'Office,' 'Housewives' shut down

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The Writers Guild of America strike has shut down production on TV's "Desperate Housewives" and "The Office," the Los Angeles Times reported.

The cast and crew of NBC's New York-based "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" were wrapping up an episode Wednesday with the actors planning to join the picket line Thursday.

"We're shooting a show now and that's it. After that, we have nothing in the pipeline," show runner Neal Baer told The Times.

NBC's "The Office" also shut down after several actors, including star Steve Carell, refused to work when the strike was announced.

Numerous stars of the single-camera comedy are also writers on the hit series.

"It was a rational decision," show runner Greg Daniels told the newspaper. "Our show is very collaborative. For them to do an episode without the writers, it is not how our show is done. Steve Carell is a writer and producer. He wouldn't cross the picket line."

Creator Marc Cherry said "Desperate Housewives" would also shut down production.

"We're the most high-profile writers in television. If we all band together, we're sending a not-so-subtle message to the powers that be that, without us, there is no TV. Period," he said.