The TV writers' strike over online-video residuals costs the Los Angeles economy $21. 3 million per day, according to nonprofit group FilmLA. The strike, which has already shut down production on shows 24, Cold Case and Desperate Housewives, keeps 15,000 from working. The last time the writers struck, in 1988, the total cost came to an estimated $500 million, or about $3 million a day.