The first strike by Hollywood writers in nearly 20 years started with noisy pickets on both U.S. coasts and threatens to disrupt everything from talk shows to soap operas.

The strike began Nov. 5 after talks the previous day failed to produce an agreement on payment to writers from shows offered on the Internet.

The Tonight Show, the late night talk show on NBC hosted by Jay Leno, will immediately go into reruns, according to a network official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person lacked authorization to comment publicly.

KTLA-TV reported that fans of the Ellen talk show, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, were told that there would be no taping Nov. 5.

Comedy Central previously said The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report mock news shows would likely go into repeats as well.

The strike will not immediately impact production of movies or prime-time TV programs. Most studios have stockpiled dozens of movie scripts, and TV shows have enough scripts or completed shows in hand to last until early next year.

At the CBS lot in Studio City, about 40 people hoisted signs and applauded when midmorning picketing began.

Robert Port, a writer for TV shows, said he was as ready as possible for what could be a long walkout.

"In Los Angeles your bank account is never ready for this," he said.

Across town at the Paramount Pictures lot on Melrose Avenue, about 50 strikers dressed in jeans, athletic shoes and red strike T-shirts carried signs reading, "Writers Guild of America on Strike."

Drivers honked their horns as they passed the studio's landmark gate.