Thousands of Hollywood TV and movie screenwriters belonging to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have gone on strike after last-minute talks with major studios failed to reach an agreement. The strike, which is the first in 15 years, involves more than 9,000 writers, 98% of voting members, who walked out from midnight. The late-night shows are expected to be shut down first, while forthcoming shows and films could face delays. Picketing is set to begin on Tuesday afternoon. The writers are demanding higher pay and a greater share of the profits from the modern streaming boom.
Key issues in the talks include how writers are paid for shows that remain on streaming platforms for years and the future impact of artificial intelligence on writing. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major studios, has offered a comprehensive package proposal, including higher pay for writers. However, the AMPTP is unwilling to improve its offer further due to the magnitude of other proposals still on the table that the Guild continues to insist upon.
According to Deadline Hollywood, the production of late-night live comedy chat shows, including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, will come to a halt due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. Stephen Colbert expressed support for the writers in his opening monologue, while Jimmy Fallon expressed hope for a fair deal for the writers, as he relies heavily on them. Late Night host Seth Meyers also expressed support for the strike and the reasonable demands of the writers.
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