MUMBAI: The celebrated Oscars are in for difficult times this year. As the Writers Guild of America's strike shows no sign of abating, shows like the Oscars and the Golden Globes will find it difficult to go ahead. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has contacted the WGA to request that the body issue a waiver for its Golden Globes show on 13 January, allowing guild members to be hired to write the show's script.

A waiver would also allow actors, writers and directors to attend the event without having to cross-picket lines.

So far, the WGA has refused to speculate on whether it will grant the request.

The Writers Guild of America says it won't grant a waiver to let writers return to the two awards shows.

But it is said that NBC will have its complete line-up of late night shows as Jimmy Kimmel has joined Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien to resume work on their respective shows despite the strike. Reports indicate the writers' negotiations are not going well.

The writers, disgruntled over compensation for programmes, movies and other content streamed or downloaded over the Internet, have been on strike since 5 November.