But this debate isn't just between the writers and the studios. It's also the studios versus us, the TV fans.

Fox President Peter Chernin said in a conference call with investors last week that Fox would save money by focusing on reality TV and ignoring their scripted shows. "We would be in original programming virtually every night of the week in this broadcast season," he added. So if you are a fan of Fox shows, like 24 or Prison Break, Fox doesn't really care whether you come back or not. American Idol can keep them in business.

Remember when The Daily Show and The Colbert Report were taken off of YouTube? The studio felt that they needed to protect their investment. Their theory is that you can't have an audience watching your shows without making money. Now only months later they are back on the Internet, for free, but only at the corporate Web site. Why? Because any money coming from that page goes to the studio. The studios do not want to give us the episodes for free, but they don't want to pay for them  to be written.

The writers guild members do not make a dime on the popular TV shows that they put together when they are released on DVD. This practice goes back to when VCRs were popular. The WGA negotiation is the only way they can get their fair share. Variety reported in April of 2007 that online episodes of prime time shows chomp into the money that comes from TV reruns.

The studios have made billions of dollars off of DVD sales. The fans of TV shows have shown that they are willing to pay for DVDs and support advertising on corporate Web sites. But the studios are not willing to even negotiate to try to get the shows that we're willing to "pay" for back on the air. They are content with reality shows, regardless of how the consumer feels.

It's time now in this process for the fans to stand up and be heard. Write a letter, sign a petition, or drive to Los Angeles and hand out donuts. But for the sake of the rest of us, don't buy any DVDs until the strike is over with.