the newer technologies not covered in the contract are now on the front burner, as well as establishing union coverage for such forms of entertainment as mobisodes (mobile phones) and webisodes (Internet).

"Desperate Housewives" creator and head writer Marc Cherry, who brought his entire writing staff to the rally, said that due to the "ebb and flow" of the entertainment industry, residuals and benefits are of vital importance to writers.

After Cherry ended a three-and-a-half year stint as a writer on "The Golden Girls" in 1993, he hit a dry patch until "Housewives" got the greenlight in 2004.

More immediately pressing than upcoming contract talks is the current demand by a dozen "America's Next Top Model" writer-producers. They want their executive producer to agree to their demand to be represented by the WGA, west, in a collective bargaining negotiation.

"For the past nine weeks, these 12 people have had the courage to do something members haven't had to do in almost 20 years for benefits most of us take for granted."

The rally occurred on the day the two-hour season premiere of "America's Next Top Model" on the new CW network which is a merger of the old WB and UPN networks.

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