America's Next Top Model Writers Threaten to Strike  7/23/06

Retired supermodel Tyra Banks' hit reality TV show America's Next Top Model has been thrown into chaos as writers threaten to strike over a disagreement with producers.

Writers walked off the show on Thursday (20JUL06) after claiming producers had ignored their pleas to join union the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

And they're threatening to strike indefinitely if producers don't agreed to support their union needs.

The writers even went so far as to stage a short protest outside their Los Angeles offices, and handed out fliers to passers-by explaining their plight.

WGA president Patric Verone tells the Los Angeles Times newspaper, "They want a guild contract, but their employer won't give it to them... This will be the first of many actions like it."

The threatened strike could not come at a worse time for the reality show, which is being hyped as one of new US TV network CW's top programs.

The new season of America's Next Top Model is due to air on 20 September (06).