Be brave, TV fans. It looks likely that a writers' strike in the US could well go ahead and cause havoc with TV schedules and shut down many of the world's most popular shows.
Earlier this month, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced that it was threatening to strike from May 2 due to a row over pay. The strike has now been approved by its members.
Deadline reports that film and TV writers have overwhelmingly backed the strike action with a massive 96.3% of the 6,310 writers who cast ballots approving the action.
If this week's final talks for a deal between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP) fail to find a resolution, then the strike will begin at midnight on May 1 when the current film and TV contract expires.
The strike could see new seasons of shows such as Modern Family, Empire and many others postponed, while late night chat and sketch shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live will be affected immediately.
"We thank you for your resolve and your faith in us as your representatives. We are determined to achieve a fair contract. Talks will resume tomorrow," the 2017 WGA negotiating committee said in a statement.
Summer shows such as Orange Is the New Black and Fear the Walking Dead will be unaffected as they have already been filmed and can be broadcast as usual.
The AMPTP said after the vote results that the two sides are "committed to reaching a deal" to prevent a repeat of the 2007 strike that decimated TV schedules and left writers deeply out of pocket.
When the WGA swapped writing for picketing in 2007, it lasted for 100 days and led to the likes of Breaking Bad and The Big Bang Theory having their seasons cut short.
The AMPTP noted: "The 2007 Writers Strike hurt everyone. Writers lost more than $287 million in compensation that was never recovered, deals were cancelled, and many writers took out strike loans to make ends meet."
