zombieflanders @ Nov 6th 2007 11:08AM

"The ability for a group to go on strike is a fundamental right in American, and while we don't really understand what the problem is -- we'd assume the writers want more money -- we do know we're going to miss out on some HD programming."

The strike is for residuals. In essence, the writers want more money from DVDs and online content, and they're being screwed over. Just as an example, for DVDs, the writers get 0.3%--yes, three-tenths of a percentage point--of the revenue, or something like 4 cents per DVD set sold. How much are they asking for? A whole 8 cents. That's just one example of how the studios are real buttmunches. BTW, your average writer makes less than $30k a year (many make less), despite the media's claims that this is all millionaires. Unsurprising, since most of the companies being picketed own huge media outlets.

Fans of BSG, Heroes, and many other shows should know that the majority of the writing staff (including most showrunners) are on the picket line, and you should support them the best you can. Here's a list (by no means complete) where most or all of the staff, including producers, showrunners, and actors, have gone on strike:

Battlestar Galactica
Heroes
Smallville
24
The Office (Steve Carrell is supporting the strike)
Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice
The Shield
The Unit
CSI/CSI Miami (several actors are also on the picket line)
All flavors of Law & Order
The Simpsons (including James L Brooks)
SNL/30 Rock (Tina Fey and most SNL actors are on the picket line)
Letterman/Leno (both stars publicly support their writers 110%)
Daily Show/Colbert Report (again, both stars give full support)
Ellen Degeneres
Scrubs
Desperate Housewives
Lost (both showrunners/main writers are on the picket line)
Dirty Sexy Money
Brothers & Sisters
Old Christine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus is picketing)
Dexter
The 4400

In addition, Paul Haggis (Bond 22 writer), Bill Condon (Dreamgirls), and a bunch of others are picketing.