A slew of US talk shows have been yanked off air with immediate effect as Hollywood is hit by strike action.
Thousands of screenwriters are staging a mass walkout over pay, which is affecting shows including The Late Show, Tonight with Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
It comes as The Writers Guild of America has voted for strike action.
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In a statement, the WGA confirmed: “Though we negotiated intent on making a fair deal – and though your strike vote gave us the leverage to make some gains – the studios’ responses to our proposals have been wholly insufficient, given the existential crisis writers are facing.
“We must now exert the maximum leverage possible to get a fair contract by withholding our labour.”
(Image: Rosalind O’Connor/NBC via Getty Images)
Other shows affected include Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Daily Show.
As for weekend slots, it is not yet confirmed whether shows like Saturday Night Live and Real Time with Bill Maher will be pulled off air.
Comedian Pete Davidson was scheduled to make his own comeback to SNL to promote his new series Bupkis – and joked that he’s taking the action “personally”.
(Image: NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Speaking on The Tonight Show, Pete quipped: “It sucks because it just feeds my weird story I have in my head, like, of course that would happen to me.”
But he’s not the only celeb affected by the industrial action. Celebs slated for Stephen Colbert’s show this week included Michael J. Fox and Priyanka Chopra, while Emma Chamberlain, Jennifer Lopez and Elle Fanning were set to chat to Jimmy Fallon.
Jimmy Kimmel, meanwhile, was ready to welcome Dr. Phil, Will Poulter and Ricky Gervais.
Thankfully, chat show hosts in the US are coming out in support of the strikes, with The Late Show presenter Seth Meyers telling Deadline: “I love writing. I love writing for TV and I love writing this show.
“No one is entitled to a job in show business. But for those people who have a job, they are entitled to fair compensation. They are entitled to make a living.”
He added: “I think it’s a very reasonable demand that’s being set out by the guild. And I support those demands.”
It’s not the first time the WGA have voted to strike. In 2007 and 2008, the guild walked out for 100 days – bringing the world of TV to a halt.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
