On Monday, November 5, 2007 at 12:01 AM, the Writer's Guild of America officially went on strike. Writers for all of your favorite shows left their jobs, picked up signs and took up positions outside the studios and corporate offices on both coasts. Following months of stop and go talks between the studios and the WGA no agreement could be reached. With no agreement in place, and no apparent possibility in the near future, the writer's will be walking the line until such a time that serious talks can commence. However, neither side is budging on their stance. What does this mean to you and me, the television fan? Well, in a few weeks the new episodes will run out, perhaps sooner, and we will be left with reruns and probably more game shows and reality programs (you know, the shows that don't "require" writers). Now, I am sure that many of you are upset at this prospect. Believe me, I am as upset as you are; however, I am in support of the WGA. Period. As long as it takes, the writers are on the side of right.

You may be asking yourself why are they on strike? The big reason is a renegotiated contract that includes new technology. As years have passed the contracts that govern the pay-outs of residuals have not been updated and the studios are trying to keep from paying any type of residuals on new technology.

What is this new technology? That is easy to answer. Have you ever bought a video from iTunes, or from Amazon's Unbox? How about watching an episode streamed from a network site like NBC.com, or from another site like Hulu.com (just found out about that one myself)? Well, that is a great way to catch up on missed episodes or look for shows that you may like. The problem is that these methods are not covered by the residuals contract, meaning that the writers see no money from the revenue garnered. The studios call them promos and not eligible for residuals. Now if that isn't a joke, I don't know what is. Also, ever watch a webisode? You know, the shorts that can be viewed online like the ones for The Office? They aren't paid for either.

I am sure you are thinking: "Don't they make a lot of money already? Why do they need more?" The potential to earn a lot of money is there, but it is not a given, and for the majority it is not nearly as much as you think (though I do not have exact numbers to back that up). The writers depend on residuals to pay for health care, insurance, and to support their families. Here is another point that I like to bring up with questions like these: A lot of money is being made, and if that is not shared with the creative teams (or sports players, or whoever) it goes to those who already have a lot. I know I would like to see it spread around a little more.