The Jennifer Hudson Show will not premiere Season 2 on September 18 as planned amid writers strike
The Jennifer Hudson Show has been taping episodes and planned to return to TV with new shows on Monday September 18 despite the Writers Guild of America strike. But on Sunday afternoon, the production backed down, announcing the Jennifer Hudson daytime talk show would push back it’s premiere date and pause production.
A firestorm of criticism met Drew Barrymore when she announced her eponymous daytime talk show show would return amid the writers strike. After doubling down on her decision earlier this week and drawing even more criticism, she finally announced earlier on Sunday that she would be pausing the show. CBS’ The Talk on Sunday, also decided to postpone their premiere.
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That would have left The Jennifer Hudson Show as one of the only daytime talk shows covered by the WGA to proceed amid the strike. Other shows still airing that are covered by the WGA include ABC’s The View. The Sherri Shepherd Show, set to premiere on Monday, The Tamron Hall Show and Live with Kelly and Mark are not covered by the WGA.
Kelly Clarkson has NOT announced a premiere date yet
The Kelly Clarkson Show has yet to announced a premiere date. Kelly and her crew are in New York City preparing for their eventual premiere. Production moved from Universal Studios in Los Angeles to 30 Rock for Kelly Clarkson’s upcoming season.
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The Screen Actors Guild of America is also on strike, but talk shows operate under the SAG-AFTRA Network Code, allowing hosts to continue in their hosting role, so none of the hosts are violating SAG-AFTRA rules.
Jennifer Hudson planned to welcome Gwen Stefani, Niall Horan, Carrie Ann Inaba as guests during now postponed premiere week
The American Idol season 3 alum’s guest line up for the week included Gwen Stefani and Niall Horan, promoting the upcoming season of The Voice, country singer Kane Brown, and Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba. Because of the SAG strike, booking A list celebrities would have been a problem, as strike rules do not allow actors to promote their work during a strike.
Interestingly, Drew Barrymore endured the most media blowback for her decision to return amid the strike. Her decision to announce the show’s return on Instagram, and take full responsibility for it, was probably a mistake. For one thing, a decision to return to air would have been a decision made by higher-ups, and there is no doubt there is intense pressure to return. Jennifer has kept a low profile, as did the other hosts. But with Drew deciding to pause her show, Jennifer and the others would have been next in the firing line.
Syndicated shows are bound by contracts to deliver a set number of shows a season or be penalized, thus daytime talk shows are currently walking a fine line during the strike. However shows resuming production during a strike weaken the bargaining power of the union. The writers and actors need to play hardball against productions that don’t support them.
