Latest news with #WGAAwards
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17-02-2025
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With WGA Win, ‘The Penguin' Is Shaping Up to Be an Emmys Superpower
Aside from the peculiar appearance of a certain flightless waterfowl, Saturday night's WGA Awards were a familiar affair. 'Hacks' won its second trophy in four years for Best Comedy Series, as well as its second trophy in the same span for Best Episodic Comedy, continuing a victory parade that began at the 2024 Emmys when it upset 'The Bear' for the top prize. That hot streak has continued into 2025 with wins at the Casting Society of America, Costume Designers Guild Awards, Directors Guild Awards, Producers Guild Awards, and AFI Awards, among others. With Season 4 having wrapped production in January, creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky's Max original should enter the 2025 Emmy season as the presumptive favorite. More from IndieWire 'Anora' Isn't the Only Oscar Contender on an Upswing 'Anora,' 'Hacks,' and 'Shōgun' Steal the Show at the 2025 WGA Awards (Winners List) The season's dominant drama, 'Shōgun,' won't be back in time to compete in 2025 — the writers' room is still plugging away at Season 2 — but its Season 1 winning streak also kept rolling at the WGA Awards, where Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo took home Best Drama Series, Best Episodic Drama, and Best New Series. Add those trophies to a mantle straining to support recognition from the Art Directors Guild (which were also awarded on Saturday), CSA, CDG, DGA, PGA, and AFI Awards — not to mention those 18 Emmys and potential further wins at the SAG Awards and Independent Spirit Awards ('Shōgun' has five nominations at each) — and odds are high awards voters will remember the sweeping epic whenever it returns. Additional winners included 'Bob's Burgers,' which took home the Animation honor for the episode 'Saving Favorite Drive-in,' written by Katie Crown; 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,' for Comedy/Variety Series – Talk or Sketch; and 'Nikki Glaser: Someday You'll Die,' for Comedy/Variety Special. 'Bob's Burgers' has been nominated 16 times across 11 seasons, and now has two wins. 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' has eight wins in 10 years. Both are expected to earn more Emmy love in 2025, having been highly successful throughout their respective runs. All in all, there weren't many opportunities for new Emmy contenders to flex their might. There were zero new series nominated for Best Comedy Series, and of the new shows nominated for Best Drama — 'Fallout,' 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith,' and 'Shōgun' — none are expected to compete this year. Even the New Series category was sparse, with 'English Teacher' and 'Nobody Wants This' unable to crack the Best Comedy Series race, let alone topple 'Shōgun' in their shared category. (New Series doesn't discriminate between comedies and dramas.) But then there's that peculiar 'Penguin.' A hybrid of legacy HBO dramas and Warner Bros. Discovery I.P., Lauren LaFranc's fall favorite bumped off the presumed frontrunner Saturday night, beating 'Ripley' for Best Limited Series. That it didn't have to compete with 'Baby Reindeer,' which won last year's Emmy but wasn't eligible at the WGA Awards, may have helped keep the category from looking as repetitious as all the others, but 'The Penguin' besting 'Ripley,' FX's 'Say Nothing,' HBO's own 'True Detective: Night Country,' and the Apple TV+ summer sensation 'Presumed Innocent' is still plenty impressive. Still, the win isn't completely out of left field. As IndieWire pointed out when 'The Penguin' landed three SAG nominations in January, the 'Batman' spinoff is shaping up to be an Emmy heavyweight. It pulled in three DGA nominations (before losing to 'Ripley') and a PGA nomination (where it lost to 'Baby Reindeer'), but now 'The Penguin' is earning wins. In addition to its WGA Award, the series took home an AFI Award, triumphed in two of its four Critics Choice categories, and won Best Limited Series at the Art Directors Guild Awards and the Special Make-Up Effects honor from the Make-Up and Hair Stylists Guild — the latter two both happening Saturday night. And 'The Penguin' may not be done — this winter, or this year. Colin Farrell is the current favorite to win a SAG Award, and Cristin Milioti has a decent shot at winning the Indie Spirit Award, too. As for the Emmys, all bets are off. With widespread appeal across every branch of TV Academy and HBO's exemplary awards team running the campaign, 'The Penguin' should have a significant presence on TV's big night. As always, we'll have to wait and see how the spring releases perform — Netflix has 'Zero Day' and 'Adolescence,' Apple has 'The Studio' and 'Dope Thief,' Hulu has 'Dying for Sex,' and HBO will also be running 'Task' — but 'The Penguin' is certainly mirroring its title character's steady emergence as the new boss. Best of IndieWire 2023 Emmy Predictions: Who Will Win at the Primetime Emmy Awards? 2023 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special 2023 Emmy Predictions: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series
Yahoo
16-02-2025
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WGA West President Meredith Stiehm Calls On Studios To Sue AI Companies, Takes Aim At Trump At Guild Awards: 'We Do Not Cower In The Face Of Bullies'
WGA West President Meredith Stiehm sought to reassure members that the guild is doing its best to work in their favor during her speech at Saturday night's guild awards. Not only did she once speak out against the use of writers' work to train AI systems, she also took a jab at the Trump administration, declaring: 'We do not cower in the face of bullies.' More from Deadline WGA Awards: 'Anora' & 'Nickel Boys' Take Top Screenplay Prizes; 'Hacks', 'Shōgun', 'The Penguin' Among TV Winners — Full List Vince Gilligan Advises Amplifying 'Good Guys' And Warns Against Making Villains 'Too Sexy' During WGA Honorary Award Speech Bill Lawrence On The Importance Of Mentoring Young Writers, Or "People Who Will Give Me My Last Job When I Am Un-Hirable," As He Accepts WGA East Award 'As a president is being puppeted by the richest man in the world, working very hard to hurt vulnerable people, the lawlessness, the heartlessness is outrageous,' she said. 'People are understandably fearful, and I can only speak for our community here. We're just one small union in one state, but I want to say to our members, the guild's values have not changed. We believe in labor, in freedom of speech, civil rights, inclusion and equity.' She vowed to 'protect and push back politically,' reminding members that the union has already endured four years of Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Hollywood has been through a difficult few years, and writers in particular have faced incredible hardship. On the heels of the devastating wildfires, which kicked off a year that writers hoped might bring reprieve after years of work stoppages and a massive production contraction, Stiehm said the union is working hard to 'make these projects here in Los Angeles.' RELATED: The WGA and SAG-AFTRA embarked on dual strikes in 2023 that hinged on AI protections, and, unsurprisingly, Stiehm also addressed that in the room at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday. Recently, several unions have called on the studios to take legal action against AI companies using copyrighted work to train their algorithms. Since the writers sell their work to these companies, they have less recourse themselves. Stiehm reiterated this call to action on Saturday, urging the studios to 'please stand up and fight back on AI.' As further proof the union is working as best it can to serve its members, Stiehm added that the guild has recovered $78M in late pay and residuals owed to writers in the last year. 'If you're not being paid properly, call us. We'll get your money,' she promised. She continued: 'That is the kind of quiet but fierce work the guild does every day. The state of this union is strong. The Board of Directors, captains, the entire staff is a plus. We are brave, powerful, compassionate. Now more than ever, I am proud to be WGA and to represent you, our members.' Best of Deadline How To Watch The 'SNL50' Anniversary Concert And Three-Hour Special This Weekend Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's Next Film – 'The Odyssey': Release Date, Cast And More 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far
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16-02-2025
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Vince Gilligan Advises Amplifying 'Good Guys' And Warns Against Making Villains 'Too Sexy' During WGA Honorary Award Speech
For Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, the WGA honorary Paddy Chayefsky Laurel For Television Writing Achievement served as an opportunity to call for action as a 'profoundly divided country.' On Saturday during the 77th annual WGA Awards, the multi-hyphenate hit-making TV juggernaut reflected on the divisive state of the nation and how the current media landscape go hand in hand. In his speech, Gilligan pointed out the irony of making one of the 'all time great bad guys,' out of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) while also urging the room of writers that it would be better to be celebrated for 'creating someone a bit more inspiring in 2025.' More from Deadline WGA Awards: 'Anora' & 'Nickel Boys' Take Top Screenplay Prizes; 'Hacks', 'Shōgun', 'The Penguin' Among TV Winners — Full List Bill Lawrence On The Importance Of Mentoring Young Writers, Or 'People Who Will Give Me My Last Job When I Am Un-Hirable,' As He Accepts WGA East Award Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards - Updating Live 'We are living in an era where bad guys, the real life kind, are running the market. Bad guys who make their own rules. Bad guys who, no matter what they tell you, are only out for themselves. Who am I talking about? Well, this is Hollywood, so guess,' He said. 'But here's the weird irony in our profoundly divided country, everybody seems to agree on one thing; there are too many real life bad guys. It's just we're living in different realities, so we've all got different lists.' The Paddy Chayefsky Laurel For Television Writing Achievement, the WGAW's highest honor for writing in TV, is given to a member that has advanced the literature of TV through the years, and who has made outstanding contributions to the profession. Gilligan's early career started with The X-Files and The Night Stalker, and throughout his three decade career he's snagged four Emmys, two PGA and DGA Awards for his work on Breaking Bad, and six WGA Awards between Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Gilligan went on to say, 'As a writer speaking to a room full of writers, I have a proposal. It certainly won't fix everything, but maybe it's a start. I say we write more good guys. For decades, we've made the villains too sexy. I really think that when we create characters as indelible as Michael Corleone, Hannibal Lecter, Darth Vader or Tony Soprano, viewers everywhere, all over the world, they pay attention and say, 'Those dudes are bad ass, I want to be that cool'. When that happens, that's when bad guys stop being the cautionary tales that they were intended to be. They [instead] become aspirational. So maybe what the world needs now are some good old fashioned, greatest generation types who give more than they take.' Upon receiving the award from Better Call Saul star Rhea Seehorn, Gilligan also briefly referenced how his upcoming untitled Apple TV+ series, helmed by Seehorn in her first leading role, reflects heroic ideations. 'Rhea, I think you hung the moon. I'm so lucky that we're working together on this new show, where you play a good guy.' Earlier on the WGA red carpet, Gilligan and Seehorn teased a bit more about the secret genre-bending sci-fi series. 'I'm excited for audiences to see Rhea play a very different character than the character she played on Better Call Saul,' said Gilligan, adding: 'She plays someone who's trying very hard to be good. She's a bit of a damaged hero, but she's a hero nonetheless. And it's just a pleasure to work with her because she's just the best, and she is so sweet and kind and talented. I can't say enough good about her.' Although Seehorn noted she still 'can't even tell you the title,' she explained the series is 'sci-fi but in a more psychological kind of sci-fi way.' 'I can't wait for it to come out though,' added Seehorn. 'Some of the stuff that audiences have loved about his writing where it's really rich characters but also him playing with the idea of tropes and genres and tone, and switching, like injected humor in a very dark moment — in this new show, he pushes that to a limit that was both very thought-provoking and upsetting sometimes, and other times, so, so funny. It really swings for the fences. I had so much fun.' Best of Deadline How To Watch The 'SNL50' Anniversary Concert And Three-Hour Special This Weekend Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's Next Film – 'The Odyssey': Release Date, Cast And More 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far
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16-02-2025
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Brian Cox ‘Won't Watch' Jeremy Strong in ‘The Apprentice,' But Has Seen Kieran Culkin in ‘A Real Pain'
Looks like everyone's favorite 'Succession' daddy is at it again. Re-igniting controversy over who his real No. 1 boy may actually be. Per The Independent, Brian Cox shared during a recent interview on 'The Jonathan Ross Show' that he still hasn't seen his TV son Jeremy Strong's Oscar-nominated performance in 'The Apprentice.' 'The problem is I won't watch anything that is to do with Donald Trump,' Cox said. 'Donald Trump is in 'The Apprentice,' Jeremy is playing the lawyer.' More from IndieWire 2025 WGA Awards Winners List (Live Updates) 'Dreams' Review: Jessica Chastain Gives a Daring Performance in Michel Franco's Most Powerful Film Yet The lawyer in question is Roy Cohn, infamous McCarthy litigator and mentor to Trump during the 1970s and '80s. But Strong isn't the only one of Cox's faux-children to be receiving praise this awards season. Kieran Culkin is also nominated in the same category as Strong for his role in Jesse Eisenberg's 'A Real Pain' and has already picked up the Golden Globe and other accolades for his stunning turn. 'I have seen Kieran's film and he's wonderful,' said Cox. 'And I'm sure Jeremy is wonderful so I can't really judge because I will not watch anything to do with that man — I'm talking about Trump.' Cox has vocalized his disdain for Trump many times now, even refusing to consider playing him should he be asked to. 'You know, somebody said, 'Would you ever want to play Donald Trump,'' Cox said in an interview with Deadline in 2023. 'And I said, 'Well, no.' Because I think it's such a bad script — the Donald Trump script. But then I look at Donald Trump, and I think, God, he's so lost. He's just a lost individual, and he's so full of shit, and the reason he's full of shit is that he's an abused child. He's really an abused child, Donald Trump. A tragic figure.' When asked on The Jonathan Ross Show whether Trump's reelection made Cox lose faith in humanity, the Scottish actor denied feeling this way, but was nonetheless not looking forward to what lies ahead. 'It just makes me realize people are stupid,' he said. 'We're in for a pretty rough old four years coming up.' Though he was born and spent most of his life in the U.K., Cox now lives mostly in the U.S. where he's raised his sons. Perhaps that may change in the coming years though with Trump back in office. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
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WGA Awards: ‘Anora' Wins For Original Screenplay
The 77th annual Writers Guild Awards are being handed out tonight over concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York, and Deadline is posting the winners live as they are announced. See the winners list below. The guild's nominations honoring the year's best in film, TV, new media, news, radio and promotional writing were revealed January 15 after being postponed twice due to the L.A. wildfires. More from Deadline 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Tonys, Guilds & More Guy Pearce Reveals Talks With Original Creative Team And Cast For 'Priscilla Queen Of The Desert' Sequel As He And Adrien Brody Receive Santa Barbara Film Festival Tribute Artios Awards: 'Wicked', 'Complete Unknown' & 'Emilia Pérez' Among Casting Society Winners At last year's strike-delayed WGA Awards, the top film prizes for Original Screenplay and Adapted Screenplay to The Holdovers and American Fiction, respectively. The latter already had won the Academy Award for Cord Jefferson, but Justine Triet and Arthur Harari's Anatomy of a Fall beat Alexander Payne's Holdovers for the Original Screenplay Oscar. The Writers Guild top TV winners in 2024 were Succession, The Bear Beef and The Last of Us. RELATED: The WGA West and East also are giving special honors to several folks tonight. David Lynch, who died in January, has been named the recipient of the WGA West's 2025 Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan is set for the WGAW's Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, and Nickel Boys screenwriters RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes will receive its 2025 Paul Selvin Award. WGAE will honor Scott Frank with the Ian McLellan Hunter Award for Career Achievement, Bill Lawrence (Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence) and Kathy McGee (Richard B. Jablow Award). RELATED: The WGA Awards often exclude several top films due to eligibility rules. If a film is produced outside the WGA collective bargaining agreement or written by a non-union member, it is not eligible for the guild's awards. This holds true again this year, which means such awards-season favorites as Golden Globe winner Conclave, Emilia Pérez, I'm Still Here, Inside Out 2, The Room Next Door, Sing Sing and The Wild Robot are out of the Adapted race. Among those ineligible for Original Screenplay are All We Imagine as Light, The Brutalist, Hard Truths, Gotham Awards winner His Three Daughters, I Saw the TV Glow, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, September 5 and The Substance. Joel Kim Booster is hosting the Los Angeles ceremony from the Beverly Hilton, and Roy Wood Jr. is emceeing the New York show at Edison Ballroom in Manhattan. Here are the winners so far at the 2025 Writers Guild Awards: ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Nickel Boys, Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes, Based on the Book The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead; Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios Erik Pedersen contributed to this report. Best of Deadline How To Watch The 'SNL50' Anniversary Concert And Three-Hour Special This Weekend Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's Next Film – 'The Odyssey': Release Date, Cast And More 'Bridgerton' Season 4: Everything We Know So Far
