On November 5, 2007, mail clerks were shuffling pencils in Hollywood offices as the writers' desks remained empty.  As a result of this vacated office, a fan-favorite office, "The Office," will be halting production along with other big-named TV shows such as "Grey's Anatomy." 

The Writers Guild's last strike was in 1988 over residuals for video tapes, which lasted 22 weeks and reportedly cost the entertainment industry $500 million. As technology increases and new media outlets are formed, it is time again for the writers to demand a bigger slice of the pie that producers, executives and actors eat.

This year's strike has many famous stars and D-list celebrities walking the picket lines in an attempt to garner support for the writers.  Working within the context of the Hollywood machine and its million-dollar babies, it is understandable for the writers to feel underprivileged in this society.  However, looking at the 61 inch, HDTV picture, everything looks pearly and green from this side of the screen. 

The writers' argument is internet residuals should be higher than they are.  Of all the people in the Hollywood machine, the writers definitely go unacknowledged many times.  It may be the actors that breathe life into the words, but without the initial spark given to them by the writers, movies with Academy Awards would not exist. 

It is not the writers' pockets I worry about most, but the onslaught of reality TV that will rot the impressionable minds of our youth. Granted, there are ways to do reality TV without the "cheese factor," but so often the only policy they follow is sex sells.  Shows like "I Love New York" and "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila" are horrible parodies of reality that are determined to draw us to lower standards of television. 

I say we unite and rebel!  Don't watch TV. It will leave so much more time to study for the finals we always end up cramming for.

Ultimately, we may have the best intentions at heart, but we know we could never give up on TV.  I realize that there are the odd balls that hold great disdain for TV. They consider it beneath them or see it for what it really is: a life-sucking leech that drains all your time away. 

However, for the majority of us TV has been a staple since its invention.  I understand the writers' need for money. After all, I am the quintessential broke college student, but to leave the nation in an entertainment depression will force us to venture beyond our comfort zone of activities. 

Even the writers and producers are torn between duties and principles.  Some have refused to cross the picket lines to stay true to their beliefs. Others think it is better form to give the viewers, who are not at fault and shouldn't be punished, what they want.

Unfortunately for the majority of Americans, we will be forced to venture beyond our couches for entertainment.  Though some of us may view this as cruel and unusual punishment, it may be beneficial.  I guess it is time to hit those textbooks one more time before the end of the semester.