Will 'Dancing with the Stars' Be Postponed?
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ABC was late to announce the return date for Dancing with the Stars, just revealing last Wednesday that the competition series would premiere on a new night when it kicks off its 32nd season on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
But now with so many shows like The Drew Barrymore Show, The Talk and Bill Maher’s Real Time reversing their decisions to go back into production with their talk shows until the strike is resolved, could DWTS follow suit?
The majority of the talent falls under the auspices of SAG-AFTRA union rules, but as we have seen so far there are exceptions as to who is on strike. Variety shows, reality series and game shows are covered under the SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, which is separate from the film and TV collective bargaining agreement that is being negotiated. So, there is no problem there.
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Even so, the Zoey 102 and Sweet Magnolias star Jamie Lynn Spears, who will be partnered with Alan Bersten, revealed on Good Morning America that she will be donating her salary to SAG-AFTRA and the WGA amid their ongoing strike.
"While everybody else in my community is on strike, I have this unique opportunity where I was offered a chance to work when my community cannot work,” she said. “So, I figured I'll do this and I will donate my weekly salary... to just give back to them at a time where they can't give back to themselves."
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What will be affected during the strike are the video packages that precede a performance. To honor the SAG-AFTRA strike, no footage from past shows or movies will be shown. So, no Brady Bunch or Buffy clips for Barry Williams or Alyson Hannigan.
So with that consideration, the union talent like Alfonso Ribeiro, Julianne Hough, Derek Hough, Mira Sorvino, Hannigan, Williams, and Spears are cleared to head into the ballroom, what is less clear is if the WGA strike affects DWTS. Social media is abuzz with word that Dancing with the Stars is technically under a WGA contract and that Dave Boone, its one writer who has written for the show since its inception in 2004, could lead to the show being picketed.
But a Variety story reports that the show will go on strike or no strike.
“Everyone’s focus is to keep 500 people employed,” a production source told Variety. This individual says that the WGA writer will be back at work as soon as the strike comes to an end, and that he mainly works with the hosts.
The question remains though, if the WGA pickets the show, will talent cross the picket line?
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Former pro dancer Cheryl Burke weighed in during an interview with Variety, saying, "Well, after the Drew Barrymore thing, I have mixed feelings. Even in the pandemic, people can say, “Why would you do this?” When you’re talking about the entertainment industry, this is a sensitive subject. In order for things to change, we have to stick together, point blank, because if one show just decides to think about the show on its own, this is not going to make big changes. It is not going to change the way these other people — the opposing team — are thinking. At the end of the day, we have to stick together because that’s the only way to ever make any significant change. Even the cast of Friends, when they asked for more money, they all stuck together. The problem is that if we don’t, then we’re setting a precedent and I don’t think it’s gonna be good for the show, to be quite honest, in the long run. I understand what they’re thinking and I get it. It’s a business, but there is no business without the rest of the business."
The hopeful news is that the writers and the studios are set to to resume negotiations on Wednesday, so if the strike is settled, it would be a non-issue.
The guild sent the following to its members: “The WGA and AMPTP now have a confirmed schedule to bargain this week, starting on Wednesday. You might not hear from us in the coming days while we are negotiating but know that our focus is getting a fair deal for writers as soon as possible. We’ll reach out again when there is something of significance to report. In the meantime, please continue to demonstrate your commitment and unity by coming out to the picket lines—for yourselves and fellow writers, SAG-AFTRA, other unions’ members, and all those in our community who are impacted by the strikes.”
Dancing with the Stars is set to premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
