According to Buzzfeed, several months ago, the Writers Guild of America initiated a strike, leading to a significant impact on the entertainment industry, particularly on late-night comedy and talk shows. This labor dispute has prompted hosts such as Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver to join forces for a unique initiative while their regular television work remains on hold.
The late-night hosts have come together to create a special podcast titled “Strike Force Five with Spotify.” The podcast serves as a platform for these well-known hosts to engage in discussions concerning the ongoing strike and its implications for their talk shows. Notably, all the proceeds generated from the podcast will be directed towards supporting the staff members of their respective late-night programs, many of whom are affected by the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike that has stretched into its fifth month.
The inaugural episode of the podcast, released this week, featured a robust discussion among the five hosts about their extended hiatus from television due to the strike. During this conversation, Jimmy Kimmel shared a heartwarming gesture from two of his famous friends: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. These Hollywood heavyweights, known for their real-life friendship as well as their on-screen collaborations, reached out to Jimmy Kimmel to offer financial support to his show’s staff.
In a surprising and generous move, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon expressed their willingness to personally cover the salary costs for Kimmel’s staff for a period of two weeks. Each of them was prepared to bear the expenses for an entire week. The hosts praised the Oscar-winning pair for their compassion and their genuine commitment to supporting those in need. The collective sentiment was that Ben and Matt’s offer showcased their character as “good people.”
While the offer was undoubtedly kind-hearted and appreciated, Jimmy Kimmel ultimately decided to decline it, explaining that he didn’t feel it was their responsibility to shoulder the financial burden. This revelation led to a lighthearted exchange among the cohosts, with suggestions emerging about whether the offer could be redirected to the other hosts.
The incident highlights the camaraderie among these hosts as they navigate the challenges posed by the strike. It also underscores Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s consistent efforts to utilize their platform to promote fairness within the entertainment industry. Notably, the duo had previously launched an independent production company named Artists Equity, which aims to ensure equitable profit-sharing for all cast and crew members involved in movie projects.
