WGA Approves Strike Authorization With 97.9% Voting Yes

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor A number of restaurants and bars have decided to show solidarity with striking members of the Writers Guild by offering discounts on menu items and drinks. Writers can’t live on donuts alone, even if they’re delivered by Jay Leno, nor will the generous offers of pizza sent to picket lines solely sustain the hundreds of sign-carrying scribes marching in front of studios across Los Angeles and New York. In Silver Lake, All Day Baby is offering discounted $8 daiquiris, and owner Lien Ta wrote on Instagram, “All Day Baby is so lucky to receive regular support from writers — we have both investors and guests who are a part of our special tapestry. For example, the writers’ room at ‘Shrinking’ even keeps score of how many days one of their writers goes with or without mentioning ADB! We’re disappointed that Hollywood isn’t matching value with worth for our industry’s writers; and in a way, the restaurant industry can relate to these writers: they are like the chefs/cooks of film + TV, writing integral and delicious recipes, and without their talent, there would be no product or project for millions to benefit.”

Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which serves as labor representatives for Hollywood’s studios, have released a new statement breaking down their stance on the various sticking points that caused a deal with the Writers Guild of America to fall apart. In a four-page document that can be read here, the AMPTP addressed several issues that were raised by the WGA in their pattern of demands, most notably the guild’s proposal for a minimum of six writers on all TV productions with more required depending on the number of episodes.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America West held a rally Wednesday night to demonstrate solidarity with the other Hollywood unions in their collective contract battles against Hollywood’s major employers. About 1,800 guild members attended the meeting at the Shrine Auditorium, and heard from WGA leaders about the reasons behind the two-day old strike. One of the stars of the show, however, was Lindsay Dougherty, the 39-year-old leader of Teamsters Local 399. “We’re all sticking together,” Dougherty told Variety outside the event. “We have an opportunity to change things in this industry, and the only way we’re going to do that is if we’re together.”

The Writers’ Strike has arrived, and Hollywood is breaking out into a flop sweat about what could happen if it’s a prolonged détente. The last work stoppage in 2007-2008 lasted 14 weeks and severely disrupted the filming of countless episodic television series, kiboshed a handful of movies while others were rushed into production with barely coherent scripts (“Quantum of Solace” being the classic example), and saw the Golden Globes canceled (okay, maybe it wasn’t all bad).

Writers Strike has officially begun, which will result in writers stopping all work to picket the studios. This halt means that many scripted projects will inevitably go dark, resulting in a Hollywood shutdown not seen since COVID, and not felt since the last WGA strike took place 15 years ago. Variety will keep readers updated with a rolling list of everything that has been on hold as a result of the strike, which went into effect Tuesday. For more information about the strike, check out Variety’s FAQ primer on what it means in the industry. LATE-NIGHT SHOWS GO DARK. ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” CBS’ “The Late Show,” and NBC’s “Tonight” and “Late Night” are all going on hiatus and repeats will be shown. HBO will also cease live production of “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “This Week Tonight” with John Oliver. Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” (which was currently being hosted by a rotating cast of comedians) is also on hiatus.

At Amazon Ads NewFront presentation Monday, James Marsden took the stage to talk about his new Freevee comedy series Jury Duty, Tracee Ellis Ross was there to discuss her collaboration with Amazon Live on her beauty care line, and writer-producer Shea Serrano spoke about his upcoming Freevee series Primo.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Fast-rising R&B star Brent Faiyaz has struck a wide-ranging partnership with Steve Stoute’s company UnitedMasters that spans a recording partnership and a creative agency. UnitedMasters CEO and founder Steve Stoute says, “Brent Faiyaz is one of the most prolific independent artists today and we are extremely excited to embark on this new partnership with him. It’s been inspiring to watch his journey as an artist over the years and with this partnership we look to further amplify his creative vision and support his entrepreneurial ambitions.”

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor TV’s late-night shows are going to bed early for the foreseeable future. ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” CBS’ “The Late Show,” and NBC’s “Tonight” and “Late Night” are all going on’ hiatus as a result of the start of the Hollywood writers’ strike — and the shows could be off the air for at least a few weeks. In place of new programs, NBC, CBS and ABC will air repeats of those shows. HBO will also cease live production of “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “This Week Tonight” with John Oliver. Immediate word on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” was not available. Writers play an integral role in TV’s late-night schedule, bashing out multiple jokes, one-liners and sketches each day that play off current events and trending popular culture. The contract between the Writers’ Guild of American an the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents about 350 TV and film production companies, ended on May 1.

What was long feared has come to pass, the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers could not reach a new contract agreement. At midnight, May 1, the WGA went on strike with picketing scheduled to begin in front of Hollywood studios and networks beginning Tuesday afternoon.

Nightly talk shows including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, are set to go dark starting on Tuesday after writers agreed to strike.

AMPTP and the WGA concluded without an agreement today,” the AMPTP said in a statement issued Monday night.” The AMPTP presented a comprehensive package proposal to the Guild last night which included generous increases in compensation for writers as well as improvements in streaming residuals. The AMPTP also indicated to the WGA that it is prepared to improve that offer, but was unwilling to do so because of the magnitude of other proposals still on the table that the Guild continues to insist upon. The primary sticking points are “mandatory staffing,” and “duration of employment” — Guild proposals that would require a company to staff a show with a certain number of writers for a specified period of time, whether needed or not.

The Writers Guild sent a message to its members Monday evening saying that picketing will begin Tuesday afternoon if a deal on a new contract can’t be reached tonight.

Talks between the writers and the studios have concluded tonight without an agreement.

The American Federation of Musicians is the latest union to pledge solidarity with the WGA in its ongoing negotiations for a new film and scripted TV contract. Earlier this week, SAG-AFTRA, the DGA, IATSE and the Teamsters all expressed support for the WGA in its contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.

Teamsters leaders, saying their members “do not cross picket lines,” have joined the chorus of unions supporting the WGA in its ongoing negotiations for a new film and TV contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Those talks are now in their final week, and a strike, if it comes to that, could come as early as next Tuesday.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Writers Guild of America issued a detailed set of strike rules to its members on Tuesday, advising them that they will be barred from writing, pitching or negotiating for work if a strike is called. The guild also spelled out the rules for showrunners and other “hyphenates.” WGA members who are also producers, performers, or directors would be legally allowed to continue working, provided they do not perform any writing services. “The Guild strongly believes that no member should cross a WGA picket line or enter the premises of a struck company for any purpose,” the guild stated. “Under applicable law, however, the Guild may not discipline a hyphenate for performing purely non-writing services.”

This week’s guest is Cheryl Strayed.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain says it’s ready to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with its U.S. counterpart if a strike goes ahead. “Many of their issues are our issues,” said WGGB chair Lisa Holdsworth in a statement shared with Variety. “Their fight is our fight. We hope that the WGA reaches a deal but we are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with our sister union and their members in support of every writer’s right to be paid a decent rate for their work, to be treated with respect and to be financially rewarded for the success of their work – including subsequent use and sales.”

The Writers Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) has once again thrown its weight behind the WGA, with its chair saying the WGGB will “stand shoulder to shoulder with our sister union.”

The WGA is expected to receive overwhelming support for a strike authorization today after writers have been voting for the past week.