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Drew Carey proved himself to be a true mensch during Hot Labor Summer 2023. He picked up the tab for all breakfasts and lunches at two LA diners for any WGA writer on strike; all they had to do was show their union card. So it was a cute bit to see Carey saunter onstage at the Writers Guild of America Awards over the weekend, holding a plate of food. Prop in hand, Carey shared why he stepped up during the strike: because it was the right thing to do, and because he knows he owes his career to the writers he’s worked with. He also acknowledged that not all were happy with his footing the food bills — his accountant tried to get him to stop! I guess the poor CPA had a heated, labored summer of his own overseeing all the money that was spent. More from Carey’s speech:
Drew Carey is opening up about the hefty investment he made by paying for striking writers meals at two Los Angeles-area restaurants in 2023.
In an appearance at the Writers Guild of America awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday night, the comedian addressed his decision to pay for WGA members’ meal at Bob’s Big Boy and Swingers over the course of the 148-day strike. The last time he paid for writers meals, the total bill came out to about $67,000, he stated. “But some of you decided, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to get a shake and dessert,’ as it was way more this time,” he joked.
As the strike dragged on in 2023, he said, his accountant started to get nervous. “When the bills started piling up, my accountant called and was like, ‘Is there any way we can dial this back?’” Carey got on a three-way call with his publicist and accountant, he said, where he refused to change his position because he had made a commitment and “it was the right thing to do.” He added that he didn’t think he should get so much credit for doing the “right thing.”
As a way of making the point, Carey brought up a friend whose agent told her during the strike, “You’re going to lose your house over this.” She said in return, “Yeah, fine, I’ll lose my house.” Carey added, “Those are the real heroes of this whole strike.”
Carey continued, to thunderous applause, that “you writers — well not all of you, The Drew Carey Show writers — made me a f–king million. Everybody in this room makes some actor a million. And you deserve all the money you get.”
The Hollywood Reporter previously reported that Carey’s generosity likely cost him around $1 million over the course of the strike. And as the work stoppage was concluding in late September, Carey even encouraged writers to get in some last-minute meals on him: “Yoooo @WGAWest members!! 💔 Congrats! ❤️,” Carey tweeted Sept. 26, adding, “If the strike is officially over tomorrow you’ll have til midnight to have one last meal at Bob’s Big Boy or Swingers! GO CELEBRATE! Love you all!”
He added in a tweet in late September, once the strike had concluded, “Deeply appreciate all the love and thanks. It was [worth] 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.”
Wow, back when the writer’s strike ended in late September we thought Carey’s tab was around $500K — and that was only half! It was classy of Carey to drive home the point that supporting his fellow writers was the right thing to do, and that he shouldn’t be getting extra credit for simply doing the right thing. As was the way Carey used his speech to absorb the praise and redirect it on the real subjects of the story: the writers, whose talent allows everyone else in the industry to shine. It was also an ever so subtle way to encourage/cajole/goad celebs of similar financial health to give that readily during the next strike (there will be more, the struggle continues).
Now I’d just like to ask a question of the two diners Carey funded, Bob’s Big Boy and Swingers: did either or both of your establishments keep any demographic data on which writers tended to order which meals? I’m looking for stats like HBO one-hour drama staff opted for the strawberry chicken salad whereas NBC sitcom scribes went for the soyrizo scramble. What? It’s the intersection of art and science, people!
Love this story and Drew Carey for “doing the right thing.” Understandably his accountant viewed his support of writers as a “charity” financial transaction that’s not deductible under the tax code, and was getting expensive as the strike dragged on. Have to agree with Carey on the importance of writers though.
Love Drew Carey!
Well that’s wholesome.
What a great guy…and excellent use of the word “mensch”!
What a great guy! He truly puts his money where his mouth is….too bad he didn’t have more help funding this from fellow “stars”
Colbert, Fallon, Kimmel, Seth Meyers and Jon Oliver paid their staff during the strike. They started a podcast that was funded by Ryan Reynolds and his many commercial brands. The podcast had some stellar episodes, every time they played a game including the wives it was hilarious.
YES, he is a mensch. YES, according to Google he also has a net wealth of $165M, so I don’t think his lifestyle will be impacted in the slightest by giving away even $1M, even without tax breaks. Income inequality cuts across industries.