It’s not a coincidence that after the AMPTP hired a crisis PR firm that shows from Drew Barrymore to Bill Maher to The Talk to Jennifer Hudson are or are saying they plan to return to air without their writers. Similar language of needing to care for other workers and the WGA not being the only talent that’s important suggest a concerted effort to weaken the WGA stance and depict the writers as selfish and stubborn. And, frankly, the writers dominated the PR side of things for a long time, and losing that dominance as the AMPTP has finally brought on competent help for its own messaging is exceedingly dangerous for the WGA (which is also being positioned as fissuring from within, showrunners versus regular writers). The WGA needs to move, now, even though its negotiating power has already been eroded, before the AMPTP messaging takes hold even more.
Disclaimer: I have no inside information, but the playbook here isn’t new and the WGA needs to win what it can.
Drew: What was your guys conversation to take on such an iconic role? What did you say to Timothée? Taking on Wonka is a thing.
Paul: I felt very confident that he was going to be great. So for me, we had a list of one [Wonka]. I just thought he was extraordinary and I really wanted him to do the movie. I didn’t want to do the movie if he wasn’t going to do the movie. I think I was in seduce mode.
And each season is different than the other. There's a through line with Jennifer Coolidge, that's who they're saying you need to be a relative of hers. She was the string from one to two. That's not a spoiler. It is a masterpiece, and now I want to vote for that, too.
PAMELA ANDERSON & DREW BARRYMORE
The Drew Barrymore Show (February 10, 2023)
Drew Barrymore celebrates EverAfter's (1998) 25th anniversary with her co-stars Melanie Lynskey and Megan Dodds.
On The Drew Barrymore Show producer-host Drew Barrymore hosted a special 25th anniversary reunion for her film Ever After alongside three original cast members.
The 48-year-old former child star's team had 'about a week' to recreate Jenny Beavan's 16th century costumes for the nostalgic segment.
Drew - who starred as Danielle de Barbarac - enlisted Matthew Kilgore to create her Cinderella-inspired gold-and-peach embellished gown, and Deanna Bridges crafted her custom wings.