Commonwealth Times

The Writer's Guild of America strike that officially started Monday, Nov. 7, will leave TV watchers of all ages with a black screen for what could be months to come. Already a majority of shows are starting to shut down, and the damage stretches across the board through all four major networks:

- NBC has halted production of its popular worker-drone satire "The Office." Actor and writer Steve Carrell has vowed that the show will remain off the air until the strike is resolved. Production of "30 Rock" has also ceased, and talk shows with Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien are also in reruns until things are settled. According to the producer of "Scrubs," the strike could prevent a series finale from ever being filmed.

- ABC shows "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy" could indefinitely be on hiatus if the strike isn't ended soon. In an article online, "Housewives" executive producer Mark Cherry mentioned that there were enough episodes filmed to last until the first week in December. As far as "Anatomy" goes, star Patrick Dempsey said the cast and crew are on hold. The futures of newest hit "Pushing Daisies" and "Lost," the latter of which is supposed to return in February, are also in jeopardy.

- CBS has been hit hard. Comedies "Two and a Half Men," "The New Adventures of Old Christine," and newcomer "The Big Bang Theory" have all stopped production effective immediately, along with "The Late Show with David Letterman".

- Fox has halted two shows, " 'Til Death" and "Back to You." However, the biggest blow came when it announced that hit action show "24," now in its eighth season, would not air at all, revealing that only eight of 24 episodes had been filmed. This is particularly hurtful, as "24," along with "House" and "American Idol," was the network's driving force in the ratings war.

- Comedy Central is also feeling the heat, with two of its three staple shows - "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" - airing reruns indefinitely. Speculation has the strike lasting for weeks, if not months.

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The Writer's Guild of America strike that officially started Monday, Nov. 7, will leave TV watchers of all ages with a black screen for what could be months to come. Already a majority of shows are starting to shut down, and the damage stretches across the board through all four major networks:

- NBC has halted production of its popular worker-drone satire "The Office." Actor and writer Steve Carrell has vowed that the show will remain off the air until the strike is resolved. Production of "30 Rock" has also ceased, and talk shows with Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien are also in reruns until things are settled. According to the producer of "Scrubs," the strike could prevent a series finale from ever being filmed.

- ABC shows "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy" could indefinitely be on hiatus if the strike isn't ended soon. In an article online, "Housewives" executive producer Mark Cherry mentioned that there were enough episodes filmed to last until the first week in December. As far as "Anatomy" goes, star Patrick Dempsey said the cast and crew are on hold. The futures of newest hit "Pushing Daisies" and "Lost," the latter of which is supposed to return in February, are also in jeopardy.

- CBS has been hit hard. Comedies "Two and a Half Men," "The New Adventures of Old Christine," and newcomer "The Big Bang Theory" have all stopped production effective immediately, along with "The Late Show with David Letterman".

- Fox has halted two shows, " 'Til Death" and "Back to You." However, the biggest blow came when it announced that hit action show "24," now in its eighth season, would not air at all, revealing that only eight of 24 episodes had been filmed. This is particularly hurtful, as "24," along with "House" and "American Idol," was the network's driving force in the ratings war.

- Comedy Central is also feeling the heat, with two of its three staple shows - "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" - airing reruns indefinitely. Speculation has the strike lasting for weeks, if not months.

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