John Oliver Lashes Out At Studios In Late Night Return After Writers Strike: ‘Could Have Offered Deal On Day One’

Forbes Business Breaking John Oliver Lashes Out At Studios In Late Night Return After Writers Strike: ‘Could Have Offered Deal On Day One’ Siladitya Ray Forbes Staff Covering breaking news and tech policy stories at Forbes. Following Oct 2, 2023, 06:29am EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Updated Oct 2, 2023, 06:29am EDT Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline In his opening monologue on Sunday’s Last Week Tonight episode—one of the first late-night shows to return to air after the writers’ strike—host John Oliver took aim at Hollywood studio executives and blamed them for prolonging a strike by refusing to offer a fair deal on day one. File Photo: John Oliver called out Hollywood studios for dragging their feet on offering a fair deal .

. . [+] to writers as “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” returned to air on Sunday.

Invision Key Facts The comedian began the monologue with a recap of events from the previous five months that he could not cover while the strike was ongoing, including former President Donald Trump’s mugshot, Rep. Lauren Boebert being kicked out from a performance of the Beetlejuice musical, the Titan submersible tragedy, Sen. Bob Menedez’s (D-N.

J. ) indictment among others. Oliver noted that he would have loved to have covered the stories when they originally broke but was unable to as people who wrote for him “were forced to strike for a fair contract for the last five months.

” The late-night host said he was happy the striking writers won a fair deal but said he was “furious that it took the studios 148 days to achieve a deal that they could have offered on day fucking one. ” Oliver said the strike was an “immensely difficult time” not just for the writers but every other person working on the show and “many others who could no longer do their jobs. ” The comedian said the strike happened for “good reasons” as the industry has seen “its workers severely squeezed in recent years,” as he mentioned writers and actors whose work people may recognize, “not making enough to qualify for health insurance or afford basic needs.

” Crucial Quote Oliver wrapped up his monologue on the strikes by expressing hope that it will drive more labor action from workers in the near future: “Hopefully, this might encourage others, from auto workers to Starbucks baristas to healthcare providers, whether they are in unions or would like to be, to find power in each other. And within our particular industry. ” What To Watch For The four major late-night shows airing on broadcast networks— Late Night With Seth Meyers , The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon , Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert —will return to air on Monday night after being away for five months.

All four hosts were supportive of the WGA and its strike before the shows went off the air. It is unclear if any of them will follow Oliver in blaming the studios for dragging the negotiations so long. Tangent Oliver wasn’t the first late-night host to return to air after the end of the strike.

Instead, it was Bill Maher whose Real Time with Bill Maher aired on Friday. Maher was much more muted in his praise of the WGA, only thanking them for expediting “the paperwork” to bring his show back on air. Maher had previously faced backlash from the writers after he announced plans to restart his show last month while the strike was ongoing.

The comedian and host eventually walked back this decision. Further Reading Writers’ Strike Is Over: ‘Jennifer Hudson Show’ Announces Return Date As These Other Shows Return To Air (Forbes) Follow me on Twitter . Send me a secure tip .

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