2023 Television Academy Honors Canceled Amid Writers’ Strike
The ongoing WGA writers’ strike has impacted another major Hollywood event, as the Television Academy has announced that “out of deference to those impacted by the ongoing labor dispute,” it has canceled the 2023 Television Academy Honors.
“After discussions with the WGA and out of deference to those impacted by the ongoing labor dispute, the Television Academy is canceling next week’s planned Television Academy Honors reception. We appreciate everyone’s understanding. The Academy would like to congratulate this year’s Honors recipients and thank them on behalf of the entire industry for their groundbreaking and inspiring work,” the organization said in a statement.
Established in 2008, the Television Academy Honors recognize “Television with a conscience,” per the official branding. This year’s recognized productions are “37 Words” (ESPN), “As We See It” (Prime Video), “Mo” (Netflix), “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” (Peacock), “The U.S. and the Holocaust” (PBS) and “We’re Here” (HBO).
The cancellation of the ceremony is only the latest effect of the writers’ strike, which started May 2 and is happening during what is normally the television industry’s lead up to the Emmy Awards. For now, that ceremony is still scheduled to air Sept. 18, assuming that the strike is resolved by then. It might be a safe bet — The 2007-2008 strike lasted from Nov. 5 to Feb. 12, slightly more than 3 months, and the Emmys are just under 4 months away.
But the writers’ strike is happening as the entertainment industry is staring down the barrel of an even bigger labor problem: Both the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) have contracts with the studios that expire June 30. DGA started negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on May 10. SAG-AFTRA enters into talks on June 7 and the actors’ guild has already put a strike authorization vote to membership.
And in a possible sign of things to come, both guilds have made a point of showing solidarity with striking writers, particularly SAG-AFTRA, whose president Fran Drescher marched with writers earlier this month, and Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the guild’s national executive director, who recently said “actors are facing the same problem” writers are striking over.
For all of TheWrap’s WGA strike coverage, click here.
