2025 Writers Guild Awards: ‘Anora' and ‘Nickel Boys' win top prizes (updating live)
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) named Anora the Best Original Screenplay and Nickel Boys the Best Adapted Screenplay leading up to the Oscars on March 2. The full list of 2025 WGA winners in film, television, news, and radio was announced at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 15.
The key categories of Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay are sometimes seen as a bellwether for the impending Academy Awards, though the nominees rarely match up. Scripts produced outside of the WGA's collective bargaining agreement or written by a non-union member are deemed ineligible. This year, six Oscar-nominated screenplays were not eligible at the guild: Conclave, Emilia Pérez, and Sing Sing in adapted, and The Brutalist, September 5, and The Substance in original.
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The WGA lineup for Best Adapted Screenplay included two Oscar nominees, A Complete Unknown and Nickel Boys, plus Dune: Part Two, Hit Man, and Wicked.
And the guild's Best Original Screenplay list featured the Oscar-nominated Anora and A Real Pain, as well as Challengers, Civil War, and My Old Ass.
For television, the five Best Drama Series nominees were The Boys, The Diplomat, Fallout, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and Shōgun; the Best Comedy Series contest was between Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hacks, and What We Do in the Shadows; and Best Limited Series was a battle between The Penguin, Presumed Innocent, Ripley, Say Nothing, and True Detective: Night Country.
SEEHow 'Defying Gravity' took flight: The untold story from 3 'Wicked' Oscar nominees
Here is the complete list of 2025 WGA Awards winners:
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
A Complete Unknown, screenplay by James Mangold and Jay Cocks; based on the Book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald; Searchlight Pictures
Dune: Part Two, screenplay by Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts; based on the Novel Dune by Frank Herbert; Warner Bros. Pictures
Hit Man, screenplay by Richard Linklater & Glen Powell; based on the Texas Monthly article by Skip Hollandsworth; Netflix
[winner] – Nickel Boys, screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes; based on the Book The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead; Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios
Wicked, screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox; based on the musical stage play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the Novel by Gregory Maguire; Universal Pictures
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
[winner] – Anora, written by Sean Baker; Neon
Challengers, written by Justin Kuritzkes; Amazon MGM Studios
Civil War, written by Alex Garland; A24
My Old Ass, written by Megan Park; Amazon MGM Studios
A Real Pain, written by Jesse Eisenberg; Searchlight Pictures
DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
[winner] – Jim Henson: Idea Man, written by Mark Monroe; Imagine Documentaries
Kiss the Future, screenplay by Bill S. Carter, story by Bill S. Carter and Nenad Cicin-Sain; Fifth Season
Martha, written by R.J. Cutler; Netflix
War Game, written by Tony Gerber & Jesse Moss; Submarine Deluxe
DRAMA SERIES
The Boys, written by Geoff Aull, Jessica Chou, Paul Grellong, Eric Kripke, Ellie Monahan, Judalina Neira, David Reed, Anslem Richardson; Prime Video
The Diplomat, written by Peter Ackerman, Eli Attie, Debora Cahn, Anna Hagen, Julianna Dudley Meagher, Peter Noah; Netflix
Fallout, written by Jake Bender, Karey Dornetto, Zach Dunn, Kieran Fitzgerald, Chaz Hawkins, Lisa Joy, Carson Mell, Jonathan Nolan, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Gursimran Sandhu, Graham Wagner; Prime Video
Mr. & Mrs. Smith, written by Carla Ching, Adamma Ebo, Adanne Ebo, Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Schuyler Pappas, Francesca Sloane, Yvonne Hana Yi; Prime Video
Shōgun, written by Shannon Goss, Maegan Houang, Rachel Kondo, Matt Lambert, Justin Marks, Caillin Puente, Nigel Williams, Emily Yoshida; FX/Hulu
COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary, written by Quinta Brunson, Ava Coleman, Riley Dufurrena, Justin Halpern, Joya McCrory, Chad Morton, Morgan Murphy, Brittani Nichols, Rebekka Pesqueira, Kate Peterman, Brian Rubenstein, Patrick Schumacker, Justin Tan, Jordan Temple, Garrett Werner; ABC
The Bear, written by Karen Joseph Adcock, Joanna Calo, Rene Gube, Will Guidara, Matty Matheson, Alex Russell, Catherine Schetina, Christopher Storer, Courtney Storer; FX/Hulu
Curb Your Enthusiasm, written by Larry David, Jon Hayman, Justin Hurwitz, Carol Leifer, Stephen Leff, Jeff Schaffer, Nathaniel Stein; HBO Max
Hacks, written by Genevieve Aniello, Lucia Aniello, Guy Branum, Jessica Chaffin, Paul W. Downs, Jess Dweck, Ariel Karlin, Andrew Law, Carol Leifer, Carolyn Lipka, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Pat Regan, Samantha Riley, Jen Statsky; HBO Max
What We Do in the Shadows, written by Jake Bender, Max Brockman, Zach Dunn, Shana Gohd, Amelia Haller, Sam Johnson, Jeremy Levick, Chris Marcil, William Meny, Sarah Naftalis, Marika Sawyer, Paul Simms, Rajat Suresh, Lauren Wells; FX/Hulu
NEW SERIES
English Teacher, written by Brian Jordan Alvarez, Wally Baram, Jake Bender, Emmy Blotnick, Zach Dunn, Dave King, Stephanie Koenig, Jonathan Krisel, Paul Simms, Samantha Shier; FX/Hulu
Fallout, written by Jake Bender, Karey Dornetto, Zach Dunn, Kieran Fitzgerald, Chaz Hawkins, Lisa Joy, Carson Mell, Jonathan Nolan, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Gursimran Sandhu, Graham Wagner; Prime Video
Mr. & Mrs. Smith, written by Carla Ching, Adamma Ebo, Adanne Ebo, Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Schuyler Pappas, Francesca Sloane, Yvonne Hana Yi; Prime Video
Nobody Wants This, written by Barbie Adler, Jane Becker, Jack Burditt, Vali Chandrasekaran, Craig DiGregorio, Erin Foster, Lindsay Golder, Steven Levitan, Pat Regan, Niki Schwartz-Wright, Neel Shah, Noelle Valdivia, Ron Weiner, Ryann Werner; Netflix
[winner] – Shōgun, written by Shannon Goss, Maegan Houang, Rachel Kondo, Matt Lambert, Justin Marks, Caillin Puente, Nigel Williams, Emily Yoshida; FX/Hulu
LIMITED SERIES
[winner] – The Penguin, written by Vladimir Cvetko, Breannah Gibson, Erika L. Johnson, Lauren LeFranc, Corina Maritescu, Megan Martin, John McCutcheon, Shaye Ogbonna, Nick Towne, Noelle Valdivia, Kira Snyder; HBO Max
Presumed Innocent, written by Miki Johnson, David E. Kelley, Sharr White; Apple TV+
Ripley, written by Steven Zaillian; Netflix
Say Nothing, written by Clare Barron, Joe Murtagh, Kirsten Sheridan, Joshua Zetumer; FX/Hulu
True Detective: Night Country, written by Katrina Albright, Alan Page Arriaga, Namsi Khan, Issa López, Chris Mundy, Wenonah Wilms; HBO Max
TV & STREAMING MOTION PICTURES
[winner] – The Great Lillian Hall, written by Elisabeth Seldes Annacone; HBO Max
Prom Dates, written by D.J. Mausner; Hulu
Rebel Ridge, written by Jeremy Saulnier; Netflix
Terry McMillan Presents Forever, written by Bart Baker; Lifetime
ANIMATION
'Bottle Episode' (The Simpsons), written by Rob LaZebnik & Johnny LaZebnik; Fox
'Cremains of the Day' (The Simpsons), written by John Frink; Fox
'Night of the Living Wage' (The Simpsons), written by Cesar Mazariegos; Fox
[winner] – 'Saving Favorite Drive-In' (Bob's Burgers), written by Katie Crown; Fox
'The Tina Table: The Tables Have Tina-ed' (Bob's Burgers), written by Greg Thompson; Fox
'Winter Is Born' (Blood of Zeus), written by Charles Parlapanides & Vlas Parlapanides; Netflix
EPISODIC DRAMA
'Anjin' (Shōgun), written for Television by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks; FX/Hulu
'The Beginning' (Fallout), written by Gursimran Sandhu; Prime Video
'Fear of the End' (Evil), written by Rockne S. O'Bannon & Nialla LeBouef; Paramount+
'First Date' (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), written by Francesca Sloane & Donald Glover; Prime Video
'Olivia' (Sugar), written by Mark Protosevich; Apple TV+
'Pilot' (Elsbeth), written by Robert King & Michelle King; CBS
EPISODIC COMEDY
'AGG' (Somebody Somewhere), written by Hannah Bos & Paul Thureen and Bridget Everett; HBO Max
'Bulletproof' (Hacks), written by Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky; HBO Max
'Linda' (English Teacher), written by Jake Bender & Zach Dunn; FX/Hulu
'Napkins' (The Bear), written by Catherine Schetina; FX/Hulu
'Once Upon a Time in the West' (Only Murders in the Building), written by John Hoffman & Joshua Allen Griffith; Hulu
'Petiole' (The Sticky), written by Brian Donovan & Ed Herro; Prime Video
COMEDY/VARIETY SERIES — TALK OR SKETCH
The Daily Show, head writer Dan Amira; senior writers Lauren Sarver Means, Daniel Radosh; writers David Angelo, Nicole Conlan, Devin Delliquanti, Zach DiLanzo, Jennifer Flanz, Jason Gilbert, Dina Hashem, Scott Hercman, Josh Johnson, David Kibuuka, Matt Koff, Joe Opio, Randall Otis, Zhubin Parang, Kat Radley, Lanee' Sanders, Scott Sherman, Jon Stewart, Ashton Womack, Sophie Zucker; Comedy Central
John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A., Writers Anna Drezen, David Ferguson, Fran Gillespie, Langston Kerman, Jeremy Levick, John Mulaney, Alex Scordelis, Rajat Suresh; Netflix
The Kelly Clarkson Show, head writer Jordan Watland; writers Kevin Hurley, Nik Robinson; Syndicated
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, senior writers Daniel O'Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Seena Vali; writers Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Tim Carvell, Liz Hynes, Ryan Ken, Mark Kramer, Sofia Manfredi, John Oliver, Taylor Kay Phillips, Chrissy Shackelford; HBO | Max
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, head writers Ariel Dumas, Jay Katsir; writers Delmonte Bent, Michael Brumm, Aaron Cohen, Stephen T. Colbert, Paul Dinello, Glenn Eichler, Gabe Gronli, Barry Julien, Michael Cruz Kayne, Eliana Kwartler, Matt Lappin, Caroline Lazar, Pratima Mani, Felipe Torres Medina, Opus Moreschi, Carley Moseley, Asher Perlman, Michael Pielocik, Tom Purcell, Kate Sidley, Brian Stack, John Thibodeaux, Steve Waltien; CBS
Saturday Night Live, head writers Alison Gates, Streeter Seidell, Kent Sublette; writers Rosebud Baker, Dan Bulla, Megan Callahan-Shah, Steven Castillo, Michael Che, Mike DiCenzo, Alex English, Jimmy Fowlie, Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, Steve Higgins, Vannessa Jackson, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Ben Marshall, Dennis McNicholas, Lorne Michaels, Jake Nordwind, Ceara O'Sullivan, Josh Patten, Gary Richardson, Pete Schultz, KC Shornima, Will Stephen, Bryan Tucker, Asha Ward, Auguste White, Celeste Yim; NBC
COMEDY/VARIETY SPECIALS
The 77th Annual Tony Awards, written by Dave Boone; CBS
A Closer Look With Seth Meyers: Primetime Live Election Special, head writer Alex Baze; writing supervised by Mike Scollins; Closer Look writing supervised by Sal Gentile; written by Alex Baze, Bryan Donaldson, Sal Gentile, Matt Goldich, Allison Hord, Mike Scollins, Seth Meyers, Mike Shoemaker; NBC
[winner] – Nikki Glaser: Someday You'll Die, written by Nikki Glaser; HBO | Max
Ramy Youssef: More Feelings, written by Ramy Youssef; HBO | Max
QUIZ AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
Jeopardy!, writers Marcus Brown, Michael Davies, John Duarte, Mark Gaberman, Debbie Griffin, Michele Loud, Robert McClenaghan, Jim Rhine, Steve Tamerius, Billy Wisse; ABC
[winner] – Pop Culture Jeopardy!, writers Marcus Brown, Buzzy Cohen, Michael Davies, Chip Dornell, John Duarte, Mark Gaberman, Debbie Griffin, Michele Loud, Traci Mack, Amy Ozols, Louis Virtel, Billy Wisse; Amazon Prime
DAYTIME DRAMA
Days of Our Lives, head writer Ron Carlivati; writers Sonja Alarr, Kirk Doering, Christopher Dunn, Jamey Giddens, David Kreizman, Henry Newman, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Katherine D. Schock; Peacock
General Hospital, head writers Elizabeth Korte, Chris Van Etten; writers Nigel Campbell, Ashley Cook, Emily Culliton, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Catherine LePard, Patrick Mulcahey, Dan O'Connor, Shannon Peace, Stacey Pulwer, Anne Schoettle, Scott Sickles, Micah Steinberg; ABC
[winner] – The Young and the Restless, head writer Amanda L. Beall; writers Susan Banks, Jeff Beldner, Marin Gazzaniga, Lindsay Harrison, Marla Kanelos, Rebecca McCarty, Madeleine Phillips, Dave Ryan; CBS/Paramount +
CHILDREN'S EPISODIC, LONG FORM AND SPECIALS
'A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers' (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), written by Rick Riordan & Jonathan E. Steinberg; Disney+
'I'm Pogey' (Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock), written by Charley Feldman; Apple TV+ Out of My Mind, written by Daniel Stiepleman; Disney+
'The Sign Language ABCs' (Sesame Street), written by Jessica Carleton; HBO | Max
[winner] – 'Welcome to Spiderwick' (The Spiderwick Chronicles), written by Aron Eli Coleite; Roku Channel
SHORT FORM STREAMING
[winner] – Die Hart 3: Hart to Kill, written by Tripper Clancy; Roku Channel
Tiny Time Travel, written by Annabeth Bondor-Stone, Cynthia Furey, Tim McKeon, Nikki Palumbo, Connor White, Moujan Zolfaghari; PBS Kids
DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT
'The American Vice President' (American Experience), written by Michelle Ferrari; PBS
'The Cancer Detectives' (American Experience), written by Gene Tempest; PBS
[winner] – 'Part One: Inferno to Paradise'(Dante), written by Ric Burns and Riccardo Bruscagli; PBS
'Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy at Love Canal' (American Experience), written by Jamila Ephron; PBS
The Space Race, written by Mark Monroe; National Geographic Channel
NEWS SCRIPT — REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT
'Alabama IVF Ruling Sends Shockwaves Across America' (CBS Evening News), written by James Hutton, Rob Rivielle; CBS News
'Assassination Attempt' (CBS Evening News — Special Weekend Edition), written by Craig Wilson, James Hutton, Claudine Cleophat, Joe Clines, Rob Rivielle; CBS News
'Willie Mays Tribute' (CBS Newspath), written by Gerald Mazza; CBS News
NEWS SCRIPT — ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY
'Finding Cillian Murphy' (60 Minutes), written by Scott Pelley, Nicole Young, Kristin Steve; CBS News
'Fine Print: Carl Hiaasen' (CBS Sunday Morning), written by Richard Buddenhagen, Lesley Stahl; CBS News
'History Repeats Itself in Northern Gaza One Year Later'(Ayman), written by Rajaa Elidrissi; MSNBC
'The Resistance' (60 Minutes), written by Scott Pelley, Nicole Young, Kristin Steve; CBS News
'Understanding Travel Advisories' (ABC NewsOne), written by Erik Pierorazio; ABC NewsOne
DIGITAL NEWS
'The Food That Makes You Gay,' written by Jaya Saxena; Eater
'Mise-en-Seine: A Paris Olympics Diary,' written by Henry Grabar; Slate
'Sent by God,' written by Molly Olmstead; Slate
'The Unraveling of Nancy Mace,' written by Jim Newell; Slate
'What Is Hamas Thinking Now?,' written by Akbar Shahid Ahmed; HuffPost
RADIO/AUDIO DOCUMENTARY
'Art on Trial' (One Year: 1990), written by Evan Chung; Slate
'Deadly Exes: Domestic Violence Awareness With Annie Elise' (Serial Killers), written by Maggie Admire; Spotify Studios
'A Hotbed of Homosexuality' (Slow Burn), written by Christina Cauterucci; Slate
'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… Will He Want a Welfare Check?' (Decoder Ring), written by Cheyna Roth and Patrick Fort; Slate
RADIO/AUDIO NEWS SCRIPT — REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT
'6:40am News – Nov 6, 2023,' written by Philip Pilato; 1010 WINS AM & FM
'12-15-2023, World News This Week,' written by Joan B. Harris; ABC News Radio
'Inside a Gaza Hospital' (What Next?), written by Mary Harris and Rob Gunther; Slate
'Passages: Three Women Who Made a Difference,' written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio
'World News This Year 2023,' written by Robert Hawley; ABC News Radio
RADIO/AUDIO NEWS SCRIPT — ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY
'The Athleticism and Empathy of Horses' (Press Play 2024), written by Robert Hawley; ABC News Radio
'The Bleeding Edge' (Unexplainable), written by Byrd Pinkerton; Vox
'Charles Osgood Remembered,' written by Gail Lee; CBS News Radio
ON-AIR PROMOTION
'Fortune Favors the Bold. Promotions for Tracker and King & Conqueror,' written by Molly Neylan; CBS
[winner] – 'LC Voting Ads,' written by Desireena Almoradie, Angad Bhalla; YouTube
'NCIS: Season 21 Legacy, Launch and Beyond Trailers,' written by Erial Tompkins; CBS
'NYSNA AMC Campaign,' written by Adrianna Hernandez Stewart, Angad Bhalla; YouTube
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Associated Press
32 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Slick Rick returns after 26 years with 'Victory' album and proves hip-hop storytelling still reigns
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hip-hop legend Slick Rick is proving his creative spark is far from fading. The English-born rapper — known for his signature eye patch and masterful storytelling — returned to the booth with his first new project in nearly three decades. He's reminding the world of his timeless rap prowess on his visual album, 'Victory,' released Friday. It marks Slick Rick's first album since 1999's 'The Art of Storytelling.' This new project is largely self-produced, with the rapper handling 95% of the production and sharing executive producer duties with Emmy-nominated actor and occasional rapper-DJ Idris Elba, who appears on the album alongside Nas, Giggs and Estelle. 'You was a young adult, then a middled aged man and now you're an older man, so my mentality has to grow with it,' said Slick Rick, known for his rap classic such as 'Children's Story,' 'La Di Da Di' with Doug E. Fresh and 'Mona Lisa.' His debut album, 'The Great Adventures of Slick Rick,' in 1988 hit No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/hip-hop charts. 'Victory' was four years in the making, with Slick Rick, now 60, writing and recording the album between his birthplace of London then France, while the visuals were filmed in the United States, United Kingdom and Africa. Slick Rick believes his voice still resonates in hip-hop. He said the subjects he tackles have grown with him. 'Can't always be children all the time,' he said. 'We grow and talk about things that interest us at this age.' In a recent interview, Slick Rick spoke with The Associated Press about how storytelling plays a role in today's rap, his relationship with Elba and how hip-hop has no limitations. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: How did you and Idris hook up? SLICK RICK: We met at a party and then we clicked. His people reached out to me, and they wanted to make an album. They flew me to England and France. I hung out with Idris at his cribs, and we just did what we do. We just had fun, And then when we was finished, we said, 'Yeah, we're ready to bring it to the marketplace.' AP: Did you ever feel hesitant stepping back into the spotlight, or did this album feel like destiny? SLICK RICK: It might've been a little hesitation, but you're just having fun. We just bringing it to the marketplace and see what happens. There's no pressure or nothing. We're bringing it to the people to see if they like it. Feed them. AP: When did you feel like this project was ready for public consumption? SLICK RICK: When we were in the studio with Idris doing our thing, I checked the reactions of people. But then I saw people in their happy place. Once I saw that, I'm good. I see him and his people's happy. A little dancing. Popped a little Moet. We were having a good time. AP: You blended hip-hop melodies with various sounds including reggae and house music. What was your vision behind this musical approach? SLICK RICK: It's what Black people like. We're not just hip-hop. We like reggae. We like house music. Let's say like the Beatles or Barry Manilow. We go all over the place. Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross. We go places. We try to entertain ourselves in different areas of existence. AP: What made you go the visual album route? SLICK RICK: It was saving time. People make songs and do videos anyway. So why not just speed this up real quick? Video and rap both at the same time. Boom, let's keep it moving. ... This is like watching a movie. You want to expand the picture. Not only do you hear my voice and the music, which is the essence. You get ... visual picture as well. AP: You produced the bulk of the album. Why did you decide to go that route instead of enlisting other producers? SLICK RICK: In my creative process, I need to have a lot of input or it's not going to be authentic Rick. Too many hands, it's not going to pop. So many hands is going to distort stuff. I do my own music most of the time. AP: What's the importance of rap storytelling in 2025? SLICK RICK: It's an open space. It hasn't been filled, the whole storytelling thing. Before it gets too lost back into braggadocios, one frequency. Expand your horizons. You don't always have to be rough. Be romantic. Be humorous. Be vulnerable. Go all over. Be a politician. Use your imagination. Go places, so we can take stories and give to our people's imagination.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
'This is the beginning': Bradley Cooper's documentary unites celebrity caregivers
'This is the beginning': Bradley Cooper's documentary unites celebrity caregivers Show Caption Hide Caption Bradley Cooper new documentary sheds light on caregiving crisis A new documentary, "Caregiving," executive produced by Oscar-nominated actor Bradley Cooper, will explore the hidden struggles of caregivers. unbranded - Entertainment NEW YORK – Bradley Cooper has a call to action: Everyone needs to start talking about the caregiving crisis and how to solve it. The Academy Award-nominated actor said as much at a screening for his new documentary, "Caregiving." "This is the beginning," he said. "You know, it actually starts now." Cooper attended the event with his daughter, Lea, who wore a white dress and pink flowers in her hair. And some of Hollywood's most well-known family caregivers joined on Thursday, June 12, at the United Nations headquarters to celebrate Cooper's latest project. In attendance were Emmy Award-winning "Orange Is the New Black" actress Uzo Aduba; Bruce Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, who is launching a book in September, "The Unexpected Journey," about her caregiving experience; and "20/20" coanchor Deborah Roberts, who moderated a panel at the event while her husband, the "Today" show's Al Roker, snapped photos from the audience. (Roberts has cared for Roker through several surgeries over the years, including after his prostate cancer diagnosis in 2020.) Former President Jimmy Carter's grandson, Josh Carter, was also there with his family. More: His sick wife asked him to kill her. He could never, but he can't shake the haunting memories. A clip from the documentary (premiering June 24 on PBS at 9 p.m. ET), which features caregivers from across the country, screened Thursday for about 200 guests. "This is the beginning," Cooper said, adding he hopes the film sparks a national conversation about the care crisis. "Obviously, the ultimate goal is to actually create a system where people can be taken care of in other ways," Cooper said. For now, by telling his own story and amplifying the voices of caregivers everywhere, the documentary aims to build community. "Just so we don't feel alone," Cooper said. The caregiving crisis is real. USA TODAY wants to hear from you about how to solve it. It's working. "For so long it's felt like it's our family against the world," said Kristin Denning, 34, a caregiver who was at the event. Denning lives in Georgia and helps care for her mother, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. Denning said her father is her mother's primary caregiver. "And to be here with other people and to hear stories very similar to our own, it's so important to me that we're not alone in feeling these things." Bradley Cooper, Uzo Aduba say they didn't realize they were caregivers at the time Cooper said he only realized he was a caregiver for his father in retrospect. Aduba echoed the sentiment with her story about caring for her mother. "There's a large, wide net of people who are walking through the same experience and having this invisible work be part of their day-to-day experience, with nowhere or few places where they get to feel as though their voice and experience are heard," Aduba said. It's a common refrain from family caregivers, that they didn't know they were part of the caregiving community until later. Matthew Cauli, who continues to share his journey of caring for his sick wife and young son on social media, said the same thing. He had to quit his job when his wife had two strokes and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. "I still haven't wrapped my head around it," he said. Financial, emotional tolls of caregiving can be all-consuming Chris Durrance, who directed the "Caregiving" documentary, said caregiving is "perhaps one of the great untold stories of the country today." Financial stress and emotional stress are some of the most pressing issues for caregivers, said Ai-jen Poo, executive director and board secretary for Caring Across Generations. Tarek Rabah, president and CEO of Otsuka North America Pharmaceutical Business, one of the underwriters for the film, understands the emotional toll. His parents are in Lebanon, he said, and it's hard being so far away from them even though he feels "super blessed" that they have an in-home caregiver. Still, Rabah said he "dreads the moment" he gets a call that something has gone wrong. "It's always in the back of my mind," he said. For Cauli, the daily stress can be all-consuming and he's been struggling to make ends meet. Between taking care of his wife and his son, Cauli said, he could never go back to a traditional 9-to-5 job. During the panel, Roberts asked Cauli how he takes care of himself, too. Cauli shook his head and threw up his hands, shrugging. The rest of the room gave knowing nods and chuckled in empathy. Cauli found his answer in the woman sitting in the audience who continues to regain her strength and relearn skills five years after her strokes changed their lives forever. It might be a cheesy answer, he said, but it's true. "Seeing my wife progress." Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach Madeline at memitchell@ and @maddiemitch_ on X.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Smash' to close just over 2 months on Broadway
NEW YORK — 'Smash,' the Broadway show based on the NBC series of the same name, announced on the heels of a disappointing Tony Awards that it will be closing curtains later this month. The stage musical — which traces the roller coaster of making a Broadway hit centered on Marilyn Monroe's starry origin story — will end its brief tenure at the Imperial Theatre on June 22, Variety and Playbill report. News of the pending closure comes just two months after the Tony-nominated production opened on April 10, with a score from Marc Shaiman and Scott Witt. But, much like the Emmy-winning series that inspired it, the show had high aspirations but has hit many a low note. The New York Times reports that the show's weekly grosses peaked at $1 million for the week ending April 20 but ended this past week grossing a measly $656,161. For the latter period, Variety notes that the Imperial was at 66% capacity. Reviewing the stage rendition for the Daily News, Chris Jones recently bemoaned the new 'Smash' for lacking 'quality of surprise.' 'Especially given the level of talent involved here, the adaptation will be deeply disappointing even for die-hard fans of the source material,' which became a cult favorite and even netted six Emmy nominations, winning one for Outstanding Choreography. 'Smash' aired for two seasons on NBC from 2012 to 2013 and starred Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Katharine McPhee and Anjelica Huston, as well as real-life Broadway stars Christian Borle and Megan Hilty. Though the Broadway iteration scored two Tony nominations — Best Choreography (Joshua Bergasse) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Brooks Ashmanskas) — 'Smash' was snubbed for Best Musical consideration at Sunday's awards show. The show, directed by Susan Stroman, couldn't even perform during the broadcast, despite requesting to do so, per The Times.
