variety shows like DWTS are included in the SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, better known as the Network Code. It is separate from the film and television collective bargaining agreement negotiated by SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP and is between the union and the Big 4 broadcast network, as well as other producers. It’s the same rule that applies to daytime soaps and morning shows.
SAG has also signed on for a new season DWTS. That said, ABC can continue to do so as well Celebrity Jeopardy! and Celebrities Wheel of Fortunewhich are the main pillars of his autumn plan.
At least one ex-pro thinks so DWTS should remain dark until resolution is achieved. When promoting your new podcast Sex, lies and spray tanswith, Cheryl Burke told Variety that the show should “hold fast. I think we must stand as one. We have to really unite and not just say we’re united.” Burke left the show in November after 26 seasons.
“I have mixed feelings about the Drew Barrymore thing,” Burke said. “Even during a pandemic, people can say, ‘Why would you do that?’ When you’re talking about the entertainment industry, it’s a sensitive topic. In order for things to change, we have to stick together, not to mention, because if one show decides to think about the show on its own, big changes it’s not going to do it. It’s not going to change the way these other people — the team of adversaries — think. At the end of the day, we have to stick together because that’s the only way to make any meaningful change. Even the cast of ‘Friends,’ when they asked for more money, everyone held together. The problem is, if we don’t do that, we’re setting a precedent, and I don’t think that’s going to be good for the show, to be quite honest, in the long run. I understand what he’s thinking, and I get it. It’s a business, but without the rest of the business there is no business.”
