I can't really comment, because I don't know what the writers issues are. Why are they striking?

Jinxy, they want more money because they're losing royalties on TV shows that are streamed from the web, downloaded, and TiVo'ed.

There's more to it than that, though. Read about it here.

I support the writers 100% but I really, REALLY want this to get settled! Tonight's the last completed Office eppy.

Oh thanks Whippy, I'll read that. I just haven't taken the time to find out whats going on. I knew from Pop that alot of the actors and that support them.

I would have to side with the writers.
But I just hate that it takes a strike to accomplish what they want. I hate the way any strike holds people hostage.

writers deserved much credit for making such good scripts that we are enjoying watching!

I do side with the writers only because I feel the writers are an important factor of a good show. They are seriously underpaid. However, my heart goes out to the people behind the scenes (i.e. backstage crew). They are being effected (monetary) by something that they have no control over.

I read that movie writers make FOUR CENTS from the sell of a $15 DVD. So they'd have to sell 1,500 DVDs to buy a tank of gas. :/

Millarci I agree. I support the writers completely for wanting a fair share of profits. I just hate what it has done for all the crew who are not being paid at all during the strike for reruns or fired.

I am 100% behind the writers. This strike has been very eye-opening about the kind of backhanded dealings and corruption that has been accepted without a flicker of an eye in Hollywood for decades (i.e. Ron Moore's op-ed about the Battlestar Galactica webisodes that were deemed "promotional" despite being aired with ads so the studio could get out of paying either the writers or cast for their work), and I'm glad the writers are finally fighting for the respect and compensation they deserve. I'm worried about the crew members being laid off, though. In a very real way, the writers are fighting for them too, but in the short term, they're the ones who are likely to suffer the most.

Go writers! But settle soon.

I'm with the writers... What is film an television with out a good script?

i'm with the writers. they deserve their 2.5 %. without them, hollywood is nothing...

I agree with millarci - it's a shame that so many other television staff have been laid off. But that's just another reason why the studios should give the writers what they want NOW!

I support the writers. The studios are playing dirty by threatening to (and in the case of The Office) fire the "lower" employees (grips, make-up people, prop people, etc). With that being said, I'm sufficiently depressed that tonight's Office will be the last in a long time...

Although I do support the writers on this one since they definitely deserve to get a share of internet entertainment profits, I do have a few beefs with this whole thing. The biggest thing that I hate about this is that these writers can go on strike much more easily than most organized unions for months without feeling a financial burden. What about the hundreds of staff that get laid off because of this if it carries on for much longer? I know my roommate works his ass off on "Everybody Hates Chris," receives a meager paycheck when he is working, and will be out of health insurance if he isn't. And he won't be able to find another career related job until the strike is over. Now that's crappy.

Totally 100% with the writers... they make the shows worth watching... ALSO, I am super guilty of either DVRing or watching online, and if NBC makes money off of me catching up on The Office, or Scrubs, or Chuck, I think they should make some residuals off of that as well. I know the studios are calling them promotions, as in watch old episodes so you'll watch the new ones, but if they are marketing them and selling ads in them I cannot see how they are any different from reairing them on television (same promotion) and pay per view type arrangements.

Also, though they may sell an idea and script for $100,000 I liked James Gunn pointing out that they may not get anything more for 4 years or more... that is the way the arts are. We overpay now, but they're living on it for years to try to keep going.

I am sorry for everyone that is being laid off, and sad that this means more reality tv, but seriously do believe that this strike benefits all the other contracts coming up...

James Gunn's myspace blog on all this - http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=58119776...

Jenna Fischer's (Pam from the Office and James Gunn's ex) - http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=27753303...
and http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=27753303...

Both sides should begin negotiations. I don't support either side. I support the hundreds of workers who are losing or will lose their jobs as innocent victims of this strike.

fair is fair. If you put in the work, you should get paid for it.

I support the writers!

writers all the way!!! p.s.... seems like there are strikes all over the place... isn't France's public transportation on strike too?

As much as I'm going to miss my tv (I am a tv nut), I 100% support them. You have no show or movie without the writer, and I think more often than not, the writer is completely overlooked. When you watch a really great show or movie, you don't think 'oh, the writers did such a great job', you think the actors or directors were great. They need credit for their work, and they should get it.

Im with the writers...but soon its going to get to the point that the majority of people will just want their favorite TV shows back and will forget about the importance of th strike.

I totally support the writers one of the main things we have to remember is on a DVD of a TV show that is a full season there might be 20 writers and they all have to share that 4 cents.

4 cents divided between 20 people thats not a lot and I think they deserve more then that because they provide us with tons of time of entertainment

The writers are well aware that this is hitting assistants, crew members, and various office staff. No one is unsympathetic to that at all.

However, I do take issue with the idea that the writers can "afford" to strike. What you guys see are showrunners - people who created and run "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" and "Family Guy." What you don't see is the more than half of the WGA who isn't working at any time. Sure, you might make $100,000 one year from a script sale of being on staff on a show, but sometimes that money has to last you two or three or four years.

I know, because I worked on a successful kids' show ("Lizzie McGuire") which ran everywhere - TV, DVD, Internet. Right now I work front desk at a gym to make ends meet. That's the reality of being a writer, and I accept that. What I don't accept is that these corporations are STILL making a ton of money off of my work and not sharing those profits. That's not right, and that's why I'm fighting this.

Another excellent resource is United Hollywood, the WGAw Strike Captains' Blog.

Thank you everyone for your support!

Cheers,
Nina Bargiel
aka the slackmistress

So who supports the studios? I would like to hear a different opinion.

I'm undecided.

I'm already to that point. I just want my shows back.
I mean, fair is fair.

Ah! The Legend of Billie Jean! Y'all remember that movie!?? God, I used to love that movie! It had Supergirl in it!

slackmistress-- are you related to the german composer?

even though my daily routine will be very messed up because of the strike, i support the writers and wrote some articles promoting awareness of the strike and why writers are doing all this.

i will survive, i'll get into old shows, and classic movies. I'm disovering Alferd Hitchcock at the moment... so i'll still have something to watch

but the writers deserve their 4ct! come on, it's only 4 f*cking cents... they're worth it. i tried writing some good plot for my university project film, and i realise how hard it is (and I'm very good at essay writing). but creating an exciting plot is so difficult. they are trully talanted. they are the entertaiment. i watch show based on their intellegence, not looks. so the plot and how unpredictable it is - is the most important thing for me, not the actors, not the special effects...