The Writers Guild Awards (WGA) are making their rounds this year, celebrating the most exceptional writing in television and film on both the West and East Coasts. The annual event is taking place at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles and the Edison Ballroom in New York City.
In Los Angeles, Joel Kim Booster has been appointed to host the festivities. Meanwhile, in New York, Roy Wood Jr., a comedian with notable hosting experience, returns to helm the ceremony.
Wood’s opening monologue took a serious turn, reflecting on the significance of the closing days of Black History Month. He also used the platform to voice his thoughts on the current political climate: “It’s a bit wild out there. Zuckerberg took Instagram, Trump took over Zuckerberg, Elon Musk got both, and then Putin muscled in on everything. It’s some sort of white people buying more white people stuff. That’s progress, right?”
The comedian also celebrated the industry’s resilience: “Here we are, making it to 2025. We weathered the pandemic, strikes, and fires, and even managed to learn about Justin Baldoni. I’m still not entirely sure who he is, but hey, we survived it all.”
He humorously likened the continuous mergers in the entertainment sector to a “STD epidemic”: “Fox bought Tubi, Freevee popped up, and Mubi joined the party. It’s like they’re all STDs? ‘I’ve got a Fubo on my Peacock!'”
Notable honorary awards were given to creaive minds. Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad, was bestowed the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, while the late David Lynch received the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement. RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes were awarded the Paul Sevlin Award for “scripts that best embody the spirit of constitutional and civil rights and liberties.”
Ross expressed his concerns about the Trump administration’s efforts to reverse recent civil rights advancements: “The imagination is our most powerful form of resistance. We derive strength from each other.”
New York’s ceremony had a star-studded lineup of presenters. Scott Frank was set to receive the Ian McLellan Hunter Award for Career Achievement, presented by Marielle Heller. Bill Lawrence was to be honored with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence, and Kathy McGee was selected for the Richard B. Jablow Award for Devoted Service to the Guild by Penelope Koechl.
Among the highly anticipated categories, “Original Screenplay” saw a heated battle. Sean Baker’s “Anora” emerged as the winner, but competition was stiff. First-time nominees Jesse Eisenberg for “A Real Pain,” Justin Kuritzkes for “Challengers,” Alex Garland for “Civil War,” and Megan Park for “My Old Ass” all joined the race.
Adapted Screenplay
RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes jointly won the “Adapted Screenplay” category for their work on “Nickel Boys” based on Colson Whitehead’s novel. James Mangold and Jay Cocks were among those nominated for their screenplay for “A Complete Unknown.”
Documentary Screenplay
The “Documentary Screenplay” category was dominated by Mark Monroe’s “Jim Henson: Idea Man,” which took top honors. Other strong contenders included Bill S. Carter’s “Kiss the Future” and Tony Gerber and Jesse Moss’s “War Game.”
Drama Series
The “Drama Series” nominations were highly competitive, with nominees such as “The Boys,” “The Diplomat,” and “Fallout” all vying for the prize. Each series brought unique storytelling to the screen, showcasing the diverse landscape of television drama.
Comedy Series
Comedy series nominees included sentimental favorites like “Abbott Elementary” and “What We Do in the Shadows” alongside lesser-known entries like “The Bear” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Limited Series
“The Penguin” took home the prize in the “Limited Series” category, while contenders like “Presumed Innocent,” “Ripley,” and “Say Nothing” also garnered substantial praise.
TV & Streaming Motion Pictures
The “TV & Streaming Motion Pictures” category recognized talented scriptwriters like Elisabeth Seldes Annacone for “The Great Lillian Hall” and D.J. Mausner for “Prom Dates.”
Animation
Katie Crown’s “Saving Favorite Drive-In” from “Bob’s Burgers” excelled in the “Animation” category, besting entries like “Bottle Episode” and “Cremains of the Day” from “The Simpsons.”
Episodic Drama
Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks’s “Anjin” from “Shōgun” was a standout in the “Episodic Drama” category, offering intricate storytelling within the broader narrative of the series.
Episodic Comedy
Catherine Schetina’s “Napkins” from “The Bear” was a front-runner in the “Episodic Comedy” category, complementing the show’s vibrant cast and witty humor.
Comedy/Variety Series – Talk or Sketch
The “Comedy/Variety Series – Talk or Sketch” category saw strong performances by “The Daily Show,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and others, with the series’ head writers and senior writers shining in their roles.
Comedy/Variety Specials
Special attention was given to the “Comedy/Variety Specials” category, with Seth Meyers and Ramy Youssef both nominated for their respective shows, “A Closer Look with Seth Meyers: Primetime Live Election Special” and “Ramy Youssef: More Feelings.”
Quiz and Audience Participation
The “Quiz and Audience Participation” category was won by “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” with a team of writers that included Marcus Brown and Billy Wisse, bringing together trivia and fun for viewers.
Daytime Drama
Leading contenders in the “Daytime Drama” category included long-standing series “Days of Our Lives,” “General Hospital,” and “The Young and the Restless,” each known for their complex storylines and devoted fanbases.
Children’s Episodic, Longform and Specials
“Welcome to Spiderwick” from “The Spiderwick Chronicles” was the winner in the “Children’s Episodic, Longform and Specials” category, with Aron Eli Coleite’s script captivating young viewers alongside other imaginative options like “I’m Pogey” from “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock.”
Shortform Streaming
Tripper Clancy’s “Die Hart 3: Hart to Kill” won an accolade in the “Shortform Streaming” category, showcasing the captivating potential of shorter storytelling formats.
Documentary Script
Ric Burns and Riccardo Bruscagli’s work on “Part One: Inferno to Paradise” from “Dante” was recognized in the “Documentary Script” category, offering viewers a deep dive into historical and cultural narratives.
News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report
Gerald Mazza’s “Willie Mays Tribute” from “CBS Newspath” won in the “News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report” category, highlighting informative and impactful journalism.
News Script – Analysis, Feature or Commentary
Scott Pelley, Nicole Young, and Kristin Steve’s “The Resistance” from “60 Minutes” took top honors in the “News Script – Analysis, Feature or Commentary” category, providing a look at political and societal issues.
Digital News
Akbar Shahid Ahmed’s “What Is Hamas Thinking Now?” from HuffPost was an outstanding entry in the “Digital News” category, showcasing the challenges and nuances of modern digital journalism.
Radio/Audio Documentary
Evan Chung’s “Art on Trial” from “One Year: 1990” took first place in the “Radio/Audio Documentary” category, melding engaging storytelling with historical research.
Radio/Audio News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report
Philip Pilato’s “6:40am News – Nov 6, 2023” from 1010 WINS AM & FM provided strong competition in the “Radio/Audio News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report” category, emphasizing the importance of morning news broadcasts.
Radio/Audio News Script – Analysis, Feature or Commentary
Robert Hawley’s “The Athleticism and Empathy of Horses” from “Press Play 2024” was a standout in the “Radio/Audio News Script – Analysis, Feature or Commentary” category, showcasing unique content through audio journalism.
The Writers Guild Awards continue to underscore the importance of exceptional writing in all forms of media. As we look ahead, these awards provide a beacon of quality and resilience in the ever-evolving entertainment and news landscape.
If you have thoughts on this year’s nominees or the winners, or if you’re excited to see how these scripts have translated into film and television, join us in the comments below. Share your insights and experiences, and don’t forget to subscribe for more updates and analysis on upcoming award shows.
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