The effects of COVID-19 cannot be understated at this point, as many around the world are feeling the effects of the pandemic. This includes TV and film productions across Hollywood, which have shut down due to safety concerns. The Ellen DeGeneres Show is one of the many shows that’s had to shut down and lay off staff, but it would seem many of the show’s employees aren’t exactly pleased with the conditions they’ve been given during this time.
The core stage crew of The Ellen DeGeneres Show is said to be unhappy with the way they’ve been treated by the producers during the coronavirus pandemic. According to Variety, the crew, which includes more than 30 people, was initially kept in the dark about employee compensation for over a month.
The crew did eventually hear back from the producers but, when they did, they were informed that they would experience a 60% reduction in their pay. This figure would also remain steady as the series continues to broadcast episodes.
With the show currently broadcasting remotely, only four of the core crew members are still working, according to the trade’s insiders. They also find these conditions to be in direct contrast with Ellen DeGeneres’ “be kind” mantra.
In the midst of all of this, Warner Bros. Television has insisted that the crew has been paid fairly and consistently. The company also provided a statement on the matter:
Our executive producers and Telepictures are committed to taking care of our staff and crew and have made decisions first and foremost with them in mind.
In addition to all of this, the crew is also said to be unhappy with the fact that Key Stone Media – an audiovisual company – has been contracted to assist with the show during its remote phase. As a result, the bulk of the show’s regular crew has been underutilized.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show is one of the many talks shows that has switch over to the remote format due to our current situation. Others taking up this same approach include The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It's been a challenge for many of the shows to find content to discuss but, from a technical standpoint, their technical transitions appear to have been relatively smooth.
While The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been a consistent ratings hit, the future of the series has been somewhat in doubt over the past few years. This is mostly due to DeGeneres’ possible desire to leave the show to pursue other projects.
It remains to be seen how the producers behind The Ellen DeGeneres Show handle the situation. But based on the growing backlash, one would assume they’ll be looking to nip this in the bud as soon as possible. Keep it here at CinemaBlend for more updates as the situation continues to unfold.
