Hollywood Writers in Cliffhanger

Talks break off as contract expires; strike would affect late-night talk shows first
By Jim O'Neill,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 1, 2007 7:35 AM CDT
Hollywood Writers in Cliffhanger
Fans of NBC's The Tonight Show lineup outside the studio Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, in Burbank, Calif. Late-night shows could be the first victims of a Hollywood writers strike, forced into reruns by a lack of fresh skits and monologues. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)   (Associated Press)

Fans of soaps and late-night talk shows, get ready for reruns; a strike looms as soon as tomorrow after Hollywood’s writers and producers failed to reach agreement on a new deal last night. Stalled talks were called off before the writers' contract expired at midnight, and the sides are deadlocked on key issues, including increased residuals for DVDs and other digital distribution channels.

"In short, the DVD issue is a complete roadblock to any further progress," a spokesman for the producers told the AP. No talks are scheduled for today; union members of the West Coast branch of the Writers Guild of America will meet tonight; no word on their East Coast counterparts. The last time writers walked out was 1988; that strike lasted 5 months. (More Writers Guild of America stories.)

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