"Talk Show Comeback: The Talk Returns Despite WGA Strike"
CBS has confirmed earlier reports by Deadline that the daytime talk show, The Talk, will be returning to the studio and launching its new season on September 18. The return of the talk show makes headline news, following similar comeback plans by other talk show hosts and in spite of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) members picketing a run-through outside CBS Radford.
A premier player in the daytime TV circuit, The Talk went dark last May due to the striking writers. However, it appears the team behind the talk show, led by Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell, and Sheryl Underwood, is ready to resume production. While it’s unclear whether all five hosts will return to film, CBS Studios, the production company behind The Talk, has not provided comments on the matter.
The news follows a similar update from The Drew Barrymore Show, a talk show hosted by Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore, which faced WGA picketing in New York City on its first day of filming. Barrymore, like fellow talk show hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Kelly Ripa, and Mark Consuelos, has elected to continue filming in spite of the labor crisis and existing membership with Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). On the contrary, actor Mayim Bialik chose to opt out from hosting a similar show - Jeopardy!, which today made a comeback with Ken Jennings at its helm.
Given the intricacies of talk show regulations, WGA members previously held the responsibility of writing for such shows. As per current SAG-AFTRA guidelines, talk shows can continue filming; however, the issue lies primarily with the writing departments.
Barrymore stated that her show plans to comply with WGA rules and won’t promote struck work. The setup at The Talk seems to follow suit, with one writing position among its 150 strong team currently remaining vacant due to the strike.
The Talk, heading towards its 14th season, is now led by Rob Crabbe following Kristin Matthews' departure after a 13-year tenure. Crabbe, the former executive producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden, has stepped in as the new showrunner and executive producer of The Talk.
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Now, wasn't that an earful? As we all know, the world of daytime television is ever so turbulent, but this recent wave of comebacks sounds like something taken straight from a summer blockbuster - "Talk Show: Rise of the Ad Libs". That does have a ring to it, doesn't it?
It's indeed commendable how these shows are bouncing back despite the palpable tension in the air, charged by the ongoing writer’s strike. Playing by the "show must go on" mantra, these shows are casting off the script, and it seems, stepping into something that comes naturally to many of us - winging it!
Let's not forget to give Drew Barrymore a nod. Despite being caught in the crossfire between her loyalty to the show and her allegiance to the WGA, she’s navigated these waters competently. And then there's The Talk, which seems like a hardy old ship resiliently pushing against the waves.
Adding to the already simmering pot of drama is talk show veteran Mayim Bialik's refusal to play ball, invoking a sense of integrity that’s long been the soul of showbiz. Now, isn't that something?
So, as the industry continues to dance to the tune of the striking writers, it'll be interesting to see how these talk shows fare in their comeback season. Will they captivate audiences with their free-flowing, unscripted content, or will they make us yearn for the return of our dear WGA writers? Only time will tell. But in the land of Hollywood, isn’t it always a bit of both? As they say, the show must always... you know the drill.
