Fans were up in arms on Sunday after the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards aired a stripped-down version of its usual ceremony featuring little more than clip packages, a few pre-recorded sketches and a small number of stars accepting awards virtually.
Many viewers on social media thought the show was little more than shell of its former self after it was swept up in ongoing contract disputes between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents film and TV production companies.
The most significant blow was Drew Barrymore’s decision to drop out as host in solidarity with writers after the strike began on Monday. Although she didn’t not cross a picket line to appear in person, she was featured in several pre-taped sketches and commercials.
Film and television writers are on strike over complaints that studios have underpaid them for years, particularly when it comes to streaming programs that offer almost no residuals over time. They are also fighting back against studios’ attempts to shrink writers’s rooms, to shorten the number of episodes of television seasons and to leave open the possibility of replacing human writers with so-called ‘AI‘ programs.
‘Worst award show ever,’ wrote one person who reposted a funny video of a woman freaking out.
Anemic show: Fans were up in arms after the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards went on on Sunday despite not having a host, writers or in-person guests due to the ongoing WGA strike
Not a fan: ‘Worst award show ever,’ wrote one person who reposted a funny video of a woman freaking out
What gives? Some people appeared to have not been paying attention to the battle between writers and studio bosses, as it has so far only impacted a few live shows
‘This has to be a joke. I do not believe this is happening. I’m literally about to f***ing kill myself and I’m not kidding,’ screamed the woman in the video, which has become a popular meme. ‘You better f***ing fix this s*** right now! I literally am gonna die, I need an ambulance.’
Some people appeared to have not been paying attention to the battle between writers and studio bosses, as it has so far only impacted a few live shows.
‘Is this not a typical mtv movie awards lmao? I’m so lost,’ wrote one confused person who included a photo of a woman grimacing.
Some users couldn’t believe that MTV would move forward on a show that no longer had a host.
Barrymore appeared in a few disjointed videos, but many of them referenced her hosting the live show, which no longer made sense in context.
‘Drew Barrymore didn’t host the #MTVAwards but they are still playing her clips,’ wrote one viewer.
For one Twitter user, the broadcast brought back back memories of the height of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, when most television productions had to resort to virtual appearances to keep performers safe.
‘Bruh watching the #MTVMovieandTVAwards and thanks to the Writers Strike goin on, watching it like this feels like we’re in Covid era all over again,’ tweeted one viewer.
Odd choice: Some users couldn’t believe that MTV would move forward on a show that no longer had a host
The host: Barrymore appeared in a few disjointed videos, but many of them referenced her hosting the live show, which no longer made sense in context
Pre-taped: ‘Drew Barrymore didn’t host the #MTVAwards but they are still playing her clips,’ wrote one viewer
Bad days: For one Twitter user, the broadcast brought back back memories of the height of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
Another user agreed, writing, ‘I thought awards shows were weird in 2020 with the lockdown and everyone doing them on zoom but this is definitely weird.’
Others pointed out the drastic changes in tone the broadcast suffered from due to its new format.
‘We went from Pedro [Pascal] give a heatwarming speech in his backyard to Tom Crusie in a f***ing plane [sic],’ pointed out one person who included a screenshot of Cruise in his aircraft with his golden popcorn sitting behind him in the cockpit.
It appeared that many fans who were aware of the format change didn’t have high expectations for MTV’s show.
‘About to press play on the nightmare that is the mtv awards,’ groaned one person on Twitter.
Another user showed solidarity with striking writers proclaimed that it was a mistake to go on with the show.
‘Should’ve just cancelled this year. Desperately need writers,’ tweeted a fan who also tagged the WGA.
But it wasn’t all bad news for MTV. Some users found Barrymore’s occasional performances to be so charming that she helped lift up the show.
Throwback: Another user agreed, writing, ‘I thought awards shows were weird in 2020 with the lockdown and everyone doing them on zoom but this is definitely weird.’
Change of pace: Others pointed out the drastic changes in tone the broadcast suffered from due to its new format
Not looking forward to it: It appeared that many fans who were aware of the format change didn’t have high expectations for MTV’s show
Just cancel it: Another user showed solidarity with striking writers proclaimed that it was a mistake to go on with the show
Saving grace: But it wasn’t all bad news for MTV. Some users found Barrymore’s occasional performances to be so charming that she helped lift up the show
‘Didn’t know Drew Barrymore was so funny, as MTV awards host,’ wrote one user.
They referenced a clip of Barrymore — as her Never Been Kissed character — being transported to the world of Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
‘The way she just said about Ken/Barbie “they’re talking about f***ing right’ 😜,’ they added approvingly.
Despite the drastic change for the show, plenty of people also chimed in to complain about snubbed nominees including Florence Pugh and Bella Ramsey.
Jennifer Coolidge showed her support for WGA while accepting the Comedic Genius award in a clip for the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards Sunday, while Drew Barrymore dropped out due to the strike and was honored with an award, and The Last of Us came away with three large honors.
Other notable names who emerged victorious on the evening included Tom Cruise, Jenna Ortega and Taylor Swift.
‘Almost all great comedy starts with great writers,’ The White Lotus star said in her speech. ‘I just think as a proud member of SAG, I stand here before you tonight side-by-side with my sisters and brothers from the WGA that are fighting right now, fighting for the rights of artists everywhere.
She added, ‘I think of the words of Shakespeare where he once said, you know, the play is the thing. Well, I don’t want to put words in his mouth or anything but I think what he really meant was it’s everything!’
Coolidge won a second award for Most Frightened Performance for The White Lotus at the event. She prevailed in the category against Cocaine Bear’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Barbarian’s Justin Long, Bodies Bodies Bodies star Rachel Sennott and Smile’s Sosie Bacon.
Solidarity: Jennifer Coolidge showed her support for the Writers Guild of America Sunday while accepting the Comedic Genius award at the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards Sunday
Drew Barrymore was slated to host, but backed out due to the WGA strike. Despite her absence, the Hollywood stalwart was also named the Best Host for The Drew Barrymore Show
‘My gosh, popcorn,’ she said. ‘Thank you. Oh, my go. Most frightening death. Thank you. I hope this is the last time that I ever die on a show. I would like to stay alive.’
The Last Of Us star Pedro Pascal won the honor for Best Hero to kick off the award announcements on Sunday, as the show also garnered the honors for Best Show and Best Duo for Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
Pascal prevailed over a field including Andor’s Diego Luna, Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania’s Paul Rudd and Top Gun: Maverick’s Tom Cruise for the honors.
‘I want to say thank you, MTV Movie and TV awards,’ Pascal said in his acceptance speech. ‘I am a child of MTV. This means the absolute world to me. The people at MTV told me that 77.5 million people voted this year. Which blows my mind and just makes it such an honor.’
He continued, ‘I wish we could all be together so that I can look into your eyes and tell you that all young people in the world are my heroes and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I want to say that you deserve a world that serves your interests.
‘You deserve to be healthy. You deserve to be safe. You deserve for your individual rights to be fought for and protected. You deserve real heroes in this world because you are real heroes to me. And I love you. Thank you. Thank you.’
With writers on strike and picketing studios, host Drew Barrymore announced she was dropping out last Sunday.
The 48-year-old actress-turned-talk show host had been set to MC the festivities, but she is now putting her clout behind writers struggling to earn better pay and guarantees on staffing, as studios increasingly try to limit the size of writers’ rooms and shrink the number of episodes per series. ‘I have listened to the writers, and in order to truly respect them, I will pivot from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards live in solidarity with the strike,’ Barrymore told Variety. ‘Everything we celebrate and honor about movies and television is born out of their creation.’
