E.R. star JOHN STAMOS is grateful for the writers' strike which has brought Hollywood to a halt - because it almost guarantees the medical drama won't be axed.

The ongoing industrial action by members of the Writer's Guild of America threatens to roll over into 2008 and wreck the pilot season for many new shows and any potential threat to E.R.'s slot on the TV schedule.

Stamos tells the New York Daily News, "The writers strike will mean that a lot of pilots won't be made.

"That will help us because we're tried and true and have enough episodes stockpiled to remain on-air well into February (08), which is getting to be pilot time.
"Besides, after 14 years, the series would take at least 14 to 19 episodes to wind up properly."