NBC's "Fashion Star" production halted by picketers

Production on the second-season NBC's reality competition show "Fashion Star" has been brought to a temporary halt because of union picketing.

About 70 members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees picketed the show Saturday at Hollywood Center Studios, prompting producers to cancel a taping and dismiss a studio audience.

IATSE official Vanessa Holtgrew told The Hollywood Reporter the union was striking against the show until a contract is reached.

The union allows members to work on the non-union "Fashion Star," but they get no pension and health benefits without a union contract.

IATSE is fighting to keep a foothold as union-heavy productions like feature films in Los Angeles increasingly give way to productions that tend to be non-union like reality shows.

NBC and the show's three production companies had no immediate comment.

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