Drew Carey, Who Fed Striking Writers For 5 Months, Says Drew Carey Show Scribes Are The Real Heroes
Drew Carey says his former sitcom writers deserve all the credit for his charitable efforts during the months-long WGA strike.
The Price Is Right host had been paying for writers' meals at two Los Angeles restaurants, Bob's Big Boy and Swingers, since the strike began on May 2. He kept his tab open until the strike concluded at 12:01 am PT on Wednesday, Sept. 27 — but it wasn't until Saturday that he fully acknowledged his good deed.
"I deeply appreciate all the love and thanks. It [is worth] every dime," he wrote in a post on X (fka Twitter). "But if you really want to thank someone for those meals, thank [Drew Carey Show co-creator] Bruce Helford and all the Drew Carey Show writers. They helped make me rich enough to afford it. No writers, no [money]. Simple as that."
Carey is said to have spent more than $500,000 feeding striking writers. Earlier this week, filmmaker and former WGA captain Joe Russo deemed Carey a hero who "stands above the rest."
@WGAWest
I deeply appreciate all the love and thanks. It as with every dime.
But if you really want to thank someone for those meals, thank Bruce Helford and all the Drew Carey Show writers.
They helped make me rich enough to afford it,
No writers, no $. Simple as that— drewfromtv (@DrewFromTV) September 30, 2023
Though the writers' strike officially concluded earlier this week, the full guild still needs to approve the contract agreed to with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) in a vote set for Oct. 2-9. In the meantime, TV writers' rooms are able to reconvene, and writers can resume "pitching, selling scripts, taking meetings" and "responding to notes," per The Hollywood Reporter — tasks that were forbidden during the strike.
Are you an even bigger Drew Carey fan now? Relive the epic opening to his eponymous '90s sitcom, then hit the comments.