Drew Barrymore is one of the best and buzziest hosts the MTV Movie & TV Awards has booked in recent years. Her daytime talk show, which debuted on Sept. 14, 2020, received seven Daytime Emmy nominations last week. Also, the second only to The Kelly Clarkson Show among daytime talk shows. The nods included an outstanding daytime talk series and an outstanding daytime talk series host.
MTV has heavily promoted Barrymore as a host, with frequent on-air promotional spots. The show, set to unfold in front of a live audience at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif., will go on. Also, without a host for the first time in its 31-year history.
Drew Barrymore steps down as host before the ceremony
Drew Barrymore is stepping down as host of this year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards. However, in a show of support and solidarity for the striking Writers Guild members. But as a sign of good faith to MTV, Barrymore has also agreed to return and host next year’s edition of the kudocast instead.
Sunday night’s MTV Movie & TV Awards will continue, but will now go hostless. The state of the show is still evolving day by day. As producers pivot to their strike contingency plans and wait and see who among their presenter’s nominees. Also, guests are still willing and able to appear on the telecast. As another nod to the evolving news, there will no longer be a red carpet or talent interviews before the show.
Though Barrymore won’t be at the live event, she may still play a role in the show. However, She had already participated in several pre-taped short films. Also, those pieces are still expected to air. One may open the show.
How the WGA strike is changing this year’s MTV awards
The MTV awards show will go on on Sunday evening – with some significant changes. There will be no host or a red carpet. Also, the producers are waiting to see which presenters, nominees, and guests will still attend.
Bruce Gillmer, an executive producer of the MTV Movie & TV Awards, told Variety, “We still have a live performance. We still have the award sequences, although those are the very unpredictable elements – because we don’t know which talent will feel comfortable. A lot of them won’t.”
Jennifer Coolidge is slated to receive the show’s Comedic Genius award. Representatives for Coolidge did not confirm to TIME whether she would still be in attendance.
Presenters expected to attend include Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lil Dicky, Gal Gadot, Anthony Ramos, Stephanie Hsu, Ashley Park, Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, Suki Waterhouse, Halle Bailey, and more. It remains unclear if any of them may also pull out in solidarity with the WGA.
Will the WGA strike affect future awards shows?
In the coming months, the Academy of Country Music Awards are slated for May 11. Also, the GLAAD Media Awards on May 13, and the Television Academy Honors ceremony on May 31. However, the Critics Choice Real TV Awards are for June 16, and the Daytime Emmys are for June 16.
It remains to be seen whether the WGA will grant waivers, and stars will eschew the shows in solidarity. So, the sentiment will reach across the pond to the BAFTA Television Awards on May 14 or Cannes Film Festival, starting May 16.
Also read: Is It Possible That BTS Will Appear At The American Music Awards This Year?
