It was good covering the Grammys for the first time in my life on Sunday but doing so meant I had to miss what has been one of my favorite award season events each year: The Writers Guild of America Awards. It's always such a cool event, unpretentious and filled with smart and talented people. A few years ago, my friend John and I sat at George Lopez's table with his wife only a few months before the whole kidney donation thing! That was the year Felicity Huffman bumped into John and made him spill his drink. At first, she was going to offer him one of her drink tickets then she decided that an apology was enough! WhatEVER.
But, I digress. This year's event was most noteworthy for the major screenplay awards which are often the best indicators for the Academy Awards. This year, "Little Miss Sunshine" and "The Departed" took the top prizes. What I was not aware of until I read it on the AfterElton.com blog, is that "As The World Turns" won for Best Writing in a Daytime Serial. Tthe three episodes submitted for consideration all featured gay teen Luke (Van Hansis) and his coming out story. Luke continues to get screentime with an episode this week featuring him talking with his grandmother Lucinda about being out at school and how his teammates are treating him.
Good going!
Other WGA winners on Sunday: The writing teams of "The Sopranos" (TV drama), "The Office" (TV comedy) and "Ugly Betty" (best new TV series) as well as Amy Berg for her documentary "Deliver Us From Evil."