Will the Actors Strike Impact Reality Shows: The Voice, AGT, DWTS, America’s Got Talent, The Masked Singer and More?
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) went on strike on July 14, and thousands of performers have been picketing in Los Angeles, New York and beyond. As the industry braces for an extended work stoppage, many viewers are asking how this labor action will affect unscripted television — shows like The Voice, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars and The Masked Singer.
Unscripted and reality programming frequently features performers who are also SAG-AFTRA members, but the contracts that govern these productions are often different from the film and scripted television agreements at the center of the strike. That distinction will be a key factor in whether and how reality series proceed during the stoppage.
Reality, variety and game shows will probably not be affected
Many industry observers note that variety shows, reality series and game shows are typically covered by the SAG-AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting — commonly called the Network Code. This code is negotiated separately from the film and television collective bargaining agreement and governs performers working on network programs such as daytime soaps, morning shows and many unscripted series.
Because of this separate framework, networks and producers can generally continue unscripted production even while the wider film and TV contract talks remain unresolved. That said, production decisions are being made on a show-by-show basis, and networks are evaluating each series individually.
The Voice and The Masked Singer are continuing with their summer taping schedules
The Voice has been filming material for both seasons 24 and 25 and, at the time of reporting, had not halted production. Blind auditions for season 24 are complete and season 25 auditions are scheduled to follow, with Battle rounds planned for August. Audience booking companies are still taking reservations for upcoming tapings, and coverage of those schedules is available on industry blogs and outlets.
The Masked Singer planned to begin taping season 10 mid-July, while America’s Got Talent prepares to broadcast live shows in August. American Idol is set to begin auditions before the judges in the fall, and Dancing with the Stars is scheduled to return to live broadcasts in September. Producers appear to be moving forward with these plans, but they remain mindful of potential shifts in participation by SAG-AFTRA members.
Insiders caution that even where production can legally continue, some performers may choose not to work in solidarity with striking colleagues. That voluntary abstention could prompt producers to adjust casting and contestant selection to rely more heavily on musicians, athletes and reality personalities rather than film or television actors who might decline to appear.
Which shows could be affected?
Most of the major talent attached to singing and competition shows are musical artists or long-time reality personalities rather than active film or television actors. For example, The Voice season 24 features John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Reba McEntire and Niall Horan. Season 25 is set to include Reba McEntire again, alongside Dan + Shay and Chance the Rapper. Of those names, Reba is the most noted for a past high-profile acting role, having led the sitcom Reba in earlier years.
Similarly, American Idol judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan are primarily recording artists, while hosts like Carson Daly, Ryan Seacrest and Nick Cannon are career broadcasters and presenters. On America’s Got Talent, judges such as Howie Mandel and Sofía Vergara have acting backgrounds, but they have not been active as TV series actors in recent years. Host Terry Crews is also a well-known actor who has focused more on hosting and varied projects lately.
Possibly, The Masked Singer and DWTS may have to re-cast contestants
Casting for shows that routinely recruit celebrities from across the entertainment industry could be the most vulnerable to voluntary withdrawals. Judges and professional dancers who now primarily work in reality and variety formats — for instance, Ken Jeong, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough — are often sustained by a mix of projects. The greater concern is that potential contestants who are active SAG-AFTRA members may decline appearances in support of the strike, prompting producers to seek singers, athletes, influencers and reality personalities as alternatives.
The actors strike follows a writers strike that began on May 2. On many reality shows, writers and story producers are credited as part of production staff and are not always WGA members; nonetheless, both labor actions have already affected late-night and daytime talk programming. Several daytime talk show premieres have been postponed and awards shows with broad industry participation have been expected to adjust timing and format in response to the labor environment. The full scope of disruptions will depend on the duration of the strikes and whether additional solidarity actions arise among union members.
In sum, unscripted series are currently able to proceed under separate agreements that cover reality, variety and game shows. However, practical challenges — from performer solidarity to scheduling and casting changes — mean producers and networks remain cautious. As the situation evolves, expect individual shows to make case-by-case decisions about taping, live broadcasts and contestant lineups based on who is available and willing to participate.