Last July, my brother gave me the first season of "The Office" on DVD. Once we popped in the first DVD, we, like many of my friends, were hooked. The quirky office workers at a failing paper company branch became like family to us as we watched every episode. We waited patiently for the new season.

"The Office's" fourth season was interrupted, however, by the Writers' Guild of America's strike. For three months, work was halted on the show, and that meant no Thursday night laughs for me and my family.

Many popular TV shows were halted (such as "Desperate Housewives," "Two and a Half Men," and others). Even the always-reliable "Daily Show with John Stewart" and "The Colbert Report" were shut down for a few months. While many found the strike to be a curse, I, as a future writer, found it fascinating.

I've always known that I wanted to be a writer, but "The Office" was the first time I ever thought about perhaps going into screenwriting. Part of why I love the show so much is the witty dialogue, the complex yet interesting relationships among the characters, and the ironic way in which it portrays the workplace today.

The writers at "The Office" and every scripted television show put a lot of work into their scripts, to be viewed and watched by millions. The writers, in my opinion, do deserve their fair share, especially in a world that is becoming so Internet- and media-centered.

As our world becomes more based on the Internet, I hope that someday, if I do pursue

Advertisement
any sort of career in writing, that I am able to share in the rights and profits of my work. Writing is a difficult business to make money in, and while I want to write because I love it, I hope I can at least be paid fairly for what I do.

Luckily, the writers' strike has come to a close, and I am comforted to know that not only will my Thursday nights be occupied once more by watching "The Office," but I can also be assured that steps are being taken to make sure that all writers will be able to make a living in the 21st century.

Sarah Rosenthal is a senior at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, and the editor of CTTeens. You may reach her at ctteens@ctpost.com.