The agencies are aiding another Hollywood blacklist, only this time it's a greylist

Paul Sprenger

The plaintiffs include writers whose screen credits include televisions shows such as Kojak, Falcon Crest and Knots Landing.

They claim the discrimination has been systematic and ongoing for almost 20 years.

The class-action lawsuit - one legal action for all the plaintiffs - has been brought against NBC, Walt Disney, ABC, Fox, Time Warner, Viacom, CBS, Columbia Tristar, Dreamworks and talent agencies such as Creative Artists Agency, International Creative Management and the William Morris Agency.

The complaint cites a comment by Friends creator Marta Kauffman that older writers are not hired because after the age of 40 they can no longer "do it", and says the networks and studios are looking for young people coming out of college.

Ageism study

"It is not a secret that NBC and others in the TV industry have an open and notorious policy of not allowing older writers on their productions," said lead plaintiffs' solicitor Paul Sprenger.

"The talent agencies won't waste time on older writers. The agencies are aiding another Hollywood blacklist, only this time, it's a greylist."

No-one from the networks or the talent agencies was available for comment.

The writers allege that they have been discriminated against since the early 1980s and their suit alleges violations of federal laws.

According to the complaint, 70% of all TV comedy writers are under 40, yet that age group comprises only 42% of available writers.

The plaintiffs also allege that in the 1997/98 TV season 77 series - about two-thirds - used no writer over 50 years old.

The plaintiffs also allege that Gary David Goldberg, a producer for ABC's sitcom Spin City, said the programme deliberately did not employ writers on the set over the age of 29.

The lawsuit coincides with an announcement by the Screen Actors' Guild that it has launched a study into ageism in primetime television.