Nikki Finke notes that the strike authorization vote concerning about 500 unionized CBS producers, editors, graphic artists and news writers who have been working under a contract that expired over two years ago may be coming to a head. Technically, with the pro-authorization vote (passed by 81%), the strike could be called at any time. From Deadlinehollywood:

''The WGA is saying that CBS news writers are 'strongly considering' a December 10th strike date. The timing appears to be an attempt by union leadership to disrupt CBS plans for a presidential debate the same day. That's because several Democratic White House candidates like Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton have all said they won't cross a picket line to participate in a debate. So far no exact date is set for a strike, which was authorized by the rank and file earlier this month.''

Carson Daly is the first late night talk show host to cross the picket line (Leno and Letterman and O'Brien are still in back channeltalks). As you can imagine, he's taking a lot of fire from those who wield pens. from EW's Popwatch:

''But how will Daly, that paragon of comic timing and trenchant, topical monologues, tell jokes without writers? He's recruiting scabs, sending out an e-mail to friends and family, asking them to call and leave their witticisms on his joke hotline. (Maybe 'scabs' is unfair; are they still scabs if you're not offering to pay them for their work?) According to the e-mail (thanks, The Smoking Gun!), Daly is soliciting jokes of the '2 priests and a rabbi walk into a bar,' variety, so that should slake everyone's thirst for the kind of timely, political humor we're all missing as long as Jay, Dave, Jon, Stephen, and Jimmy remain in reruns.''

Finally, from yesterday's Washington Square Park solidarity rally:

(images via wgaeast)