The eight-day Hollywood actors’ strike has echoed in a neighboring industry that was non-existent during the last union shutdown 43 years ago, and the actors who host the podcast are divided over how or whether to continue the show.
The strikes formally target film and television productions associated with the Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance, which includes all of Hollywood’s major studios and streamers such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple. But messages from the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA banning the promotion of the studio’s past or future work have left some union members unsure whether their podcasts violate union policy.
The actors host podcasts summarizing their TV shows. “Philadelphia is always sunny“”One Tree Hill” and “skeletonFor example, a special episode was canceled or done this week.
But similar podcasts also include stuff about “”.Will & Grace“”gilmore girls“”new girl” and “Beverly Hills, 90210— continue as planned. “Episode of.OLAccording to a source close to the show, the podcast “The Office” about “The Office” was released two days later than planned after hosts Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey debated how to proceed.
On Monday’s episode of the “One Tree Hill” rewatch podcast “Drama Queens,” actors Sophia Bush, Hilary Burton Morgan and Bethany Joy Lenz expressed unease about whether the show could continue in its normal format, instead answering listeners’ questions.
“Even though it was filmed 20 years ago, our show is still streaming, so does it count as a promotion to do a rewatch pod?” Barton Morgan asked, noting that they were waiting for a “clear answer” from the union. President Bush later said that “no one really knows” what the guidelines allow.
Actresses Emily Deschanel and Carla Gallo, who appear on the “Bones” rewatch podcast, “Boneheads,” which was set to air this week, announced the postponement of the show in a statement Wednesday.
“We are awaiting additional guidance from the Guild and will update everyone as soon as we have a new release date,” the statement reads.
SAG-AFTRA spokeswoman Pamela Greenwalt said in a phone call on Friday that the Actors Guild considers rewatching podcasts to be a promotional act, but that it would not be considered a violation for an actor under contract to produce such a show to continue.
Further complicating matters is the fact that many Hollywood studios and streamers also have podcast departments. For example, Amazon owns or distributes several podcasts featuring actors through its subsidiaries Audible and Wondery.smart dress, hosted by Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. “life is short with justin long,Hosted by Justin Long. and “Baby this is Kiki Palmerwas hosted by Kiki Palmer. All of these shows released new episodes this week.
Neither Audible nor Wanderly are directly affiliated with the film and television alliance, but their ties to Amazon could put their co-stars in an uncomfortable position. Representatives for Bateman, Arnett, Hayes, Long and Palmer did not respond to requests for comment. SAG-AFTRA’s Greenwalt said podcasts produced by members of the Film and Television Alliance were not necessarily in violation and that actors with questions should consult the alliance.
Podcasts could become an important source of work if strikes keep actors out of film and TV sets for months, as some on both sides fear. The majority of SAG-AFTRA’s 160,000 members are working-class performers, many of whom say the film and TV streaming economy makes it harder than ever to make a living.
Some types of podcasts are not in dispute, such as those that are not related to AMPTP and do not feature discussion of works produced by AMPTP. Actress and author Natasha Leggero on her dating podcast,endless honeymoon“She said the show is moving forward with her husband, comedian Moshe Kasher. “Even when actors and writers are on strike, people still need advice and have dirty secrets to air,” Leggero said.
According to union guidelines, actors are free to appear as guests on celebrity interview podcasts as long as they don’t “advertise strike work.” But in reality, asking performers not to talk about their work can be awkward for everyone involved.
In a recent episode of the Comedy Podcast, “Lovette or leave“I love what you’re doing,” host Jon Lovett greeted guest actor Jared Goldstein. Goldstein, who is starring in the latest season of ‘Black Mirror,’ responded, ‘Oh, thank you for liking my work.
