TV schedules in flux as Hollywood writers picket

The program schedule on American network TV is in flux as the strike by Hollywood film and TV writers enters its second day.

The Fox sitcoms 'Til Deathand Back to You and CBS show Rules of Engagement have stopped production because of the strike.

The shows are typically written the same week they are shot before a live audience, with jokes being sharpened by writers even on the day of production.

Back to You, starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton as co-anchors on a Pittsburgh TV station, will not return on Wednesdayfrom a planned hiatus.

Both Back to You and 'Til Death were scheduled to be broadcast by Canada's Global networkon Wednesday.

Other sitcoms filmed before live audiences that stopped production include Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, both CBS shows that air on CTV's A Channel.

Star Julia Louis-Dreyfus said production also stopped on her CBS show, The New Adventures of Old Christine.

Production of the hit show Desperate Housewives, which airs on CTV in Canada, will stop Wednesday after running out of scripts.

Producer Alexandra Cunningham said shows that have already been completed won't last until Christmas.

"It's unfortunate. We want to get back to work," Cunningham said.

About 12,000 writers, members of the Writers Guild of America, are on strike, with picket lines set up in Los Angeles and New York.

The late shows and late-night comedy shows that rely on new jokes based on current affairs are already on hold.

The Office stars refuse to cross picket lines

Among the other shows that could soon be affected by the strike are The Office. Some of theactors on the showalso writers.

Stars such as B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling chose not to cross picket lines on Monday, and say they will not be writing while their fellow writers are on strike.

Many TV shows are run by producers who double as scribes, often called showrunners.

Some of Hollywood's showrunners, including Shawn Ryan of The Shield, have said they will not continue writing.

ABCalsohas yanked Cashmere Mafia, a new series due to launch Nov. 27about ambitious and sexy businesswomen.

Sources said that with the uncertainty surrounding the strike, the network opted to hold onto the show until next year, when it would giveit a proper launch.

The strike began Monday after last-minute talks over the weekend ended in an impasse.

Talks broke down over the issue of compensationfor electronic rights, including rebroadcast of film and TV shows over the internet and via cellphone.