DeGeneres showed support for her writers by shutting down last Monday’s show, but returned on Tuesday and delivered an on-air statement of support for the WGA’s cause.  "It's sweeps," DeGeneres said, "Which is a very important time in television because that's when you do your best shows, your funniest material. You pull it out and do everything you can because you want everybody watching. And now we're in the middle of a strike – a writer's strike.”  She went on to say, "This is a strange show for me to do ... it's a weird show.”

The Hollywood Reporter quoted WGAE’s president Michael Winship expressing disappointment in DeGeneres on Friday.  “All the other talk show-variety hosts like Letterman, Leno, Jon Stewart and Conan O’Brien have been in solidarity with us,” he said.

A representative from Telepictures Productions, the show’s producer, issued a statement in response.  "We have asked Ellen to come back to work to fulfill her contractual obligation as host of the show because without original programs the stations can move the show out of its time periods or ultimately hold the company in breach of contract. The company in turn expects Ellen not to breach her contract to host the show. We also wish to preserve the 135 jobs of the staff and the crew whose livelihoods depend on the show continuing."

Winship did not discuss whether the WGAE would protest at the New York studios where Ellen will air.

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