Writers Reach Strike-Ending Agreement

Finally, an end to two-hour game shows and multiple reruns.

The WGA and the major studios have reached an agreement that should have the writers back at work as early as Monday, possibly. The agreement is going to be presented to the Guild members in New York and Los Angeles today.

If the deal is approved, it will be in effect until May 1, 2011.

The majors had argued that it would be nearly impossible to pay the writers for shows and other features on the Internet. It seems the impossible has been achieved.

"It is an agreement that protects a future in which the Internet becomes the primary means of both content creation and delivery," Guild leaders said. "It creates formulas for revenue-based residuals in new media, provides access to deals and financial data to help us evaluate and enforce those formulas, and establishes the principle that, 'When they get paid, we get paid.' "

The message sent to members goes on to say that the time has come to end the strike because of the "enormous personal toll on our members and countless others."

"As such, we believe that continuing to strike now will not bring sufficient gains to outweigh the potential risks and that the time has come to accept this contract and settle the strike," the message continues. "Much has been achieved, and while this agreement is neither perfect nor perhaps all that we deserve for the countless hours of hard work and sacrifice, our strike has been a success."

It is too soon to know for sure how this will impact shows like Lost, Grey's Anatomy, and 24, but it has to mean good news.

Hooray for the writers! It seems they will finally get the pay they deserve!