After Writers Guild of America waged a protest regarding the Television Academy‘s decision to move the outstanding writing for a variety series or special categories out of the upcoming Emmy telecast, the TV Academy has reversed course.
In a joint release sent out today, the Television Academy, Fox and the WGA said they were “happy to announce they have reached an agreement to include the Writing for a Variety Series category in the 75th Emmy Awards telecast airing live on Fox on January 15, 2024, at 8pm Est / 5pm Pst.”
Because this year’s Primetime Emmys has moved the variety special (live) category into the telecast (it was on the Creative Arts show last year), the TV Academy was likely looking to keep the telecast capped at 25 awards, so something had to fall out. And in this case, it was the variety writing field that originally got pushed to the Creative Arts ceremony.
In a joint release sent out today, the Television Academy, Fox and the WGA said they were “happy to announce they have reached an agreement to include the Writing for a Variety Series category in the 75th Emmy Awards telecast airing live on Fox on January 15, 2024, at 8pm Est / 5pm Pst.”
Because this year’s Primetime Emmys has moved the variety special (live) category into the telecast (it was on the Creative Arts show last year), the TV Academy was likely looking to keep the telecast capped at 25 awards, so something had to fall out. And in this case, it was the variety writing field that originally got pushed to the Creative Arts ceremony.
- 1/3/2024
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
First time host Aubrey Plaza returned to her NBC Page roots giving a backstage tour of the show, with a surprise cameo from former “SNL” cast member and “Parks and Recreation” star Amy Poehler and President Joe Biden.
“Wow, it is great to be here hosting ‘Saturday Night Live.’ This is a dream come true and yes I mean that,” she said.
“People think I’m weird because of the characters that I play,” she said. “My real family is here including my Grandma Margie. They all came up here from Delaware. I was voted most famous person from Delaware, I beat Joe Biden.”
“That’s a fact and he was pissed, he was livid,” she said.
The President then appeared, saying, “Aubrey, you’re the most famous person out of Deleware and there’s no question about that. We’re just grateful you made it out of ‘White Lotus’ alive.
“Wow, it is great to be here hosting ‘Saturday Night Live.’ This is a dream come true and yes I mean that,” she said.
“People think I’m weird because of the characters that I play,” she said. “My real family is here including my Grandma Margie. They all came up here from Delaware. I was voted most famous person from Delaware, I beat Joe Biden.”
“That’s a fact and he was pissed, he was livid,” she said.
The President then appeared, saying, “Aubrey, you’re the most famous person out of Deleware and there’s no question about that. We’re just grateful you made it out of ‘White Lotus’ alive.
- 1/22/2023
- by Michele Amabile Angermiller
- Variety Film + TV
“Saturday Night Live’s” final show of the season started on a sweet note, as host Austin Butler tenderly recalled watching the late-night comedy show with his late mother, Lori Anne Howell.
“I love my mom, some of my favorite memories from growing up was watching ‘SNL’ every week,” and even though he had this “crippling shyness,” he would do anything to make her laugh — including an imitation of Gollum from “Lord of the Rings.”
Being silly with her, he said, is “what broke me out of my shell” and inspired his drive to be an actor. Butler, who got his start as a child actor on both Nickelodeon and Disney Channel shows, played Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s hit biopic, “Elvis.”
“Now, my mother is no longer with us, but I have been thinking about her a lot this week, just imagining of how proud she would be...
“I love my mom, some of my favorite memories from growing up was watching ‘SNL’ every week,” and even though he had this “crippling shyness,” he would do anything to make her laugh — including an imitation of Gollum from “Lord of the Rings.”
Being silly with her, he said, is “what broke me out of my shell” and inspired his drive to be an actor. Butler, who got his start as a child actor on both Nickelodeon and Disney Channel shows, played Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s hit biopic, “Elvis.”
“Now, my mother is no longer with us, but I have been thinking about her a lot this week, just imagining of how proud she would be...
- 12/18/2022
- by Michele Amabile Angermiller
- Variety Film + TV
“Saturday Night Live” was in a festive mood this weekend, as “Only Murders in the Building” co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short opened the show with a hilarious monologue reading eulogies for each other — ending with a cameo appearance by their “Murders” co-star Selena Gomez.
Martin started the fake eulogy first, reading: “Wow, not much of a turnout. Marty did not want to be cremated. Too late.” Short’s last words, he said, were “Tesla auto pilot, engage.”
Short shot back, “Oh, Steve, you bland overrated son a bitch where did you go?.. Seeing you in that casket reminds me of that classic SNL sketch, ‘Dick in a Box.'”
While Martin pondered who he would work with after Short has passed, Gomez yelled from off-stage, “what about me?” before emerging to applause.
Among other jokes, the duo compared themselves to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Short saying, just like those two,...
Martin started the fake eulogy first, reading: “Wow, not much of a turnout. Marty did not want to be cremated. Too late.” Short’s last words, he said, were “Tesla auto pilot, engage.”
Short shot back, “Oh, Steve, you bland overrated son a bitch where did you go?.. Seeing you in that casket reminds me of that classic SNL sketch, ‘Dick in a Box.'”
While Martin pondered who he would work with after Short has passed, Gomez yelled from off-stage, “what about me?” before emerging to applause.
Among other jokes, the duo compared themselves to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Short saying, just like those two,...
- 12/11/2022
- by Michele Amabile Angermiller
- Variety Film + TV
“Saturday Night Live” returned after the holiday break with host Keke Palmer making a big announcement: She is having a baby!
“People have been in my comments, saying, ‘Keke’s having a baby,’ ‘Keke’s pregnant,’ and I want to set the record straight,” Palmer said in her opening monologue. “I am!”
Palmer revealed the huge news by unveiling her baby bump during her animated and hysterical monologue talking about her big year starring in “Nope” and being nominated for an Academy Award –which she joked didn’t actually happen.
“I was trying so hard to keep it on the down-low ’cause I got a lot of stuff going on,” she said. “You know, people kept coming up to me, ‘Congratulations,’ and I’m like, ‘Shh, can y’all stop? I got a liquor sponsorship on the line.”
All joking aside, Palmer couldn’t contain her excitement.
“But honestly this is the biggest blessing,...
“People have been in my comments, saying, ‘Keke’s having a baby,’ ‘Keke’s pregnant,’ and I want to set the record straight,” Palmer said in her opening monologue. “I am!”
Palmer revealed the huge news by unveiling her baby bump during her animated and hysterical monologue talking about her big year starring in “Nope” and being nominated for an Academy Award –which she joked didn’t actually happen.
“I was trying so hard to keep it on the down-low ’cause I got a lot of stuff going on,” she said. “You know, people kept coming up to me, ‘Congratulations,’ and I’m like, ‘Shh, can y’all stop? I got a liquor sponsorship on the line.”
All joking aside, Palmer couldn’t contain her excitement.
“But honestly this is the biggest blessing,...
- 12/4/2022
- by Michele Amabile Angermiller
- Variety Film + TV
“Saturday Night Live”‘s cold open focused on the national drama surrounding hard-fought elections in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Arizona in the opening sketch of Season 48’s fourth episode.
Portraying Dr. Mehmet Oz, cast member Mikey Day, donned a Phillies hat and awkwardly spoke of having a delicious “Philadelphia Cheese and Steak.” Day, as Oz, referred to his Democratic rival John Fetterman’s stroke, or a “Debilitating condition,” as a lucky break before taking a moment to push diet pills guaranteed to help dieters lose 30 pounds in a day.
Portraying Kari Lake, Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona, Cecily Strong thanked Heidi Gardner, portraying “PBS News Hour” anchor Judy Woodruff, for welcoming her onto her “sweet little show full of lies.”
Pressed about denying the 2020 election results, Lake deflects the centerpiece of her campaign, explaining why she appeals to voters.
PBS NewsHour speaks to Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections pic.
Portraying Dr. Mehmet Oz, cast member Mikey Day, donned a Phillies hat and awkwardly spoke of having a delicious “Philadelphia Cheese and Steak.” Day, as Oz, referred to his Democratic rival John Fetterman’s stroke, or a “Debilitating condition,” as a lucky break before taking a moment to push diet pills guaranteed to help dieters lose 30 pounds in a day.
Portraying Kari Lake, Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arizona, Cecily Strong thanked Heidi Gardner, portraying “PBS News Hour” anchor Judy Woodruff, for welcoming her onto her “sweet little show full of lies.”
Pressed about denying the 2020 election results, Lake deflects the centerpiece of her campaign, explaining why she appeals to voters.
PBS NewsHour speaks to Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections pic.
- 10/30/2022
- by Michele Amabile Angermiller
- Variety Film + TV
Jack Harlow will serve as the host and musical guest on the next episode of “Saturday Night Live,” set to air on Oct. 29. “SNL” announced the booking on this week’s episode, which also features another music star as both host and musical guest: Megan Thee Stallion.
This marks the first time Harlow has hosted “SNL,” and his second time as musical performer. He made his “Saturday Night Live” debut as musical guest on March 27, 2021, alongside host Maya Rudolph.
Harlow released his major label debut “That’s What They All Say” in 2020, and followed that up with this year’s “Come Home the Kids Miss You.” In 2021, he was named Variety’s hitmaker of the year. Harlow was just named songwriter of the year at the Sesac Music Awards.
“Saturday Night Live” returned for its Season 48 on Oct. 1, with Miles Teller making his debut as host for the first time.
This marks the first time Harlow has hosted “SNL,” and his second time as musical performer. He made his “Saturday Night Live” debut as musical guest on March 27, 2021, alongside host Maya Rudolph.
Harlow released his major label debut “That’s What They All Say” in 2020, and followed that up with this year’s “Come Home the Kids Miss You.” In 2021, he was named Variety’s hitmaker of the year. Harlow was just named songwriter of the year at the Sesac Music Awards.
“Saturday Night Live” returned for its Season 48 on Oct. 1, with Miles Teller making his debut as host for the first time.
- 10/16/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
“Saturday Night Live” opened its third episode of the season by taking on the Jan. 6 committee hearings, starring Kenan Thompson as United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-ms). And the theme of the sketch was quite simple: No matter how bad the attempts to stage a coup and overthrow the nation were, there’s no accountability in this country… and nothing will ultimately come of it. Donald Trump will roam free, there’s little chance he’ll actually live up to the subpoena to appear in front of the committee, and there’s nothing they can do about it.
Liz Cheney, played by Heidi Gardner, noted that “Over the past few months, this bipartisan committee has presented our case to all Americans. Whether you’re a Republican who’s not watching or a Democrat who’s nodding so hard that your head is falling off, one person is responsible for this insurrection: Donald Trump.
Liz Cheney, played by Heidi Gardner, noted that “Over the past few months, this bipartisan committee has presented our case to all Americans. Whether you’re a Republican who’s not watching or a Democrat who’s nodding so hard that your head is falling off, one person is responsible for this insurrection: Donald Trump.
- 10/16/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
“Saturday Night Live” lampooned the seemingly endless barrage of bad headlines in in the opening sketch of Season 48’s second episode.
Bowen Yang starred in the opener as a game show host for “So You Think You Won’t Snap,” a program which features contestants being read real-life headlines in an attempt to make them snap, whether that means breaking a glass or punching an assistant. Also in the sketch was Heidi Gardner as a yoga teacher who is forced to watch a video of President Joe Biden talking about his mental state on CNN; Chloe Fineman as a an apolitical mom outraged by Chris Pratt’s voice acting in the “Super Mario Bros” movie; Kenan Thompson as a contestant who loses it at the very mention of Elon Musk; and Devon Walker as a contestant who is confronted by a barrage of negative news involving Kanye West. Watch the sketch below.
Bowen Yang starred in the opener as a game show host for “So You Think You Won’t Snap,” a program which features contestants being read real-life headlines in an attempt to make them snap, whether that means breaking a glass or punching an assistant. Also in the sketch was Heidi Gardner as a yoga teacher who is forced to watch a video of President Joe Biden talking about his mental state on CNN; Chloe Fineman as a an apolitical mom outraged by Chris Pratt’s voice acting in the “Super Mario Bros” movie; Kenan Thompson as a contestant who loses it at the very mention of Elon Musk; and Devon Walker as a contestant who is confronted by a barrage of negative news involving Kanye West. Watch the sketch below.
- 10/9/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Vivian Bang, the co-writer and star of the Sundance Film Festival debut White Rabbit, has boarded the New Line ensemble comedy The Parenting for HBO Max.
She joins Brian Cox, Edie Falco, Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn and Parker Posey in the Craig Johnson directed, Kent Sublette scripted movie.
In the pic, a young couple, Rohan and Josh, host a “meet the parents” weekend at a cozy rental house in the country, only to find it is already inhabited by a 400-year-old poltergeist.
Chris Bender and Jake Weiner are producing via their Good Fear Content
Bang played played the role of ‘Jenny’ in Netflix’s hit romcom Always Be My Maybe with Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves and recently appeared on HBO’s comedy series Room 104. She starred in the Warner Bros./TB sitcom Sullivan and Son for three Seasons and as ‘Sun,’ a...
She joins Brian Cox, Edie Falco, Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn and Parker Posey in the Craig Johnson directed, Kent Sublette scripted movie.
In the pic, a young couple, Rohan and Josh, host a “meet the parents” weekend at a cozy rental house in the country, only to find it is already inhabited by a 400-year-old poltergeist.
Chris Bender and Jake Weiner are producing via their Good Fear Content
Bang played played the role of ‘Jenny’ in Netflix’s hit romcom Always Be My Maybe with Ali Wong, Randall Park, Keanu Reeves and recently appeared on HBO’s comedy series Room 104. She starred in the Warner Bros./TB sitcom Sullivan and Son for three Seasons and as ‘Sun,’ a...
- 3/31/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Brian Cox, Edie Falco, Lisa Kudrow have joined the cast for the upcoming poltergeist comedy from HBO and New Line cinema ‘ The Parenting.’
The feature follows a young gay couple, Graham and Josh, who hosts a meeting of the parent’s weekend at a cosy rental house in the country. Things take a turn for the horrifying and comedic when the new lodgers find it is already inhabited by a 400-year-old evil entity.
Also in news – Jodie Comer set for Adam McKay series ‘Big Swiss’
Dean Norris also joins the cast. Craig Johnson will take the helm on the feature with a script from Kent Sublette. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear Content are producing.
Cox is best known for starring as patriarch Logan Roy in HBO’s ‘Succession’, which went on to earn him a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for his work.
Kudrow...
The feature follows a young gay couple, Graham and Josh, who hosts a meeting of the parent’s weekend at a cosy rental house in the country. Things take a turn for the horrifying and comedic when the new lodgers find it is already inhabited by a 400-year-old evil entity.
Also in news – Jodie Comer set for Adam McKay series ‘Big Swiss’
Dean Norris also joins the cast. Craig Johnson will take the helm on the feature with a script from Kent Sublette. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear Content are producing.
Cox is best known for starring as patriarch Logan Roy in HBO’s ‘Succession’, which went on to earn him a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for his work.
Kudrow...
- 3/18/2022
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
HBO Max is putting together an all-star cast for the upcoming original film “The Parenting.”
On Wednesday, the streamer announced that Brian Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Edie Falco and Dean Norris had been cast to star in the horror-comedy, which focuses on a young queer couple who rent a countryside cottage to host a weekend getaway with their parents, only to discover that it is inhabited by a 400-year-old poltergeist. The roles that Cox, Kudrow, Falco and Norris will be playing have yet to be announced.
“The Parenting” is directed by Craig Johnson, and written by Kent Sublette. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner produce the film for Good Fear Content. New Line Cinema co-produces the film. A release date has yet to be announced.
Cox is a recent Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe winner for his role as Logan Roy in the HBO hit “Succession,” which aired its third season last year.
On Wednesday, the streamer announced that Brian Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Edie Falco and Dean Norris had been cast to star in the horror-comedy, which focuses on a young queer couple who rent a countryside cottage to host a weekend getaway with their parents, only to discover that it is inhabited by a 400-year-old poltergeist. The roles that Cox, Kudrow, Falco and Norris will be playing have yet to be announced.
“The Parenting” is directed by Craig Johnson, and written by Kent Sublette. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner produce the film for Good Fear Content. New Line Cinema co-produces the film. A release date has yet to be announced.
Cox is a recent Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe winner for his role as Logan Roy in the HBO hit “Succession,” which aired its third season last year.
- 3/16/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
New Line Cinema has cast the ensemble comedy The Parenting for HBO Max with a murderers’ row of TV stars including Succession‘s Brian Cox, The Sopranos’ Edie Falco, Friends alum Lisa Kudrow and Breaking Bad‘s Dean Norris.
Craig Johnson is directing from Kent Sublette’s script, which follows a young couple, Graham and Josh, who host a “meet the parents” weekend at a cozy rental house in the country, only to find it is already haunted by a 400-year old poltergeist. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner are producing for their Good Fear Content label.
Cox plays Logan Roy in the Emmy-winning HBO series Succession, for which he won a Golden Globe Award and SAG Award. His memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, was recently published in the UK and U.S., and he has starring roles in the upcoming films The Independent, Prisoner’s Daughter, and Mending the Line.
Craig Johnson is directing from Kent Sublette’s script, which follows a young couple, Graham and Josh, who host a “meet the parents” weekend at a cozy rental house in the country, only to find it is already haunted by a 400-year old poltergeist. Chris Bender and Jake Weiner are producing for their Good Fear Content label.
Cox plays Logan Roy in the Emmy-winning HBO series Succession, for which he won a Golden Globe Award and SAG Award. His memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, was recently published in the UK and U.S., and he has starring roles in the upcoming films The Independent, Prisoner’s Daughter, and Mending the Line.
- 3/16/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
When Zoe Kravitz calls out “SNL” for its “boy energy” in the new “Saturday Night Live” promo (watch above), we have a feeling she’s only half joking. Indeed, the star of “The Batman” is only the fourth female host so far of Season 47, following Kim Kardashian West, Billie Eilish and Ariana DeBose. Men have hosted all of the other 11 episodes. Kravitz appears on the March 12 installment of NBC’s sketch comedy series with musical guest Rosalia.
SEEIs ‘SNL’ new tonight? Host, musical guest details
In the promo video, Rosalia tells Kravitz she’s “glad a woman is hosting,” as testosterone-filled cast members Mikey Day and Chris Redd jockey for position beside them.
Kravitz responds matter-of-factly, “Yeah, this place has a lot of boy energy.” Boy, is she right!
Currently, of the 21 regular and featured “SNL” cast members, only nine are women: Aidy Bryant, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Kate McKinnon,...
SEEIs ‘SNL’ new tonight? Host, musical guest details
In the promo video, Rosalia tells Kravitz she’s “glad a woman is hosting,” as testosterone-filled cast members Mikey Day and Chris Redd jockey for position beside them.
Kravitz responds matter-of-factly, “Yeah, this place has a lot of boy energy.” Boy, is she right!
Currently, of the 21 regular and featured “SNL” cast members, only nine are women: Aidy Bryant, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Kate McKinnon,...
- 3/11/2022
- by Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Anna Drezen is exiting her role as one of four head writers for “Saturday Night Live” in order to focus on her Freefrom animated comedy series “Praise Petey.”
Drezen disclosed her decision Thursday in an Instagram post that featured a collection of photos from her time working on the NBC mainstay. “Bye SNL! I am leaving the show to focus on my show at Freeform. Was going to post a joke but I don’t do those anymore,” she wrote.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Anna Drezen (@annadrezen)
Drezen has been on a roll as a writer-producer on the Peacock comedy “Girls5eva” in addition to landing a series order from Freeform earlier this month for the Disney-owned cabler’s first-ever animated series. “Praise Petey” features a strong voice cast led by “Schitt’s Creek” alum Annie Murphy and John Cho. Murphy plays a fallen NYC “It girl...
Drezen disclosed her decision Thursday in an Instagram post that featured a collection of photos from her time working on the NBC mainstay. “Bye SNL! I am leaving the show to focus on my show at Freeform. Was going to post a joke but I don’t do those anymore,” she wrote.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Anna Drezen (@annadrezen)
Drezen has been on a roll as a writer-producer on the Peacock comedy “Girls5eva” in addition to landing a series order from Freeform earlier this month for the Disney-owned cabler’s first-ever animated series. “Praise Petey” features a strong voice cast led by “Schitt’s Creek” alum Annie Murphy and John Cho. Murphy plays a fallen NYC “It girl...
- 12/23/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Saturday Night Live head writer Anna Drezen is leaving the long-running NBC late-night comedy series.
Drezen revealed that she was exiting the show just over a year after she was named one of the show’s head writers in September 2020.
She said that she was leaving the show to focus on Freeform animated comedy Praise Petey, starring Annie Murphy, John Cho and Christine Baranski, which scored a series order earlier this month.
Drezen, who has also written on Peacock comedy series Girls5Eva, was initially hired as a staff writer on the show’s 42nd season in 2016, was promoted to supervising writer for seasons 44 and 45 and then upped to head writer alongside Michael Che, Colin Jost and Kent Sublette last year.
“Bye SNL!,” she wrote on Instagram. “I am leaving the show to focus on my show at Freeform. Was going to post a joke but I don’t do those anymore.
Drezen revealed that she was exiting the show just over a year after she was named one of the show’s head writers in September 2020.
She said that she was leaving the show to focus on Freeform animated comedy Praise Petey, starring Annie Murphy, John Cho and Christine Baranski, which scored a series order earlier this month.
Drezen, who has also written on Peacock comedy series Girls5Eva, was initially hired as a staff writer on the show’s 42nd season in 2016, was promoted to supervising writer for seasons 44 and 45 and then upped to head writer alongside Michael Che, Colin Jost and Kent Sublette last year.
“Bye SNL!,” she wrote on Instagram. “I am leaving the show to focus on my show at Freeform. Was going to post a joke but I don’t do those anymore.
- 12/23/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The Amber Ruffin Show and A Black Lady Sketch Show have both secured Emmy writing noms for the first time – noticeably helping to improve the diversity of the category.
The Peacock series and the HBO show will compete in Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series against HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and NBC’s SNL.
A somewhat curious note of this category is that Ashley Nicole Black will compete against herself, having been involved in writing on both The Amber Ruffin Show and A Black Lady Sketch Show.
It marks The Amber Ruffin Show’s first Emmy nomination since the weekly show launched last year. However, it is not Ruffin herself’s first nom, having been nominated in this category for her work, alongside her head writer Jenny Hagel, on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
The Amber Ruffin Show is...
The Peacock series and the HBO show will compete in Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series against HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and NBC’s SNL.
A somewhat curious note of this category is that Ashley Nicole Black will compete against herself, having been involved in writing on both The Amber Ruffin Show and A Black Lady Sketch Show.
It marks The Amber Ruffin Show’s first Emmy nomination since the weekly show launched last year. However, it is not Ruffin herself’s first nom, having been nominated in this category for her work, alongside her head writer Jenny Hagel, on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
The Amber Ruffin Show is...
- 7/13/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
New Line has picked up The Parenting, a project that puts an LGBTQ twist on the horror-comedy genre.
Kent Sublette, the co-head writer of Saturday Night Live, will write the script and Craig Johnson, the helmer perhaps best known for the 2014 comedy The Skeleton Twins, is in negotiations to direct.
Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear Content are producing.
Plot details are being kept under lock and key but it is understood to have tones of Meet the Parents, the 2000 comedy that starred Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro and told of a couple who engage in the time-honored, and ...
Kent Sublette, the co-head writer of Saturday Night Live, will write the script and Craig Johnson, the helmer perhaps best known for the 2014 comedy The Skeleton Twins, is in negotiations to direct.
Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear Content are producing.
Plot details are being kept under lock and key but it is understood to have tones of Meet the Parents, the 2000 comedy that starred Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro and told of a couple who engage in the time-honored, and ...
- 1/26/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
New Line has picked up The Parenting, a project that puts an LGBTQ twist on the horror-comedy genre.
Kent Sublette, the co-head writer of Saturday Night Live, will write the script and Craig Johnson, the helmer perhaps best known for the 2014 comedy The Skeleton Twins, is in negotiations to direct.
Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear Content are producing.
Plot details are being kept under lock and key but it is understood to have tones of Meet the Parents, the 2000 comedy that starred Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro and told of a couple who engage in the time-honored, and ...
Kent Sublette, the co-head writer of Saturday Night Live, will write the script and Craig Johnson, the helmer perhaps best known for the 2014 comedy The Skeleton Twins, is in negotiations to direct.
Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of Good Fear Content are producing.
Plot details are being kept under lock and key but it is understood to have tones of Meet the Parents, the 2000 comedy that starred Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro and told of a couple who engage in the time-honored, and ...
- 1/26/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The end credits of Saturday Night Live‘s Season 45 premiere revealed changes in the NBC series’ writing staff. Joining SNL as new writers are Dan Bulla, Dan Licata and Jasmine Pierce.
Gone from last season are Michael Koman, Alan Linic, Eli Coyote Mandel, Katie Rich and Julio Torres who has HBO series Los Espookys. Additionally Bowen Yang, who was a writer on the show last season, is now a cast member.
There is no change at the helm, with Michael Che, Colin Jost and Kent Sublette returning as head writers. The premiere end credits also listed Neal Brennan and Dave McCary who have been guest writers on SNL and were tapped for the premiere.
Here are the program’s Season 45 writing credits:
Head Writers
• Michael Che
• Colin Jost
• Kent Sublette
Supervising Writers
• Fran Gillespie
• Sudi Green
• Streeter Seidell
• Anna Drezen
Senior Writer
• Bryan Tucker
Writers
• James Anderson
• Dan Bulla
• Steven Castillo...
Gone from last season are Michael Koman, Alan Linic, Eli Coyote Mandel, Katie Rich and Julio Torres who has HBO series Los Espookys. Additionally Bowen Yang, who was a writer on the show last season, is now a cast member.
There is no change at the helm, with Michael Che, Colin Jost and Kent Sublette returning as head writers. The premiere end credits also listed Neal Brennan and Dave McCary who have been guest writers on SNL and were tapped for the premiere.
Here are the program’s Season 45 writing credits:
Head Writers
• Michael Che
• Colin Jost
• Kent Sublette
Supervising Writers
• Fran Gillespie
• Sudi Green
• Streeter Seidell
• Anna Drezen
Senior Writer
• Bryan Tucker
Writers
• James Anderson
• Dan Bulla
• Steven Castillo...
- 9/29/2019
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Saturday Night Live, which earlier this month nabbed Emmys for best variety sketch series and guest actress in a comedy (Tiffany Haddish), will kick off its 44th season on Sept. 29 with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West.
The NBC sketch series has added four new writers (Alan Linic, Alison Gates, Eli Mandel and Bowen Yang) and a feature player in Ego Nwodim, who hails from Los Angeles' Ucb Theatre, where she performed her one-woman show Great Black Women … and Then There's Me.
"Weekend Update" hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost, as well as Kent Sublette,...
The NBC sketch series has added four new writers (Alan Linic, Alison Gates, Eli Mandel and Bowen Yang) and a feature player in Ego Nwodim, who hails from Los Angeles' Ucb Theatre, where she performed her one-woman show Great Black Women … and Then There's Me.
"Weekend Update" hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost, as well as Kent Sublette,...
- 9/27/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
“Saturday Night Live” has added Los Angeles-based comedian Ego Nwodim as a featured player for its 44th season, NBC announced Friday. “SNL” also added Alan Linic, Alison Gates, Eli Mandel and Bowen Yang to its roster of writers. Nwodim will make her “SNL” debut when the famed sketch comedy series premieres its 44th season, September 29 with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West.
Nwodim is a performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Los Angeles, was named a New Face at the Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival in 2016, and participated in the CBS Diversity Showcase that same year. She has previously appeared onscreen in “Adam Ruins Everything,” “2 Broke Girls,” and “Singularity.”
The new writers all have improv backgrounds; Linic and Gates trained at Chicago’s “Second City,” Mandel at Chicago’s iO Theater, and Yang at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade. Yang is the co-host...
Nwodim is a performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Los Angeles, was named a New Face at the Montreal’s Just For Laughs festival in 2016, and participated in the CBS Diversity Showcase that same year. She has previously appeared onscreen in “Adam Ruins Everything,” “2 Broke Girls,” and “Singularity.”
The new writers all have improv backgrounds; Linic and Gates trained at Chicago’s “Second City,” Mandel at Chicago’s iO Theater, and Yang at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade. Yang is the co-host...
- 9/21/2018
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Ego Nwodim is the new cast addition on NBC’s Saturday Night Live for the venerable late-night sketch show’s upcoming 44th season, which premieres September 29 with host Adam Driver and musical guest Kanye West.
Additionally, SNL has added Alan Linic, Alison Gates, Eli Mandel and Bowen Yang as writers.
All have improv backgrounds.
Nwodim, who graduated from USC with a degree in biology, has been a regular cast member at the Ucb Theatre in Los Angeles, where she performed her one-woman show Great Black Women … and Then There’s Me. She has a slew of guest-starring acting credits, including CBS comedies 2 Broke Girls and Living Biblically and NBC limited drama series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.
Linic and Gates hail from Chicago’s Second City, Mandel from Chicago’s iO Theater, and Yang — co-host of the pop culture podcast Las Culturistas — trained at Upright Citizens Brigade.
There...
Additionally, SNL has added Alan Linic, Alison Gates, Eli Mandel and Bowen Yang as writers.
All have improv backgrounds.
Nwodim, who graduated from USC with a degree in biology, has been a regular cast member at the Ucb Theatre in Los Angeles, where she performed her one-woman show Great Black Women … and Then There’s Me. She has a slew of guest-starring acting credits, including CBS comedies 2 Broke Girls and Living Biblically and NBC limited drama series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.
Linic and Gates hail from Chicago’s Second City, Mandel from Chicago’s iO Theater, and Yang — co-host of the pop culture podcast Las Culturistas — trained at Upright Citizens Brigade.
There...
- 9/21/2018
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Adam Driver will host the upcoming “Saturday Night Live” Season 44 premiere, NBC announced Monday.
The “Star Wars” and “BlacKkKlansman” actor will be joined by musical guest Kanye West. This will be Driver’s second time hosting the long-running sketch series while it will be West’s seventh appearace since 2005.
The announcement comes just as “SNL’s” Michael Che and Colin Jost prepare to host this year’s Emmy Awards. The “Weekend Update” pair, along with Kent Sublette, also recently re-upped their deals to return as co-head writers for Season 44.
“SNL” received 21 Emmy nominations this year, with the show having already won seven of those at the Creative Arts Emmys last weekend. One of those wins went to Tiffany Haddish, who won the award after hosting the show back in November. Dave Chappelle won the same award a year prior for hosting the first post-election episode in 2016.
The Season 44 premiere will air on NBC on Sept.
The “Star Wars” and “BlacKkKlansman” actor will be joined by musical guest Kanye West. This will be Driver’s second time hosting the long-running sketch series while it will be West’s seventh appearace since 2005.
The announcement comes just as “SNL’s” Michael Che and Colin Jost prepare to host this year’s Emmy Awards. The “Weekend Update” pair, along with Kent Sublette, also recently re-upped their deals to return as co-head writers for Season 44.
“SNL” received 21 Emmy nominations this year, with the show having already won seven of those at the Creative Arts Emmys last weekend. One of those wins went to Tiffany Haddish, who won the award after hosting the show back in November. Dave Chappelle won the same award a year prior for hosting the first post-election episode in 2016.
The Season 44 premiere will air on NBC on Sept.
- 9/17/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
13 Reasons Why vet Katherine Langford has found another tragic role at Netflix: The actress will star in Cursed, the streamer’s re-imagining of the Authurian legend of the Lady of the Lake.
Langford will play Nimue, a teenager with “a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful (and tragic) Lady of the Lake,” per Netflix. The coming-of-age series — which hails from creators Frank Miller (Sin City) and Tom Wheeler (The Cape) — explores the themes of “the obliteration of the natural world, religious terror, senseless war and finding the courage to lead in the face of the impossible.
Langford will play Nimue, a teenager with “a mysterious gift who is destined to become the powerful (and tragic) Lady of the Lake,” per Netflix. The coming-of-age series — which hails from creators Frank Miller (Sin City) and Tom Wheeler (The Cape) — explores the themes of “the obliteration of the natural world, religious terror, senseless war and finding the courage to lead in the face of the impossible.
- 9/13/2018
- TVLine.com
Saturday Night Live has set its co-head writers as NBC’s venerable late-night series heads into its 44th season. Michael Che, Colin Jost, and Kent Sublette will return as co-head writers next season, Deadline has learned.
Jost and Che became co-head writers last year after beginning their tenure on “Weekend Update” in 2014. Jost started at SNL as a writer in 2005. Che appeared on The Daily Show before joining SNL in 2013. Sublette has been a co-head writer since season 42.
SNL picked seven Emmys last night at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards to lead all shows, including multiple wins for the episode hosted by Donald Glover. The series has 21 nominations this year overall.
Saturday Night Live Season 44 premieres Saturday, September 29. A host and musical guest have not yet been announced.
Jost and Che became co-head writers last year after beginning their tenure on “Weekend Update” in 2014. Jost started at SNL as a writer in 2005. Che appeared on The Daily Show before joining SNL in 2013. Sublette has been a co-head writer since season 42.
SNL picked seven Emmys last night at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards to lead all shows, including multiple wins for the episode hosted by Donald Glover. The series has 21 nominations this year overall.
Saturday Night Live Season 44 premieres Saturday, September 29. A host and musical guest have not yet been announced.
- 9/11/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Che, Colin Jost, and Kent Sublette will return as co-head writers for the upcoming 44th season of “Saturday Night Live,” Variety has confirmed. The three served as co-head writers last season on the NBC sketch-comedy season. Not returning to serve alongside them next season will be Bryan Tucker, who is stepping down to a position as senior writer.
Jost and Che, who co-anchor the “Weekend Update” segment, were promoted to co-head writers last season. Jost had previously served as co-head writer in the 2011-12 season, then stepped away from the position prior to the 2015-16 season. Jost became a cast member and the co-anchor of “Weekend Update” in 2014, and was joined by Che in 2015. Sublette has been a co-head writer since the 2016-17 season.
No additional co-head writers for the upcoming 44th season have yet been set.
Tucker, who has been a writer on the show for more than 10 years,...
Jost and Che, who co-anchor the “Weekend Update” segment, were promoted to co-head writers last season. Jost had previously served as co-head writer in the 2011-12 season, then stepped away from the position prior to the 2015-16 season. Jost became a cast member and the co-anchor of “Weekend Update” in 2014, and was joined by Che in 2015. Sublette has been a co-head writer since the 2016-17 season.
No additional co-head writers for the upcoming 44th season have yet been set.
Tucker, who has been a writer on the show for more than 10 years,...
- 9/10/2018
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Kate McKinnon has played her fair share of Trump-related characters on Saturday Night Live, but on Thursday's episode of Late Night, the actress revealed impersonating Rudy Giuliani — the former mayor of New York City and Trump's new lawyer — "wasn't as hard" as she thought it would be.
In chatting with host Seth Meyers, McKinnon credited SNL writer Kent Sublette with the idea of her playing Giuliani, though the suggestion actually came just the night before the May 5th episode. She reenacted her initial response to the offer: a wide-open mouth and a "...yeah?"
The reason Giuliani ...
In chatting with host Seth Meyers, McKinnon credited SNL writer Kent Sublette with the idea of her playing Giuliani, though the suggestion actually came just the night before the May 5th episode. She reenacted her initial response to the offer: a wide-open mouth and a "...yeah?"
The reason Giuliani ...
- 5/18/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Comedian James Adomian accuses “Saturday Night Live” of being homophobic to gay men and stealing jokes in a new interview with The Daily Beast. Adomian, an out gay comedian best known for his celebrity impressions and for appearances on “Comedy Bang! Bang!” and “Chicago Trap House,” auditioned for the NBC sketch comedy series 13 years ago and did not get cast. According to The Daily Beast, the show has only had one openly gay male cast member, Terry Sweeney, who was on the series during the 1985-1986 season.
“It would be nice if they put a gay man on camera on that show,” Adomian said, “I’ve been out of the closet the whole time since I auditioned 13 years ago. You would think that they would have tried to put someone else on that was a gay man. It’s about time.”
Jake Weisman, the comedian who co-created and co-stars in Comedy Central’s series “Corporate,...
“It would be nice if they put a gay man on camera on that show,” Adomian said, “I’ve been out of the closet the whole time since I auditioned 13 years ago. You would think that they would have tried to put someone else on that was a gay man. It’s about time.”
Jake Weisman, the comedian who co-created and co-stars in Comedy Central’s series “Corporate,...
- 3/16/2018
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
2017-12-13T07:11:00-08:00Colin Jost, Michael Che Named 'Saturday Night Live' Head Writers
Saturday Night Live enjoyed critical acclaim, award wins and higher ratings last season thanks to its political sketches during the 2016 presidential election campaign. This season, however, ratings are starting to slide. It might be because the novelty of Alec Baldwin's Donald Trump impersonation is wearing off, or it might be because the show's writing is starting to decline in quality. Producer Lorne Michaels is betting on the latter, and he's trying to counter the problem by promoting Weekend Update hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che to Head Writer Positions. We'll see soon enough if the strategy pays off.
Via Page Six.
Michael Che and Colin Jost have been named the co-head writers of “Saturday Night Live,” NBC announced Tuesday.
They will join current head writers Kent Sublette and Bryan Tucker.
Saturday Night Live enjoyed critical acclaim, award wins and higher ratings last season thanks to its political sketches during the 2016 presidential election campaign. This season, however, ratings are starting to slide. It might be because the novelty of Alec Baldwin's Donald Trump impersonation is wearing off, or it might be because the show's writing is starting to decline in quality. Producer Lorne Michaels is betting on the latter, and he's trying to counter the problem by promoting Weekend Update hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che to Head Writer Positions. We'll see soon enough if the strategy pays off.
Via Page Six.
Michael Che and Colin Jost have been named the co-head writers of “Saturday Night Live,” NBC announced Tuesday.
They will join current head writers Kent Sublette and Bryan Tucker.
- 12/13/2017
- by EG
- Yidio
A well-deserved promotion!
NBC announced Tuesday that Colin Jost and Michael Che were named co-head writers of Saturday Night Live.
The pair have been hosting "Weekend Update" since 2014. They will join the show's current head writers, Bryan Tucker and Kent Sublette, both of whom are remaining in their roles. Sudi Green and Fran Gillespie were also named writing supervisors in the announcement.
Jost, a four-time WGA Award winner and Peabody Award recipient who is currently dating Scarlett Johansson, joined SNL in 2005 as a writer. He was previously a head writer from 2012 to 2015 alongside Seth Meyers and then Tucker.
Before joining SNL in 2013, Che appeared on The Daily Show. The new appointment makes him the first person of color to have the title of head writer.
It's a been a major year for the long-running sketch show. Not only have they been able to capitalize on an insane year of politics (we're looking at you, Alec Baldwin/President Donald...
NBC announced Tuesday that Colin Jost and Michael Che were named co-head writers of Saturday Night Live.
The pair have been hosting "Weekend Update" since 2014. They will join the show's current head writers, Bryan Tucker and Kent Sublette, both of whom are remaining in their roles. Sudi Green and Fran Gillespie were also named writing supervisors in the announcement.
Jost, a four-time WGA Award winner and Peabody Award recipient who is currently dating Scarlett Johansson, joined SNL in 2005 as a writer. He was previously a head writer from 2012 to 2015 alongside Seth Meyers and then Tucker.
Before joining SNL in 2013, Che appeared on The Daily Show. The new appointment makes him the first person of color to have the title of head writer.
It's a been a major year for the long-running sketch show. Not only have they been able to capitalize on an insane year of politics (we're looking at you, Alec Baldwin/President Donald...
- 12/13/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Saturday Night Live is doubling down on its commitment to Colin Jost and Michael Che, promoting the Weekend Update duo to co-head writers, NBC announced Tuesday. They will join current head writers Kent Sublette and Bryan Tucker.
RelatedWas James Franco’s SNL Hosting Stint the Worst of the Season?
Jost and Che — who in addition to headlining Weekend Update served as SNL staff writers — fill the void left by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider; the former head writers left at the beginning of the current Season 43 to develop a series with SNL exec producer Lorne Michaels.
SNL also announced that...
RelatedWas James Franco’s SNL Hosting Stint the Worst of the Season?
Jost and Che — who in addition to headlining Weekend Update served as SNL staff writers — fill the void left by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider; the former head writers left at the beginning of the current Season 43 to develop a series with SNL exec producer Lorne Michaels.
SNL also announced that...
- 12/12/2017
- TVLine.com
Now this is one update you’ll be happy to hear: Colin Jost and Michael Che have been named co-head writers of “Saturday Night Live.” The news of the “Weekend Update” co-anchors new position at NBC’s Emmy Award-winning late night series was announced by the network on Tuesday. The duo will be joining two other current head writers, Kent Sublette and Bryan Tucker, in their new roles. “SNL” also revealed Sudi Green and Fran Gillespie have been named writing supervisors. The news of Che and Jost’s new gig comes shortly after the abrupt exit of co-head writers Sarah Schneider...
- 12/12/2017
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che have been named co-head writers of NBC's venerable late night series Saturday Night Live. They will join current head writers Kent Sublette and Bryan Tucker. The duo’s appointment brings the number of SNL co-head writers back to four. They fill the void left by the departure of former co-head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider who left at the beginning of the season to segue to their Comedy Central series executive…...
- 12/12/2017
- Deadline TV
Saturday Night Live co-head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider are leaving the venerable late-night sketch comedy program after six years but staying in business with the company behind it, Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. Bryan Tucker and Kent Sublette, who worked alongside Kelly and Schneider last season, remain SNL‘s co-head writers, leading the charge starting with the Season 43 premiere tonight. Kelly and Schneider will be focusing on a siblings comedy they have…...
- 10/1/2017
- Deadline TV
With nearly 42 seasons under its belt, Saturday Night Live has lots of behind-the-scenes secrets that have never been spilled — until now.
On Saturday, the long-running NBC sketch series will wrap its 42nd season, and a new cover interview with The Hollywood Reporter features 20 show members dishing on how and why many of the current political characters were cast, including Alec Baldwin as President Donald Trump.
Alec Baldwin Had to Be Persuaded to Portray Trump
“The idea came out of a conversation with Tina Fey at some point during the summer. She said, ‘Well, the person that should really play is Alec.
On Saturday, the long-running NBC sketch series will wrap its 42nd season, and a new cover interview with The Hollywood Reporter features 20 show members dishing on how and why many of the current political characters were cast, including Alec Baldwin as President Donald Trump.
Alec Baldwin Had to Be Persuaded to Portray Trump
“The idea came out of a conversation with Tina Fey at some point during the summer. She said, ‘Well, the person that should really play is Alec.
- 5/15/2017
- by Natalie Stone
- PEOPLE.com
Playing Sean Spicer wasn’t Melissa McCarthy’s idea – that honor goes to Kent Sublette, McCarthy’s old Groundlings pal and now Saturday Night Live writer. But on The Ellen DeGeneres Show today (see clip below) McCarthy said her initial hesitation vanished once the ear prosthetics were in place. “Can I have eye bags?” she asked the make-up department? McCarthy told Ellen DeGeneres today about how her now-famous SNL take on the White House press secretary came about with…...
- 3/24/2017
- Deadline TV
Melissa McCarthy explained on a recent visit to “Ellen” how she was offered the role of Sean Spicer on “Saturday Night Live.” The episode, which will air on Friday, shows host Ellen DeGeneres talking with both McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone. Considering how much a certain impression has been in the news — and on Spicer’s mind — lately, it had to come up. McCarthy told DeGeneres that Kent Sublette, one of the head writers on “SNL” and an old friend of the couple from their time at the Groundlings, called her up because she was in New York shooting something.
- 3/24/2017
- by Carli Velocci
- The Wrap
Let's hear it for the writers!
The Writer's Guild of America held their annual awards show on Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, where Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Donald Glover's breakout series, Atlanta were among those recognized for their achievement of the written word.
Read on below to see the full list of winners.
More: John Legend, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda Among 2017 Oscars Performers
Film Winners
Original Screenplay
Moonlight, Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; A24
Adapted Screenplay
Arrival, Screenplay by Eric Heisserer; Based on the Story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang; Paramount Pictures
Documentary Screenplay
Command and Control, Telescript by Robert Kenner & Eric Schlosser, Story by Brian Pearle and Kim Roberts; Based on the book Command and Control by Eric Schlosser; American Experience Films
Television And New Media Winners
Drama Series
The Americans, Written...
The Writer's Guild of America held their annual awards show on Sunday night at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, where Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Donald Glover's breakout series, Atlanta were among those recognized for their achievement of the written word.
Read on below to see the full list of winners.
More: John Legend, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda Among 2017 Oscars Performers
Film Winners
Original Screenplay
Moonlight, Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney; A24
Adapted Screenplay
Arrival, Screenplay by Eric Heisserer; Based on the Story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang; Paramount Pictures
Documentary Screenplay
Command and Control, Telescript by Robert Kenner & Eric Schlosser, Story by Brian Pearle and Kim Roberts; Based on the book Command and Control by Eric Schlosser; American Experience Films
Television And New Media Winners
Drama Series
The Americans, Written...
- 2/20/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The Writers Guild Awards and the Academy writing nominees always don’t line up; many films are ineligible. This year, those included Oscar-writing nominees “Lion” and “The Lobster.”
This year, the WGA and the Academy differed dramatically. While the WGA deemed “Moonlight” and “Loving” as Original Screenplays, the Academy considered both as Adapted; only “Moonlight” landed a nomination.
At the WGA, as at the BAFTAs, Barry Jenkins’ script for “Moonlight” competed for the Original Screenplay Award against both Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea” and Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land.” Unlike the BAFTAs, Jenkins emerged the winner over Lonergan, a sign of strength for “Moonlight,” which is nominated for eight Oscars.
Read More: Yes, Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’ Really Will Win Director and Picture Oscars — Here’s Why
However, in the Oscars’ Original Screenplay contest, lauded playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Lonergan (“You Can Count On Me,...
This year, the WGA and the Academy differed dramatically. While the WGA deemed “Moonlight” and “Loving” as Original Screenplays, the Academy considered both as Adapted; only “Moonlight” landed a nomination.
At the WGA, as at the BAFTAs, Barry Jenkins’ script for “Moonlight” competed for the Original Screenplay Award against both Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea” and Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land.” Unlike the BAFTAs, Jenkins emerged the winner over Lonergan, a sign of strength for “Moonlight,” which is nominated for eight Oscars.
Read More: Yes, Damien Chazelle’s ‘La La Land’ Really Will Win Director and Picture Oscars — Here’s Why
However, in the Oscars’ Original Screenplay contest, lauded playwright and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Lonergan (“You Can Count On Me,...
- 2/20/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
The idea behind Melissa McCarthy‘s surprise Saturday Night Live appearance as White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer came straight from the top.
SNL‘s new head writer Kent Sublette came up with the idea for the now viral skit, People has learned. And after approaching McCarthy with the idea, she immediately jumped on board.
When the 46-year-old actress took the stage, the audience burst out into laughter and applause at the sight of her Spicer costume — complete with an ill-fitting suit and blonde wig.
“Before we begin, I know that myself and the press have gotten off to a rocky start,...
SNL‘s new head writer Kent Sublette came up with the idea for the now viral skit, People has learned. And after approaching McCarthy with the idea, she immediately jumped on board.
When the 46-year-old actress took the stage, the audience burst out into laughter and applause at the sight of her Spicer costume — complete with an ill-fitting suit and blonde wig.
“Before we begin, I know that myself and the press have gotten off to a rocky start,...
- 2/7/2017
- by Jodi Guglielmi and Emily Strohm
- PEOPLE.com
The Writers Guild of America has just announced the nominations for their annual awards for Best Screenplays (by writers who are guild signatories). That’s right, before you get nervous thinking that your favorite may have been left off the list, you must remember that the WGA is the group that is not all-inclusive and leaves out several of the top contenders each year due to them not being part of the guild or not following their very specific rules. For this reason, you won’t see Inside Out, The Hateful Eight, and Ex Machina in the Original Screenplay category or Room, Brooklyn, or Anomalisa in the Adapted screenplay category.
Taking a look at what’s left over for the nominations, we find many that were expected to make a showing, including Spotlight and Bridge of Spies for Original Screenplay, though they apparently had to sink to really low depths...
Taking a look at what’s left over for the nominations, we find many that were expected to make a showing, including Spotlight and Bridge of Spies for Original Screenplay, though they apparently had to sink to really low depths...
- 1/6/2016
- by Jeff Beck
- We Got This Covered
The Writers Guild of America announced some of its nominees for its 2015 awards on Thursday, including television, new media, and radio, and among the TV nominees are series both new and old, and all beloved.
In the comedy series category, freshman Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" scored a nomination for best series, as well as an overall best new series nod. "The Last Man on Earth" also landed in that latter category, and was singled out for its pilot episode writing, too.
On the drama side of the equation, lauded "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" also got best series and best new series nominations, in addition to a an episode writing nod. Newly-minted Emmy winner "Game of Thrones" also scored a best drama citation, as well as an episodic writing nomination.
The full list of nominees released this week are below. Nominations in the theatrical and documentary categories will...
In the comedy series category, freshman Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" scored a nomination for best series, as well as an overall best new series nod. "The Last Man on Earth" also landed in that latter category, and was singled out for its pilot episode writing, too.
On the drama side of the equation, lauded "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" also got best series and best new series nominations, in addition to a an episode writing nod. Newly-minted Emmy winner "Game of Thrones" also scored a best drama citation, as well as an episodic writing nomination.
The full list of nominees released this week are below. Nominations in the theatrical and documentary categories will...
- 12/3/2015
- by Katie Roberts
- Moviefone
Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel" won the Original Screenplay honor at the recently concluded Writers Guild Awards while Morten Tyldum's "The Imitation Game" took home the Adapted Screenplay trophy. "The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swarts" written by Brian Knappenberger won Documentary Screenplay award. The film is not nominated for an Academy award.
In TV land, HBO's "True Detective" won the Drama Series award and FX's "Louie" received the Comedy Series trophy.
Here's the complete list of winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 2015 Writers Guild Awards:
Feature Film
Original Screenplay
Boyhood, Written by Richard Linklater; IFC Films
Foxcatcher, Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman; Sony Pictures Classics
The Grand Budapest Hotel, Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness; Fox Searchlight Winner
Nightcrawler, Written by Dan Gilroy; Open Road Films
Whiplash, Written by Damien Chazelle; Sony Pictures Classics
Adapted Screenplay
American Sniper,...
In TV land, HBO's "True Detective" won the Drama Series award and FX's "Louie" received the Comedy Series trophy.
Here's the complete list of winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 2015 Writers Guild Awards:
Feature Film
Original Screenplay
Boyhood, Written by Richard Linklater; IFC Films
Foxcatcher, Written by E. Max Frye and Dan Futterman; Sony Pictures Classics
The Grand Budapest Hotel, Screenplay by Wes Anderson; Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness; Fox Searchlight Winner
Nightcrawler, Written by Dan Gilroy; Open Road Films
Whiplash, Written by Damien Chazelle; Sony Pictures Classics
Adapted Screenplay
American Sniper,...
- 2/16/2015
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
On Wednesday, January 14, at 3 a.m., sleep-deprived Saturday Night Live writer James Anderson asked a fellow writer, Kent Sublette, “What about this idea?” Anderson, recently obsessed with the video game Dragon Age: Inquisition, proposed a sketch about a medieval castle beset by a huge fire-breathing dragon and the castle-dwellers who pause to sing about their imminent deaths instead of just running away. By Wednesday evening, following a pitch meeting and a huddle with executive producer Lorne Michaels and the show’s host, Kevin Hart, Anderson and Sublette’s script was approved. Titled “The Journey,” the skit would require an elaborate castle set, and a dragon, to be built in less than 48 hours. Around 9 p.m., SNL’s four-man production-design team sprang into action. Keith Raywood, a 30-year veteran of the show, was tasked with drafting blueprints for “The Journey.” Steve Paone drove the designs to the Brooklyn warehouse where they...
- 1/30/2015
- by Mike Ryan
- Vulture
The Writers Guild of America announced the TV nominees for the 2015 WGA Awards on Thursday (December 4) morning and several new shows broke into the fields in a big way. And, of course, there were a number of big WGA Award nomination head-scratchers. Specifically, where the heck was FX's "Fargo"? The answer is below. Making perhaps the biggest splash was "Transparent," which earned three nominations and, since "Orange Is The New Black" earned two nods and "House of Cards" pick up one, that meant that Amazon Prime and Netflix are, at least for one award-giving organization, on equal footing as creators of original programming. The Jill Soloway-created "Transparent" is nominated for New Series, where it will go against "The Affair," "The Knick," "Silicon Valley" and "True Detective." "Transparent" and "Silicon Valley" are also up for Comedy Series, going against "Louie," "Veep" and "Orange Is The New Black." Lest you panic...
- 12/5/2014
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
The best and the brightest in TV came together at the Nokia Theatre this evening (September 22) for the 65th Annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.
Neil Patrick Harris held down the fort as the year’s Mc, entertaining the star-studded crowd with show-stopping performances and hilarious skits with “How I Met Your Mother” cast members and former Emmy hosts.
As for the winners, Claire Danes scored a big win, taking home a trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, while Jeff Daniels took home the prize in the Lead Actor category.
Meanwhile, Jim Parsons won his third Emmy for Lead Actor in a comedy for his role in “Big Bang Theory,” and Julia Louis-Dreyfus scored the prize for her lead role in “Veep.”
And last but not least, the cast of "Modern Family" and "Breaking Bad" were honored with Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series, respectively.
Check out the...
Neil Patrick Harris held down the fort as the year’s Mc, entertaining the star-studded crowd with show-stopping performances and hilarious skits with “How I Met Your Mother” cast members and former Emmy hosts.
As for the winners, Claire Danes scored a big win, taking home a trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, while Jeff Daniels took home the prize in the Lead Actor category.
Meanwhile, Jim Parsons won his third Emmy for Lead Actor in a comedy for his role in “Big Bang Theory,” and Julia Louis-Dreyfus scored the prize for her lead role in “Veep.”
And last but not least, the cast of "Modern Family" and "Breaking Bad" were honored with Outstanding Comedy and Drama Series, respectively.
Check out the...
- 9/23/2013
- GossipCenter
Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul were upset in their respective acting categories, but Breaking Bad won the night’s top prize, taking home its first Emmy for Best Drama. It was an unpredictable night in several major categories: In addition to The Newsroom’s Jeff Daniels taking home the trophy for Best Actor in a Drama and Boardwalk Empire’s Bobby Cannavale winning for Supporting Actor, Veep’s Tony Hale and Nurse Jackie’s Merritt Wever were surprise winners — Wever was so shocked that she practically ran off the stage without delivering an acceptance speech.
Not every category yielded a stunner,...
Not every category yielded a stunner,...
- 9/23/2013
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside TV
Spring Training began this week, which means Major League Baseball’s regular season is right around the corner. And while football, basketball, and hockey can get us through the cold months, nothing compares to America’s Pastime. Each baseball game is theater at its best, with the hope of greatness hung on each and every pitch. We watch for the drama and unpredictability. We suffer the losses. We celebrate the wins. But the fact is, not all wins are alike. There is another level.
Saturday Night Live is like a weekly baseball game.
Saturday Night Live is like a weekly baseball game.
- 2/17/2013
- Rollingstone.com
What do Walter White and Phil Dunphy have in common? They’re both at the center of the TV shows most honored by the Writers Guild of America today. The group just announced the nominees for its annual awards, which will be handed out Feb. 17 at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York. Breaking Bad garnered five nods; Modern Family drew four. Here’s a list of all the primetime and late night series in contention for the event’s biggest prizes:
Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire, Written by Dave Flebotte, Diane Frolov, Chris Haddock, Rolin Jones, Howard Korder, Steve Kornacki,...
Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire, Written by Dave Flebotte, Diane Frolov, Chris Haddock, Rolin Jones, Howard Korder, Steve Kornacki,...
- 12/6/2012
- by Hillary Busis
- EW - Inside TV
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