We’re nearing closer and closer to the Academy Awards with each awards ceremony. We now come to the Writers Guild Awards which focuses specifically on one of the most important but sometimes forgotten elements of media: the screenwriters. Without their script, directors and actors would merely be winging it without a clear intent. Thus, the WGA honors their efforts.
There are a few surprises in that Borat Subsequent Moviefilm once more graced this awards ceremony. The inclusion may make one question how much writing was involved but there was clearly a narrative being pushed in the film of how Borat learned to connect with his daughter. Other winners include the revenge thriller of Promising Young Woman and the sports comedy of Ted Lasso.
Check out the full list of winners below:
Film Winners
Original Screenplay: Promising Young Woman, Written by Emerald Fennell; Focus Features
Adapted Screenplay: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern, Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad, Based on Characters Created by Sacha Baron Cohen; Amazon Studios
Documentary Screenplay: The Dissident, Written by Mark Monroe and Bryan Fogel; Briarcliff Entertainment
Television and New Media Winners
Drama Series: The Crown, Written by Peter Morgan, Jonathan Wilson; Netflix
Comedy Series: Ted Lasso, Written by Jane Becker, Leann Bowen, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence, Jamie Lee, Jason Sudeikis, Phoebe Walsh, Bill Wrubel; Apple TV+
New Series: Ted Lasso, Written by Jane Becker, Leann Bowen, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence, Jamie Lee, Jason Sudeikis, Phoebe Walsh, Bill Wrubel; Apple TV+
Original Long Form: Mrs. America, Written by Tanya Barfield, Joshua Griffith, Sharon Hoffman, Boo Killebrew, Micah Schraft, April Shih, Dahvi Waller; FX Networks
Adapted Long Form: The Queen’s Gambit, Written by Scott Frank, Allan Scott, Based on the novel by Walter Tevis; Netflix
Original & Adapted Short Form New Media: #FREERAYSHAWN, Written by Marc Maurino; Quibi
Animation: “Xerox of a Xerox” (BoJack Horseman), Written by Nick Adams; Netflix
Episodic Drama: “Fire Pink” (Ozark) Written by Miki Johnson; Netflix
Episodic Comedy: “The Great” (The Great), Written by Tony McNamara; Hulu
Comedy/Variety Talk Series: Desus & Mero, Writers: Daniel “Desus Nice” Baker, Claire Friedman, Ziwe Fumudoh, Josh Gondelman, Robert Kornhauser, Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez, Heben Nigatu, Mike Pielocik, Julia Young; Showtime
Comedy/Variety Specials: Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand: Building Back America Great Again Better 2020, Head Writers Ariel Dumas, Jay Katsir, Writers: Delmonte Bent, Michael Brumm, River Clegg, Aaron Cohen, Stephen T. Colbert, Nicole Conlan, Paul Dinello, Glenn Eichler, Django Gold, Gabe Gronli, Barry Julien, Michael Cruz Kayne, Eliana Kwartler, Matt Lappin, Felipe Torres Medina, Opus Moreschi, Asher Perlman, Tom Purcell, Kate Sidley, Brian Stack, John Thibodeaux, Steve Waltien; Showtime
Comedy/Variety Sketch Series: At Home with Amy Sedaris, Writers: Jeremy Beiler, Cole Escola, Peter Grosz, Amy Sedaris; truTV
Quiz and Audience Participation: Weakest Link, Head Writer: Ann Slichter, Writers: Chip Dornell, Paul Greenberg, Joyce Ikemi, Stuart Krasnow, Jon Macks, Mona Mira, Scott Saltzburg, Aaron Solomon, Chris Sturgeon, Grant Taylor; NBC
Daytime Drama: Days of Our Lives, Head Writer: Ron Carlivati, Writers: Lorraine Broderick, Joanna Cohen, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Rick Draughon, David Kreizman, Rebecca McCarty, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Katherine D. Schock, Elizabeth Snyder; NBC
Children’s Episodic, Long Form and Specials: “The Sleepover,” Written by Sarah Rothschild.; Netflix
Documentary Script – Current Events: “Agents of Chaos, Part I,” Written by Alex Gibney & Michael J. Palmer; HBO Documentary Films
Documentary Script – Other Than Current Events: “Opioids, Inc” (Frontline), Written by Tom Jennings; PBS
News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin, or Breaking Report: “Anger in America” (World News Tonight with David Muir), Written by Dave Bloch, David Muir, Karen Mooney, David Schoetz; ABC News
News Script – Analysis, Feature, or Commentary: “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Overcoming,” Written by Dave Bloch; ABC News
Digital News: “The Store That Called the Cops on George Floyd,” Written by Aymann Ismail, Slate.com
Radio/Audio Winners
Radio/Audio News Script – Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin, or Breaking Report: “Changemakers: Leaders Who Made a Difference,” Written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio
Radio/Audio News Script – Analysis, Feature, or Commentary: “Against Those Thugs: Delores Tucker and Bill Bennett,” Written by Joel Anderson, Christopher Johnson; Slate Podcasts
Promotional Winner
On-Air Promotion: “Get Out The Vote – Check Out Those Moves,” Written by Meghana Reddy and Angad Bhalla; Facebook, Instagram, YouTube