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Week One of The Strike, 2007

Sixteen years ago, the WGA announced a strike. Photos and video reveal what happened immediately after

By

Jennifer Laski

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A young Mike White in a blue long-sleeve shirt stands on a sunny street corner in front of Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, holding a "Writers Guild of America on Strike" picket sign during the 2007 strike.
MIKE WHITE Nov. 5, 2007 The now Emmy-award winning showrunner and writer of HBO’s The White Lotus picketed in front of Warner Bros. in Burbank. White’s writing credits included School of Rock, Freaks and Geeks and Dawson’s Creek. Jesse Grant/WireImage

STRIKE ANNOUNCEMENT, Nov. 2, 2007

Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus wears a blue t-shirt and a baseball cap while shouting and holding a "SAG Supports WGA" picket sign. She is surrounded by other picketers in front of the Warner Bros. Studio gate during the 2007 strike.
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS Nov. 6, 2007 The Emmy winner marched in solidarity with the WGA in front of Warner Bros., where her series The New Adventures of Old Christine filmed. The strike occurred during the show’s third season, cutting it down to 10 episodes from its mid-season 13-episode order. David McNew/Getty Images
Donald Glover wears a blue hoodie while standing on a picket line in New York City. He is holding a "Writers Guild of America, East on Strike" picket sign in front of the 30 Rockefeller Center building during the 2007 strike.
DONALD GLOVER Nov. 5, 2007 At 23, Glover had been hired by Tina Fey to join the writers room of 30 Rock. Glover marched in front of the actual 30 Rock on the first day of the strike. Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

SETH MACFARLANE, Nov. 9, 2007

WGA lead negotiator David Young stands on a picket line in front of a crowd of protesters.
DAVID YOUNG Nov. 9, 2007 The WGA lead negotiator joined the picket at Fox. Mark Boster/L.A. Times/Getty Images
A smiling woman stands on a picket line during the 2007 WGA strike with a baby in a carrier on her chest. She holds two handmade signs: one reads "When I learn fractions I’ll be pissed!" (positioned near the baby) and the other reads "Quit milking us!"
An unidentified protestor with a message. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
Paul Haggis wearing a brown jacket, red shirt, and sunglasses, holding a "Writers Guild of America on Strike" picket sign while marching with a crowd of protesters during the 2007 WGA strike.
PAUL HAGGIS Nov. 9, 2007 Writer/director of the Oscar-winning Crash, Haggis, marched with more than 4,000 WGA members at Fox. Last year, he was found guilty of three counts of rape and sexual abuse in a civil trial. Mark Boster/L.A. Times/Getty Images
Mindy Kaling wearing a red "Writers Guild of America West" t-shirt and a red baseball cap, smiling while standing in front of other picketers holding "Writers Guild of America On Strike" signs.
MINDY KALING Nov. 9, 2007 Then a writer and actor onThe Office, she marched at Fox. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
An overhead, slightly angled shot of dozens of protesters lying flat on the asphalt of Pico Boulevard in Century City. The protesters are strategically positioned to spell out the letters "WGA" in large block text for news helicopters above. Many are holding "Writers Guild of America On Strike" picket signs against their chests, while other supporters stand behind along the tree-lined city street.
CENTURY CITY NOV. 9, 2007 Hollywood writers laid down in protest to form the letters “WGA” on Pico Blvd. for news helicopters. David McNew/Getty Images
A close-up of a picket sign held by a protester during the 2007 WGA strike. The sign features a large photo of then-Fox chief Peter Chernin with the words "WRITE THIS" printed in bold red and blue block letters across his face. In the background, other protesters hold signs, including one that reads "Army Wives."
Then-Fox chief PETER CHERNIN was pictured on placards. David McNew/Getty Images
Musician Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine stands with his back to the camera, facing a massive, dense crowd of picketers during the 2007 WGA strike. He is wearing a black hoodie and looking out over hundreds of protesters holding "Writers Guild of America ON STRIKE" and "SAG SOLIDARITY" signs in front of a studio building.
Rage Against The Machine’s TOM MORELLO performed outside Fox on Nov. 9. 2007. Mark Boster/L.A. Times/Getty Images
Kal Penn and Sara Hess stand together while picketing during the 2007 WGA strike. Penn is wearing a black polo shirt and a blue baseball cap, holding a white picket sign with "HOUSE" handwritten on it below the Writers Guild logo. Hess stands beside him in a red V-neck sweater, holding a standard red and white "Writers Guild of America ON STRIKE" sign.
KAL PENN, SARA HESS Nov. 9, 2007 Penn and Hess marched outside of Fox. The strike lasted 100 days. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
Actress Busy Philipps smiles while picketing during the 2007 WGA strike at Universal Studios. She is wearing a red t-shirt and standing in front of a large "Universal City" sign. Next to her, a man in a red shirt holds a white "The Writers Guild is on Strike" sign featuring an illustration of a stylized lightning bolt that turns into a pen nib.
BUSY PHILLIPS Nov. 5, 2007 The actress marched at Universal Studios. Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes stands on a crowded picket line during the 2007 WGA strike. She is wearing a dark blue "Writers Guild" t-shirt and holding a large red and white "Writers Guild of America ON STRIKE" sign while looking off-camera with a serious expression.
WANDA SYKES Nov. 5, 2007 protested outside of Warner Bros. in Burbank. Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Actress Eva Longoria speaks into "ET" (Entertainment Tonight) branded microphones while picketing during the 2007 WGA strike. She is wearing a dark top, and in the background, other protesters are visible, including one holding a sign that reads "UNIONS STAND TOGETHER" and "SAG SUPPORTS WGA."
EVA LONGORIA NOV. 6, 2007 The Desperate Housewives star and SAG member joined the strike in solidarity outside of the set of her show in Universal City. David McNew/Getty Images
Actors and writers Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon picket in front of Fox Studios during the 2007 WGA strike. Both are dressed in their "Reno 911!" sheriff uniforms, complete with sunglasses and a cowboy hat for Lennon. They are surrounded by a dense crowd of protesters holding "Writers Guild of America ON STRIKE" and "HONK" signs.
ROBERT BEN GARANT, THOMAS LENNON Nov. 9, 2007 The Reno 911! writers and actors picketed in front of Fox. NPR reported in 2008 that the strike cost the economy of Los Angeles an estimated $1.5 billion. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
A close-up of actor and writer Ed Helms smiling while picketing during the 2007 WGA strike. He is wearing glasses and a blue button-down shirt over a white t-shirt. Behind him, a red and black "Writers Guild of America ON STRIKE" picket sign is visible.
ED HELMS Nov. 9, 2007 The actor and writer marched at Fox. At the time, Helms played Andy Bernard on The Office. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
A medium shot of writer Michael Lent carrying his young son on his shoulders while picketing in front of the Team Disney Building in Burbank during the 2007 WGA strike. Lent is holding a red, black, and white "Writers Guild of America ON STRIKE" picket sign. In the background, other protesters are visible under the iconic Walt Disney Studios gate.
MICHAEL LENT Nov. 12, 2007 The writer brought his son to picket in front of the Disney lot in Burbank. Like now, Bob Iger was CEO. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

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