Is Actors' Strike Next?

Oh, no! Are we in for yet another TV season ruined by a Hollywood strike? Members of the Screen Actors Guild (actors' union) may have to walk out if their union leaders fail to reach a settlement with the producers. How would that affect the next TV season?

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The current contract between the actors' union and the studios expires on June 30 and the talks have reached a stalemate.

If the two sides fail to reach an agreement and a strike is called, this may have immediate repercussions on a number of shows.

Some fall series like "Prison Break," "Heroes," "Private Practice," "Brothers & Sisters" and "Dirty Sexy Money" have already been in production for weeks.

But some shows like "Desperate Housewives" or "Grey's Anatomy" have yet to go into production of the new season.

That means the networks would either use some of the shows on their schedule to start the fall season or delay the season till October or November.

Some cable shows which begin their new season this summer (such as AMC's "Mad Men") might have to interrupt the filming or cut the new season short.

Midseason shows like "24," "Lost" or newbie "Dollhouse" would not be affected as everyone expects the strike would long be settled by the time they get back on air.

A small number of shows whose casts are entirely made up of AFTRA members ("'Till Death" or "Reaper") would not be affected either.

Everyone however hopes the strike will be avoided and the new season will go ahead as planned. Then again everyone felt the same last October and we all know how that finished.