Dr. Phil and More CBS Studios Deals Suspended Amid Strikes; Salary and Benefits for Assistants Covered Through End of 2023

Now that the Writers Guild of America strike is officially over, deals that were suspended are in the process of being reinstated.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer The strike is over, but the fight is not yet won. On Wednesday, as the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike formally ended after 148 days, Variety spoke with newly elected WGA East president Lisa Takeuchi Cullen and WGA East executive director Lowell Peterson about the end of the work stoppage at the East coast guild’s membership meeting to discuss their tentative three-year MBA agreement with the Hollywood studios.

EXCLUSIVE: The McLusky will be down another member next season, I hear. According to sources, Dianne Wiest will not be returning to Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount+ drama series for its upcoming third season.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Negotiations between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Hollywood studios continued into Friday night as questions swirled around town regarding whether a deal had been reached or if talks had once again broken down. There is no word yet on a potential deal, but insiders with knowledge of ongoings in the room say there is momentum on both sides to find a resolution that will end the 144-day writers strike. Friday’s talks are said to have begun at approximately 11 a.m.

Andrew Garfield and James Corden stepped out for a good cause.

James Corden has opened up about “feeling compelled to come home” after nearly a decade on The Late Late Show, as he urged British TV decision-makers to take more risk.

Gordon Ramsay is taking on an exciting new project.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Duff Goldman is staying put at his longtime TV home Food Network. The Ace of Cakes has signed a new multiyear, multiproject pact with the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned brand, covering both currently airing series, like Goldman’s beloved “Baking Championship” franchise of seasonal competitions, and upcoming titles, including the upcoming holiday event series “The Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown.” Among Goldman’s other recent Food Network series are “Ace of Taste,” “Cake Masters,” “Dessert Games,” “Buddy vs.

Apple has become the latest entertainment company to suspend additional overall and first-look deals this month as the WGA strike is getting past the four-and-a-half-month mark.

The “Drew Barrymore Show”‘s co-head writer, Cristina Kinon, is attempting to change her boss, Drew Barrymore’s decision to resume her daytime talk show on September 18.

BreAnna Bell Erica Campbell, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Israel Houghton, Tamela Mann, David Mann, Naomi Raine, Loretta Devine and Michelle Williams will appear in Season 2 of BET+’s “Kingdom Business,” Variety has learned. After an intense finale cliffhanger, the second installment picks up with Denita Jordan (Yolanda Adams) tries to protect her kingdom after going through tragedy.

EXCLUSIVE: Disney has become the latest entertainment company to suspend additional overall and first-look deals four and a half months into the WGA strike.

McKinley Franklin editor “Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen” has been acquired by CBS to temporarily take over the 12:37 a.m. timeslot vacated by “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” That timeslot will eventually be replaced with a new version of the former Comedy Central series “@midnight” — but after the Hollywood strikes are resolved. For now, “Comics Unleashed” will fill the slot in a limited run with nightly airings beginning on Monday, Sept.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Entertainment workers have moved to take more than $44 million out of their individual retirement accounts as they endure months without work due to the strikes. Nearly 3,000 workers have filed for hardship withdrawals, according to an update circulated on Friday by the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans. The average withdrawal is about $15,000.

More studios are suspending additional overall and first-look deals almost four and a half months into the WGA strike.

Long-running syndicated comedy talk show Comics Unleashed With Byron Allen is joining the CBS fall late-night lineup for a limited run during the strikes. The show will air nightly with two back-to-back episodes each night beginning Monday, September 18 from 12:37-1:37 AM, ET/PT following repeats of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on the CBS network and streaming on Paramount+. The Late Late Show formerly aired in the timeslot. All late-night shows have been airing repeats since the strikes began.

Tennis fans are marvelling at the on-court performance of Coco Guaff, the 19-year old phenom who defeated Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus to win this year’s US Open.

Coco Gauff won her first Grand Slam title in front of so many celebrity onlookers!

Jennifer Lopez showed off her chic Western vibes on the red carpet while arriving for the Ralph Lauren fashion show during 2023 New York Fashion Week on Friday night (September 8) in New York City.

Ryan Murphy and Greg Berlanti are both making a huge commitment to the cast and crews out of work due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.