The Golden Globe Awards ceremony has been scaled down to a one-hour press conference as a result of a strike by US film and TV writers.
Why have writers taken industrial action, how is it affecting the industry - and what will it mean for the Oscars?
WHO IS ON STRIKE?
The 12,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), the official union representing writers in the film, TV and new media industries.
The last major WGA strike in 1988 lasted 22 weeks, costing the industry an estimated $500m (£250m). The current writers' strike began on 5 November 2007.
WHY ARE THEY STRIKING?
Writers want a new contract with film and TV studios that would give them more money when their work is sold on DVD or downloaded or streamed online.
The previous contract expired on 31 October and the two sides have not been able to agree a new deal.
Writers receive payments, called residuals, every time something they have written is repeated.
They also get a small residual when their work is sold on DVD - currently around 0.3% of each DVD sold.
The WGA had been seeking to double the amount its members receive from DVD sales, but had agreed to lower demands.
No agreement could be reached about payments for shows made available online. As a result, talks collapsed in December.
WHAT DO THE STUDIOS SAY?
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents production companies and studios, says writers are already compensated for digital downloads.
It has also said a deal on internet streaming was on the table when the strike began, and that it is too early to judge how successful digital distribution will be.
WHO HAS BEEN AFFECTED?
Late-night talk shows, which rely on writers for their scripts and jokes, were the first to go off air in November.
Production has been stopped on all sitcoms and prime-time dramas - such as Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives and The Office.
A number of high-profile film projects have also been sidelined, with the strike putting thousands of off-camera crew out of work.
HAS ALL PROGRAMMING BEEN HALTED?
The WGA reached an interim agreement with David Letterman's production company in December, which meant his show came back on air complete with writing team.
A similar agreement was reached with Tom Cruise's film company United Artists, the Weinstein Company, and other independent producers
Film studios producing Rambo, Saw 5 and The Incredible Hulk are among other companies to reach a deal with striking screenwriters.
Meanwhile, many TV networks are looking at different ways of filling their schedules - using content such as reality TV, news, repeats and imported programmes.
WHY ARE AWARD CEREMONIES AFFECTED?
The Golden Globes - the most prestigious ceremony after the Oscars - was replaced by a press conference last month after the Screen Actors Guild, representing Hollywood stars, said its members would not cross picket lines planned by writers.
There are also fears that the Oscars, due to be held on 24 February, could also be affected, but Academy Awards president Sid Ganis has said there is "no doubt" the ceremony will take place.
He said that "things are looking very, very good now" for the gala amid reports of a breakthrough in negotiations to end the dispute.
The lower-profile Critics' Choice Awards on 7 January remained largely unaffected because the ceremony was not covered by contracts disputed by the WGA.
And the Grammys will go ahead as normal on 10 February after the WGA agreed to let writers work on the show.
The guild said it wanted to offer support to musicians also facing challenges getting "compensation for the use of their work in new media."
In the UK, the Writers' Guild of Great Britain - which showed support for the WGA with a London rally - said it had no plans to picket the UK equivalent of the Oscars, the Baftas, also on 10 February.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
Concerted efforts are being made behind the scenes to bring the dispute to an end. At the beginning of February a "breakthrough" was reportedly reached during informal talks between writers and production companies. Talks to hammer out a deal continue.
In the meantime, technicians and production staff continue to suffer, with stoppages putting hundreds of crew members out of work.
US viewers can expect a rise in unscripted shows if the stand-off continues.
The situation is being monitored closely by others within the business - directors' and actors' contracts with studios and producers expire in June.
The Directors Guild of America has agreed a new deal on royalties on internet downloads which, in effect, doubles the rates its members currently get. Its members are due to vote on this contract.
Negotiations with the Screen Actors Guild have yet to begin. Any deal with writers could influence negotiations.
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