The stalemate was reached during negotiations over a new basic contract with the AMPTP. When negotiations with the AMPTP reached an impasse, the Writer’s Guild membership gave the authorization to call a strike on November 7th, 2007.

The strike has resulted in a lack of writers for TV shows and movies for major corporations such as NBC and Paramount Pictures. Popular television sitcoms such as The Office, New Adventures of Old Christine, Pushing Daises, and 24 have been postponed due to the current strike.

However, some shows such as Fox’s American Idol, which is not Writer’s Guild related, will still run. Even some of the Writer’s Guild related shows, such as The Daily Show and the Colbert Report, are continuing the season without writers. The strike has been occurring for over three months and has no sign of letting up anytime soon. American television audiences are bracing themselves for the re-run lineups to come.