WGA Awards: ‘Get Out,’ ‘Call Me by Your Name’ Among Winners

In keeping with the current mood of Hollywood’s creative community, the 2018 Writers Guild of America West Awards was largely focused on rewarding projects that flexed the power of using a voice to either shed light and understanding on subjects too long dismissed, ignored or marginalized, or to critique, satirize or allegorize unjust social conditions or political agendas.

The proudly defiant sentiment resulted in big wins for perspective-rich projects such as Get Out (original screenplay) Call Me by Your Name (adapted screenplay), The Handmaid’s Tale (drama series and new series), Veep (comedy series), Flint (original longform program), Big Little Lies (adapted longform Program), Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (comedy/variety talk series) and Saturday Night Live (comedy/variety sketch series)

Along the way, there was plenty of both playful and pointed jabs at the rapidly changing entertainment industry itself, beginning with L.A. host Patton Oswalt’s opening line to the assembled screenwriters, producers, directors and actors in the Beverly Hilton Hotel’s International Ballroom, in a nod to the current wave of corporate mega-consolidation: “Good evening, fellow Disney employees.” (The WGA Awards were handed out Sunday night at simultaneous ceremonies in New York and Los Angeles.)

Oswalt also pointed out that from his reckoning it was the 2008 writers strike that led producers “who had to make their alimony payments” to desperately scramble to seek out no-scripted content including The Apprentice,” the reality competition series that made a household name and “launched the unchecked ascent” of President Trump.

“The best way to make comedy without writers was to point cameras at assholes,” Oswalt noted. “The next time you think of taking away writers’ jobs and developing a show without a true scribe, I want you to imagine one thing.… President Theodore Nugent. And never fuck with writers again.”

In a comic nod to how the #MeToo movement had also made the use of pretty models to hand out awards trophies unpalatable, the comedian introduced the “Trophy Maids,” a pair of female presenters in full Handmaid’s Tale regalia to deliver the statuettes, noting they were named — in the series’ style — “Ofwilliamgoldman and Ofgavinpalone.”

Later in the show, Oswalt welcomed California’s U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff, who’s made headlines of late battling for declassification of the Democratic rebuttal to the infamous Republican-crafted memo claiming FBI surveillance abuses, thus far stymied by Trump.

“Adam has written the hottest spec script in town. And he can’t get his boss to read it,” quipped Oswalt.

WGA West president David A. Goodman also didn’t shy away from hot topics in his remarks, pledging to throw the guild’s support firmly behind battling sexual harassment, and adding, self-reflectively, that “I’m tired of the president of the WGA being a white Jewish male.”

“I ran for this position unopposed — I’m not beloved,” noted Goodman. “If you’re tired of being led by a guy who sounds like Ray Romano and looks like the guy from the Subway commercials, get involved, stay involved and lead.”

Comedienne Kathy Griffin, appearing as a presenter, also added an element of danger to the proceedings with a lengthy preamble that left some in the crowd squirming and some cheering: nine months after experiencing a powerful backlash and loss of work after posting a photo of herself with a simulated decapitated head of Trump on social media, Griffin led with faux-thanking “all the powerful writers and showrunners in this room for fucking no support. Where the fuck have you been? I was supposed to thank everyone for their support — no one’s lifted a finger.”

Griffin also decried the fact that her writing has been limited to “shitty, low budget cable my whole career,” due to, in her view, her gender and her age, and pointed out that she also holds records for writing more stand-up comedy specials — 23 — than anyone else, male or female, but none of them were union. “I hope that we can bridge that gap,” she said.

“I want you to learn from my experience, because if you think it can’t happen to you, it can, and it can happen like that,” she said with the snap of a finger. “You may have hated that photo, and that’s OK, but if one of your 12-year-old kids puts it on Twitter, they shouldn’t have to be under a two-month federal investigation, be on the no-fly list, be on the Interpol list.”

In New York, host Amber Ruffin (Late Night With Seth Meyers) made sure to emphasize what she told The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the ceremony would be her theme for the evening: diversity.

"If you thought that there has been too much focus on minorities and women these past few months, then you are about to have a bad time," Ruffin said shortly into her opening monologue. "Because all night long I'm gonna be like, 'Lady, lady, lady, black, black, black….'"

Indeed, most of her subsequent jokes were about the state of black women in Hollywood, touching on the wave of sexual misconduct allegations that have rocked the entertainment industry over the past few months.

"This year has been a confusing year to work in entertainment. Men have had to adjust to a world in which sexual harassment is no longer tolerated and women have had to adjust to a world where people believe us," Ruffin said.

Later in her monologue, she took a moment to applaud Meyers for making her the first black woman to write on a network talk show, calling Meyers "the first woke late-night host." That said, she insisted that Robin Thede, also in attendance, would be the "most woke late-night host." And she invited Thede, Meyers and fellow late-night hosts Jordan Klepper and John Oliver to do body rolls. But she had a different message for L.A.-based late-night host Bill Maher, instructing him to "Go fuck yourself." Later when Maher's writers' names came up as Thede was reading the nominees for best comedy/variety talk series, the audience audibly booed.

Ruffin, who's known for participating in Late Night's "Jokes Seth Can't Tell" segment, then launched into her own version of the concept, singing about risque jokes that she "shouldn't tell," even though, she said, she'd likely be forgiven as a black woman.

Such jokes: "Black-ish, what the water is still like in Flint, Mich…. Dunkirk has come under fire for having too many white men, or as it's commonly known, a writers room…. People were shocked there was no nomination for the movie Girls Trip. Next year's sequel is sure to win: Girls Trip 2: We're Slaves This Time."

Later in New York, Tracy Morgan and Rachel Dratch helped the WGA East honor Tina Fey and Robert Carlock (Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence.

Morgan, who claimed to be a classically trained thespian until Dratch insisted he didn't need to pretend to be someone he's not just to impress a room full of writers, said of the pair, "Anyone who's ever trusted them has not been disappointed. I know I haven't. It's been one of the best relationships of my life. They'll do anything for you. Although they won't give you a kidney. I know. I've asked them many times."

In all seriousness, though, Morgan said of his two colleagues and friends, "I think I speak for a lot of folks out there when I say that it's not only been a pleasure to say their words, but to be around their genius. I love them so much. Robert came to see me after the accident and Tina did, too, and I love you for that. Thank you so much. That meant a lot to me."

And then, paraphrasing one of his 30 Rock character Tracy Jordan's famous catchphrases, Morgan joked, "I love you so much, I want to take you out back behind a middle school and get you pregnant."

Dratch summarized the pair's impressive comedy history, separately writing some of SNL's most memorable sketches, working together on "Weekend Update," running 30 Rock, creating Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and, she joked, their lesser-known feat of crafting "a line of very flammable athleisure wear for JC Penney."

Of Fey, Dratch said, "Your brain is a magic joke machine, the likes of which, I've never witnessed.… When I think of you I think how everything you touch turns to comedy gold. And that is true, but that would give the impression that all you do is touch and it is actually your hard work, your amazing brain — and I'm sure here you would make some amazing German work ethic reference, but I'll need you to punch this up before air…. Together they have created their own sitcom language, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it rapid-fire rhythm, where the throwaway line is as funny as the joke you were supposed to hear. The surreal is allowed to live in the same space as the real with Tina and Robert in the sitcom world. They've combined their comedy forces into something wonderful and unique. When you put Carlock and Fey together you're going to get a heady mix of sharks, robots and feminism and genuine heart."

Fey and Carlock were also praised, via video, by Jon Hamm, Lorne Michaels, Alec Baldwin and Kay Cannon. When they took the stage, they said their requisite thank-yous and also expressed their gratitude to one another.

"I can't believe how lucky I am to get to spend [Fey's] good will to write nonsense and my stupid ideas because she's the one who gets attacked every time, which just works so great for me," Carlock said, jokingly. "It's just remarkable that I am fortunate enough to be her partner. And I get to work with and for her, which just makes me so lucky."

And Fey praised Carlock for being one of the few good men in Hollywood, a rare feat after months of disturbing allegations about powerful figures in the entertainment industry.

"If you have a meeting with Robert, when you get there, he will never be just getting out of the shower," Fey said. "You're safe. That is just how low the bar is now. That's why we're getting this award, because we never made anyone who worked for us look at our genitals."

Back in L.A., Jordan Peele accepted the best original screenplay award for Get Out.

“If I was really afraid of white people, this would be the scariest moment of my life,” he cracked as he surveyed the crowd from the stage, then grew sincere. “I think this means so much because writers know how fucking hard it is to write something. This was a passion project. It was something that I put my love into, I put my soul into.”

Recalling the long road to getting the film made — it was first conceived in 2008 and once included a scene in which the black protagonist was tortured by his white captors by being forced to listen to James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend” over and over again — Peele offered encouragement to his colleagues: “To everyone in this room that is a writer, keep taking chances, take big risks, put your love into it,” he said. “It does pay off. It can take a long time, but our voices really do matter.”

“I just wanted to go and make a film in Italy again,” marveled James Ivory while accepting the adapted screenplay honor for Call Me by Your Name. But Ivory has proved to be a much-admired figure, an accomplished director turned screenwriter who at 89 is still delivering vital, challenging work. “I’ve never undertaken a complete screenplay on my own, in all the years that I was directing film, so I’m moved by your enthusiasm and this award.”

“There is nothing as special to me at the writers’ room — it’s the happiest place I know,” said The Handmaid’s Tale executive producer Bruce Miller while accepting the series’ first award of the evening for drama series. He also praised Margaret Atwood, whose 1985 dystopian novel provided the basis for the series — “She is the mother of us all” — and to star Elisabeth Moss, “who makes us all look good.”

Upon receipt of the series’ second award, for best new series, Miller revealed that “when I first got this project, a thought went through my head, and people have asked me since then: ‘Who do you think you are, adapting a Margaret Atwood book and being one penis over the limit for that project?’ But I think the only answer I could come up with is I’m a writer — that’s what we do. We try to get into our heads and other people’s heads and tell their story as true as possible."

After collecting the adapted longform award for Big Little Lies, David E. Kelley paid tribute to his wife of 25 years, actress Michelle Pfeiffer, “who has always inspired me to be better than.” He also recalled his first job working for early collaborator Steven Bochco and “the sense of exhilaration that I had being in a room full of writers. And truthfully, that has never left me.”

Veep showrunner David Mandel, accepting the comedy series award, quipped that star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, currently undergoing treatment to battle cancer, “wasn’t going to come [tonight] if she didn’t have cancer either, because this is not televised,” but hoped the win would brighten her during her treatments. He also promised that once the actress had recovered the series would promptly resume production in August of 2018. “We have so much great stuff planned: Selena has sex with a porn star, one of the people working for Selena beats the crap out of his wife — a lot of really cutting-edge comedy!”

Among the special honorees who were feted by the WGA West in Los Angeles are The Post writers Liz Hannah and Josh Singer with the Paul Selvin Award; Milk writer Dustin Lance Black with the Valentine Davies Award for his work for the LGBTQ community; Mary Tyler Moore show co-creator James L. Brooks with the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement; writer-producer Alison Cross (Roe vs. Wade, Murder in the First) with the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement; and late comic-book icon Len Wein, co-creator of Wolverine, with the Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award.

In New York, the WGA East also honored Geoffrey Ward (The Vietnam War, The Roosevelts) with the Ian McLellan Hunter Award for Career Achievement; and Hamilton Nolan (Splinter News/Gizmodo Media Group) with the Richard B. Jablow Award for devoted service to the guild.

A full list of winners follows.

Original Screenplay

Image Credit: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Get Out (WINNER)
Written by Jordan Peele
Universal Pictures

The Big Sick
Written by Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
Amazon Studios

I, Tonya
Written by Steven Rogers
Neon

Lady Bird
Written by Greta Gerwig
A24

The Shape of Water
Screenplay by Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor
Story by Guillermo del Toro
Fox Searchlight
Adapted Screenplay

Image Credit: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Call Me by Your Name (WINNER)
Screenplay by James Ivory
Based on the Novel by Andre Aciman
Sony Pictures Classics

The Disaster Artist
Screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber
Based on the Book The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside the Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell
A24

Logan
Screenplay by Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green
Story by James Mangold
Based on Characters from the X-Men Comic Books and Theatrical Motion Pictures
Twentieth Century Fox Film

Molly's Game
Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
Based on the Book by Molly Bloom
STX Entertainment

Mudbound
Screenplay by Virgil Williams and Dee Rees
Based on the Novel by Hillary Jordan
Netflix
Documentary Screenplay

Image Credit: Courtesy of London Film Festival

Jane (WINNER)
Written by Brett Morgen
National Geographic

Betting on Zero
Written by Theodore Braun
Gunpowder & Sky

No Stone Unturned
Written by Alex Gibney
Abramorama

Oklahoma City
Written by Barak Goodman
American Experience Films
Drama Series

Image Credit: George Kraychyk/Hulu

The Handmaid’s Tale, Written by Ilene Chaiken, Nina Fiore, Dorothy Fortenberry, Leila Gerstein, John Herrera, Lynn Maxcy, Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder, Wendy Straker Hauser, Eric Tuchman; Hulu (WINNER)

The Americans, Written by Peter Ackerman, Tanya Barfield, Joshua Brand, Joel Fields, Stephen Schiff, Joe Weisberg, Tracey Scott Wilson; FX

Better Call Saul, Written by Ann Cherkis, Vince Gilligan, Jonathan Glatzer, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, Heather Marion, Thomas Schnauz, Gordon Smith; AMC

Game of Thrones, Written by David Benioff, Bryan Cogman, Dave Hill, D.B. Weiss; HBO

Stranger Things, Written by Paul Dichter, Justin Doble, The Duffer Brothers, Jessica Mecklenburg, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Alison Tatlock; Netflix
Comedy Series

Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO

Veep, Written by Rachel Axler, Sean Gray, Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck, Erik Kenward, Billy Kimball, Steve Koren, Dave Mandel, Jim Margolis, Lew Morton, Georgia Pritchett, Will Smith, Alexis Wilkinson; HBO (WINNER)

Curb Your Enthusiasm, Written by Larry David, Jon Hayman, Justin Hurwitz, Jeff Schaffer; HBO

GLOW, Written by Kristoffer Diaz, Liz Flahive, Tara Herrmann, Nick Jones, Jenji Kohan, Carly Mensch, Emma Rathbone, Sascha Rothchild, Rachel Shukert; Netflix

Master of None, Written by Aziz Ansari, Andrew Blitz, Zoe Jarman, Cord Jefferson, Sarah Peters, Sarah Schneider, Michael Schur, Leila Strachan, Gene Stupnitsky, Lakshmi Sundaram, Lena Waithe, Jason Woliner, Alan Yang; Netflix

Silicon Valley, Written by Alec Berg, Donick Cary, Adam Countee, Jonathan Dotan, Mike Judge, Carrie Kemper, John Levenstein, Dan Lyons, Carson Mell, Dan O’Keefe, Clay Tarver; Aaron Zelman; HBO
New Series

Image Credit: Courtesy of Hulu

The Handmaid’s Tale, Written by Ilene Chaiken, Nina Fiore, Dorothy Fortenberry, Leila Gerstein, John Herrera, Lynn Maxcy, Bruce Miller, Kira Snyder, Wendy Straker Hauser, Eric Tuchman; Hulu (WINNER)

American Vandal, Written by Seth Cohen, Lauren Herstik, Dan Lagana, Kevin McManus, Matthew McManus, Jessica Meyer, Dan Perrault, Amy Pocha, Mike Rosolio, Tony Yacenda; Netflix

The Deuce, Written by Megan Abbott, Marc Henry Johnson, Lisa Lutz, George Pelecanos, Richard Price, Will Ralston, David Simon, Chris Yakaitis; HBO

GLOW, Written by Kristoffer Diaz, Liz Flahive, Tara Herrmann, Nick Jones, Jenji Kohan, Carly Mensch, Emma Rathbone, Sascha Rothchild, Rachel Shukert; Netflix

Ozark, Written by Whit Anderson, Bill Dubuque, Ryan Farley, Alyson Feltes, Paul Kolsby, David Manson, Chris Mundy, Mark Williams, Ning Zhou, Martin Zimmerman; Netflix
Longform - Original

Image Credit: Courtesy of Lifetime

Flint, Written by Barbara Stepansky; Lifetime (WINNER)

American Horror Story: Cult, Written by Brad Falchuk, John J. Gray, Joshua Green, Todd Kubrak, Crystal Liu, Tim Minear, Ryan Murphy, Adam Penn, James Wong; FX

Feud: Bette and Joan, Written by Jaffe Cohen, Tim Minear, Ryan Murphy, Gina Welch, Michael Zam; FX

Godless, Written by Scott Frank; Netflix

Manhunt: Unabomber, Written by Jim Clemente, Tony Gittelson, Max Hurwitz, Steven Katz, Nick Schenk, Andrew Sodroski, Nick Towne; Discovery Channel
Longform - Adapted

Image Credit: Courtesy of HBO

Big Little Lies, Teleplay by David E. Kelley, Based on the Novel by Liane Moriarty; HBO (WINNER)

Fargo, Written by Monica Beletsky, Bob DeLauren, Noah Hawley, Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert, Based on the film Fargo; FX

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Teleplay by Peter Landesman and and George C. Wolfe, Based on the book written by Rebecca Skloot; HBO

The Wizard of Lies, Teleplay by Sam Levinson and John Burnham Schwartz and Samuel Baum, Based on the Book Written by Diane B. Henriques and Truth and Consequences by Laurie Sandell; HBO
Animation

Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

“Time’s Arrow” (BoJack Horseman), Written by Kate Purdy; Netflix (WINNER)

“Brunchsquatch” (Bob’s Burgers), Written by Lizzie Molyneux &Wendy Molyneux; Fox

“A Father’s Watch” (The Simpsons), Written by Simon Rich; Fox

“Ruthie” (BoJack Horseman), Written by Joanna Calo; Netflix

“The Serfsons” (The Simpsons), Written by Brian Kelley; Fox
Episodic Drama

Image Credit: Ursula Coyote/Sony Pictures Television/AMC

“Chicanery” (Better Call Saul), Written by Gordon Smith; AMC (WINNER)

“The Book of Nora” (The Leftovers), Teleplay by Tom Perrotta & Damon Lindelof, Story by Tom Spezialy & Damon Lindelof;HBO

“The Heart Attack is the Best Way” (Good Behavior), Written by Chad Hodge; TNT

“Homecoming” (The OA), Written by Brit Marling &Zal Batmanglij; Netflix

“Slip” (Better Call Saul), Written by Heather Marion;AMC

“The Soviet Decision” (The Americans), Written by Joe Weisberg & Joel Fields; FX
Episodic Comedy

Image Credit: Chris Haston/NBC

“Rosario’s Quinceanera” (Will & Grace), Written by Tracy Poust & Jon Kinnally; NBC (WINNER)

“The Burglary” (Grace and Frankie), Written by Brendan McCarthy &David Budin; Netflix

“Intervention” (The Carmichael Show), Written by Willie Hunter; NBC

“Judge” (Veep), Written by Ted Cohen; HBO

“The Verdict” (Trial & Error), Written by Jeff Astrof; NBC
Daytime Drama

Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC

General Hospital, Head Writers: Shelly Altman, Jean Passanante; Writers: Anna Theresa Cascio, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Daniel James O'Connor, Dave Rupel, Katherine Schock, Scott Sickles, Christopher Van Etten, Christopher Whitesell; ABC (WINNER)

Days of Our Lives, Writers: Ron Carlivati, Sheri Anderson, Lorraine Broderick, David Cherrill, Lisa Connor, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon, Cydney Kelley, David Kreizman, David A. Levinson, Rebecca McCarty, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Elizabeth Snyder, Tyler Topits; NBC
Comedy/Variety Specials

39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, Written by Dave Boone; CBS (WINNER)

89th Annual Academy Awards, Written by Billy Kimball, Jon Macks; Special Material Written by Jack Allison, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Gonzalo Cordova, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Bess Kalb, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeff Loveness, Molly McNearney, Danny Ricker, Joe Strazzullo; ABC

AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Diane Keaton, Written by Bob Gazzale, Jon Macks; TNT

Michael Bolton’s Big, Sexy, Valentine’s Day Special, Written by Scott Aukerman, Dave Ferguson, Mike Hanford, Tim Kalpakis, Joe Saunders, Akiva Schaffer; Additional Material Written by Zach Kanin, Claudia O’Doherty, Tim Robinson; Netflix

Nathan For You: A Celebration, Written by Leo Allen, Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Michael Koman, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola; Comedy Central
Comedy/Variety Sketch Series

Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC

Saturday Night Live, Head Writers: Chris Kelly, Sarah Schneider, Bryan Tucker, Writers: James Anderson, Kristen Bartlett, Jeremy Beiler, Neal Brennan, Zack Bornstein, Joanna Bradley, Megan Callahan, Michael Che, Anna Drezen, Fran Gillespie, Sudi Green, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Nick Kocher, Michael Koman, Dave McCary, Brian McElhaney, Dennis McNicholas, Drew Michael, Lorne Michaels, Josh Patten, Katie Rich, Pete Schultz, Streeter Seidell, Will Stephen, Kent Sublette, Julio Torres; NBC Universal (WINNER)

Nathan For You, Writers: Leo Allen, Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Michael Koman, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola; Comedy Central

Portlandia, Writers: Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein, Karen Kilgariff, Jonathan Krisel, Graham Wagner; IFC

The President Show, Writers: Emily Altman, Anthony Atamanuik, Emmy Blotnick, Neil Casey, Mike Drucker, Noah Garfinkel, John Gemberling, Peter Grosz, Mitra Jouhari, John Knefel, Alison Leiby, Christine Nangle, John Reynolds, Jason Ross, Rae Sanni, Evan Waite; Comedy Central

Weekend Update Summer Edition, Writers: Megan Callahan, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Dennis McNicholas, Josh Patten, Katie Rich, Pete Schultz, Streeter Seidell, Kent Sublette, Brian Tucker; NBC Universal
Comedy/Variety Talk Series

Image Credit: Courtesy of John Oliver/YouTube

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Writers: Tim Carvell, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, John Oliver, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, Ben Silva, Seena Vali; HBO (WINNER)

Conan, Head Writer: Matt O’Brien, Writers: Jose Arroyo, Daniel Cronin, Andres du Bouchet, Jessie Gaskell, Michael Gordon, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Leah Krinsky, Stephen Kutner, Todd Levin, Levi MacDougall, Conan O’Brien, Paul Richter, Frank Smiley, Mike Sweeney; TBS

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Writers: Samantha Bee, Ashley Nicole Black, Pat Cassels, Eric Drysdale, Mathan Erhardt, Travon Free, Joe Grossman, Jo Miller, Jason Reich, Melinda Taub; TBS

Jimmy Kimmel Live, Writers: Jimmy Kimmel, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Gonzalo Cordova, Devin Field, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Jesse Joyce, Bess Kalb, Jeff Loveness, Molly McNearney, CeCe Pleasants, Danny Ricker, Joe Strazzullo; ABC

Late Night with Seth Meyers, Writers: Jermaine Affonso, Alex Baze, Bryan Donaldson, Sal Gentile, Matt Goldich, Dina Gusovsky, Jenny Hagel, Allison Hord, Mike Karnell, John Lutz, Seth Meyers, Ian Morgan, Seth Reiss, Amber Ruffin, Mike Scollins, Mike Shoemaker, Ben Warheit; NBC Universal

Real Time with Bill Maher, Writers: Scott Carter, Adam Felber, Matt Gunn, Brian Jacobsmeyer, Jay Jaroch, Chris Kelly, Bill Maher, Billy Martin, Bob Oschack, Danny Vermont; HBO

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Writers: Dan Amira, David Angelo, Steve Bodow, Kashana Cauley, Devin Delliquanti, Zach DiLanzo, Hallie Haglund, David Kibuuka, Matt Koff, Adam Lowitt, Dan McCoy, Trevor Noah, Joseph Opio, Zhubin Parang, Owen Parsons, Daniel Radosh, Lauren Sarver-Means, Michelle Wolf; Comedy Central

The Jim Jefferies Show, Head Writer: Jason Reich, Writers: Jim Jefferies, Subhah Agarwal, Kevin Avery, Curtis Cook, Lucas Kavner, Matt Kirshen, Bryan Olsen, Laura Willcox, JJ Whitehead, Scott Y. Zabielski; Comedy Central
Quiz and Audience Participation

Image Credit: NBC

Hollywood Game Night, Head Writer: Grant Taylor; Writers: Michael Agbabian, Alex Chauvin, Ann Slichter, Dwight D. Smith; NBC (WINNER)

Jeopardy!, Written by Matthew Caruso, John Duarte, Harry Friedman, Mark Gaberman, Deborah Griffin, Michele Loud, Robert McClenaghan, Jim Rhine, Steve D. Tamerius, Billy Wisse; ABC
Children's Episodic and Specials

“American Girl – Ivy & Julie” (American Girl), Written by May Chan; Amazon (WINNER)

“American Girl – Knowledge is Power” (American Girl), Teleplay by Alison McDonald, Story by Alison McDonald and Caron Tschampion; Amazon

“Just Add 1965,” (Just Add Magic), Written by Lauren Thompson; Amazon

“Meet Julia” (Sesame Street), Written by Christine Ferraro; HBO

“The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special,” Written by Raye Lankford, Jessica Carleton, Ken Scarborough; HBO
Documentary Script - Current Events

“Confronting ISIS” (Frontline), Written by Martin Smith; PBS ?(WINNER)

“Poverty, Politics and Profit” (Frontline), Written by Rick Young; PBS

“Unseen Enemy,” Written by Janet Tobias; CNN
Documentary Script - Other Than Current Events

“The Great War” Part II (American Experience), Written by Stephen Ives; PBS (WINNER)

“Divided States of America” Part One (Frontline), Written by Michael Kirk & Mike Wiser; PBS

“Rachel Carson” (American Experience), Written and Directed by Michelle Ferrari; PBS

“The Great War” Part III (American Experience), Written by Rob Rapley; PBS ?

“The Vietnam War,” Episode Six: “Things Fall Apart,” Written by Geoffrey C. Ward; PBS ?
News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report

“White Helmets” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Nicole Young, Katie Kerbstat; CBS News (WINNER)

“Obama Wiretap Allegations” (World News Tonight with David Muir), Mark Berman, Barbara Rick, Tom Llamas; ABC News

“September 29, 2017” (World News Now), Written by Matt Nelko, Jack Sheahan, Debbie Humes, Carla Brittain, Constance Johnson, Lloyd deVries, Craig Morancie; ABC News
News Script – Analysis, Feature or Commentary

“Chief of Chobani” (60 Minutes), Written by Steve Kroft, Oriana Zill de Granados; CBS News (WINNER)

“Fighting Famine” (60 Minutes), Written by Scott Pelley, Nicole Young; CBS News
Shortform New Media - Adapted

“Starboy” (Zac & Mia), Teleplay by Allen Clary and Andrew Rothschild, Based on the novel Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts; go90.com (WINNER)

“John Hancock” (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot), Written by James C. Oliver & Sharla Oliver; abc.go.com

“Chapter 2” (The Walking Dead: Red Machete), Written by Nick Bernardone; amc.com

“Justicia” (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot), Written by Mark Leitner; abc.go.com
On-Air Promotion (Radio or Television)

“CBS Comedy,” Written by Dan Greenberger; CBS Television (WINNER)

“The Good Fight,” Written by Brian Retchless; CBS On-Air Promotions
Radio/Audio Documentary

“CBS Radio 90th Anniversary,” Written by Dianne E. James, Gail Lee; CBS News Radio (WINNER)

“2016 Year in Review,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio

“Castro, Cuba & Communism,” Written by Thomas A. Sabella; CBS News Radio

“Remembering Princess Diana 20 Years Later,” Written by Andrew Evans; ABC News Radio
Radio/Audio News Script – Analysis, Feature or Commentary

“Dishin’ Digital on WCBS-AM,” Written by Robert Hawley; WCBS (WINNER)

“Chuck Berry,” Written by Jerry Edling; CBS News Radio/KNX

“Holiday Stories,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio

“One Nation, Overdosed: An Investigative Report,” Written by Tara Gimbel Tanis; ABC News Radio
Radio/Audio News Script — Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin, or Breaking Report

“World News This Week: June 9, 2017,” Written by Tara Gimbel Tanis; ABC News Radio (WINNER)

“Hugh Hefner: A Social Revolutionary in Silk Pajamas,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio

“World News This Week November 18, 2016,” Written by Joan B. Harris; ABC News Radio
Digital News

“The Super Predators,” Written by Melissa Jeltsen, Dana Liebelson; Huffingtonpost.com (WINNER)

“At the Capitol With Those for Whom Last Night Mattered the Most,” Written by Emma Roller; SplinterNews.com

“Becoming Ugly,” Written by Madeleine Davies; Jezebel.com

“Why Did Politicon Make Me Want To Die?,” Written by Libby Watson; SplinterNews.com
Videogame Writing

Horizon Zero Dawn, Narrative Director John Gonzalez; Lead Writer Benjamin McCaw; Writing by Ben Schroder, Anne Toole; Additional Writing by Dee Warrick, Meg Jayanth; Guerrilla Games/p (WINNER)

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, External Writers Anna Megill, Hazel Monforton; Lead Narrative Designer Sachka Duval; Arkane Studios-Bethesda Softworks

Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow, Written by Cas Ruffin, Patric M. Verrone; TinyCo/p

Madden NFL 18: Longshot, Written by Michael Young, Adrian Todd Zuniga; Story by Michael Young; Tiburon/Electronic Arts