Writers strike a deal with the studios allowing DWTS and talk shows to proceed with premieres
On Sunday evening, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) that effectively ends a nearly five-month writers strike. The two sides reported they had reached agreement in principle on a new 2023 Minimum Basic Agreement after resolving the final outstanding issues, including important provisions related to artificial intelligence and staffing in writers rooms.
The WGA’s joint statement with the AMPTP described the deal as tentative and subject to final contract language and internal votes. The guild notified members that the agreement covers all key deal points in principle, and that WGA leadership — including the WGAW Board and WGAE Council — would hold ratification votes. Pending those internal approvals, the union indicated that the strike technically remained in effect, but that all picketing activities were suspended to allow writers to return to work during the ratification period.
DWTS to premiere as schedule on Sept 26, WGA member Matt Walsh will rejoin the cast
Dancing with the Stars had been weighing whether to delay its scheduled season premiere after it emerged that one of its writers was a WGA member. Cast member Matt Walsh, who belongs to both the WGA and the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), publicly paused his participation while union picketers demonstrated at studios where rehearsals were taking place. Producers had been closely monitoring the situation amid ongoing pickets aimed at productions that continued amid the labor dispute.
With the tentative WGA-AMPTP agreement in place, network executives confirmed that Dancing with the Stars will proceed with its planned premiere on September 26. Matt Walsh has indicated he will rejoin the cast following the tentative deal and the suspension of picketing. Throughout the strike period, the show maintained promotion of the new season and kept the premiere date on the schedule, even as picketers were present near production facilities on multiple days.
Had the tentative agreement not been reached, producers faced the difficult choice of pausing the show or accepting continued protests during rehearsals and live tapings. The resolution of key issues in the talks has cleared the way for productions that rely on scripted contributions from WGA members to move forward, subject to the guild’s ratification process.
The Screen Actors Guild supported DWTS cast members
SAG-AFTRA remains on strike at the time of the tentative WGA agreement, and its picket lines continue to influence many productions. However, SAG-AFTRA issued guidance supporting members who chose to fulfill contractual obligations on Dancing with the Stars. The union noted that many performers signed contracts or option agreements requiring them to appear if producers exercised those options, and that failing to appear could expose performers to breach-of-contract claims.
Accordingly, SAG-AFTRA advised that it cannot instruct members not to work in situations where contractual obligations apply. That position meant that actors participating in DWTS were able to proceed with the show without facing union discipline, while broader strike actions and negotiations continued across the industry.
Talk shows like The Jennifer Hudson Show and The Kelly Clarkson Show will be free to return with new episodes
The tentative agreement also impacts daytime talk shows that rely on writers to produce new episodes. With the WGA and studios reaching a deal in principle, talk shows that had delayed premieres or limited new episodes during the strike are now positioned to announce return dates and resume taping. Several programs were already planning fall schedules, and the lifting of active picketing by writers clears a major obstacle to restarting production.
Some hosts had postponed planned launches or adjusted their schedules in response to the strike. For example, one program that had been preparing a mid-September debut delayed its premiere amid the labor unrest. Now, with the tentative settlement, producers and networks are expected to confirm premiere dates and communicate production plans to audiences. Viewers can anticipate new episodes returning to broadcast and streaming lineups as shows finalize their taping schedules and staffing under the terms of the new agreement.
While the WGA’s tentative agreement marks a major step toward normalizing television and film production, the deal still requires formal ratification by the guild’s governing bodies and membership votes. Until those votes are complete and contract language is finalized, certain elements of uncertainty may remain. Nevertheless, the suspension of picketing and the prospect of writers returning to work represent meaningful progress for producers, performers, and audiences eager for the fall television season.