2024 Writers Guild Awards: ‘The Holdovers,’ ‘American Fiction,’ ‘Succession’ Among Winners

The Holdovers, American Fiction and Succession were among the winners at the 2024 Writers Guild Awards, which were handed out Sunday night in simultaneous ceremonies in New York and Los Angeles.

Best adapted screenplay was presented to American Fiction, the winner for the best adapted screenplay Oscar, while The Holdovers won the award for best original screenplay. (The winner of the best original screenplay Oscar, Anatomy of a Fall, was deemed ineligible for the WGA Awards.)

Accepting his award in L.A., Holdovers writer David Hemingson thanked “a brilliant cast and a brilliant director” for bringing the story to life and accepted “in memory of my mother who raised me, my uncle who saved me, and my father, who gave me my love of the written word and taught me the value of integrity.”

In the TV categories, The Bear won best comedy series, while Succession was named best drama series. The Last of Us won the award for best writing for a new series, and Beef won best limited series writing.

The L.A. ceremony was hosted by Niecy Nash-Betts, while the N.Y. edition was hosted by Josh Gondelman.

In an unusual move this year, the WGA Awards ceremonies were held more than a month after the 2024 Oscars, with the ceremony coming after 2023’s months-long writers strike. The union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached a new three-year deal in September, which provides protections against the use of AI, data transparency and residuals tied to streaming success and guarantees for the minimum size of writers rooms.

Early in the New York ceremony, it was revealed that the 2024 recipients of the WGA East’s Richard B. Jablow Award were the members and leadership of IATSE, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, SAG-AFTRA and American Federation of Musicians, for “demonstrating unwavering support and sacrifice during the WGA’s 148-day strike.” Jablow, for whom the award is named, helped found the WGAE, wrote its constitution and served as its first counsel. 

WGAE president Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, who received the Jablow Award in 2020, presented this year’s award, saying: “To me, the most pivotal moments of the WGA strike of 2023 were each and every time we were joined by our sister unions. Each and every time Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians showed up to play honky tonk on the sidewalks of New York City. Each and every time a Teamster truck driver refused to cross our line. Each and every time an IATSE crew member sacrificed their day’s pay for our cause. Each and every time a SAG-AFTRA actor grabbed a megaphone out of our hands and chanted chants that did not rhyme. Thank you for your solidarity. We are one union, and we stand by your side, forever.”

During the L.A. ceremony, Drew Carey was shown on screens inside the venue eating seemingly in a diner and then he walked out into the crowd. The video was a reference to Carey’s generosity in paying for meals for the striking writers. He said the last time he did this, “I think before it was like $67,000 … but some of you decided, ‘Oh yeah, I’m going to get a shake and dessert’ as it was way more this time. … When the bills started piling up my accounted called and was like, ‘Is there any way we can dial this back?’” He said no since he had already committed to it, and it was the right thing to do. “I talked to my agent and he said, ‘You’re going to lose your house over this,’ and I said, ‘Fine, I’ll lose my house,’” noting that he became a millionaire because of writers, so it was only fair to pay it back. 

The WGA also spoofed Carol Lombardini, the top negotiator representing studios and streamers during the talks, in a raunchy and brutal bit that was met with groans and occasional laughter inside the L.A. ceremony.

In addition, Nash-Betts addressed the strikes in her monologue to start the L.A. ceremony. “Last year, 312 union strikes happened in America,” she said. “Hollywood made it through two, for a record-breaking 148 days. We fought for equal pay, equal say and our right to make it to the end of a 10-episode season. And thank goodness, because how else was The Crown going to tell us what happened to Diana and her kids?”

She also wished everyone a “happy rainy Sunday” because it was raining pretty good outside (the carpet was tented but it was still getting wet). She warned all winners that they would be limited to 30-second speeches, and if they went over would be played off by a producer playing “Smoke on the Water” live in the room.

In New York, host Gondelman called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. “No one should have to suffer for anyone else’s freedom,” Gondelman said.

In addition to the competitive awards, the WGA presented a number of honorary awards: In New York, Andor creator and the writer of the Bourne films and Michael Clayton among other titles, Tony Gilroy, received the Ian McLellan Hunter Award for Career Achievement, and Fellow Travelers creator and Philadelphia writer Ron Nyswaner received the Walter Bernstein Award (presented by Dan Minahan).

In Los Angeles, the 2024 Oscars adapted screenplay winner Cord Jefferson (American Fiction) received the Paul Selvin Award, writer-director-producer Walter Hill (The Getaway, The Warriors, 48 Hrs.) received the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement, writer-director-producer Linda Bloodworth Thomason (Designing Women, Evening Shade) received the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement (presented by Jean Smart), and 2023 WGA negotiating committee co-chairs Chris Keyser and David A. Goodman received the Morgan Cox Award for their leadership during last year’s labor negotiations and strike.

“Don’t forget what it felt like last year,” Keyser said in accepting the Cox Award. “Don’t forget what it felt like to have a common purpose, make a common promise, march side by side, for yourself of course, but mostly, for everyone else. Don’t forget it’s always a struggle, that nothing is given to labor … that though we have many allies from time to time, we are our only champions.” He also called for writers to look out for each other, particularly the most vulnerable.

Added Goodman: “Do you remember last year when they said if we went on strike, the streamers wouldn’t care because they have their libraries and they’d just show rereuns and we’d never get their viewership data or a success-based residual? They said if we went on strike, they’d just replace us with foreign writers, and they didn’t. Or they said once we were on strike, that’s what the companies wanted. … These were lies and there many more of them. They’re kind of meaningless tonight, but by summer they were really scary. I wish I could say we don’t have to worry about them anymore.” But, he added, the threats have been around for many years, and are likely to return.

 Presenters in L.A. included Jimmy Fallon, Tony Hale, Tig Notaro, Randall Park, Nathan Fielder, Maria Sten, Bill Burr (who encouraged writers to go after execs’ yachts and drugs in any future labor disputes), Brett Gelman, Patton Oswalt, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Erika Alexander and Stephen Merchant.

A complete list of nominees for the 2024 WGA Awards follows.

Original Screenplay

Air, Written by Alex Convery; Amazon MGM Studios
Barbie, Written by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach; Warner Bros. Pictures
The Holdovers, Written by David Hemingson; Focus Features (WINNER)
May December, Screenplay by Samy Burch, Story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik; Netflix
Past Lives, Written by Celine Song; A24

Adapted Screenplay

American Fiction, Screenplay by Cord Jefferson, Based upon the novel Erasure by Percival Everett; Amazon MGM Studios (WINNER)

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret., Screenplay by Kelly Fremon Craig, Based on the book by Judy Blume; Lionsgate

Killers of the Flower Moon, Screenplay by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, Based on the book by David Grann; Apple Original Films

Nyad, Screenplay by Julia Cox, Based on the book Find a Way by Diana Nyad; Netflix

Oppenheimer, Screenplay by Christopher Nolan, Based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin; Universal Pictures

Documentary Screenplay

Bella!, Written by Jeff L. Lieberman; Re-Emerging Films
It Ain’t Over, Written by Sean Mullin; Sony Pictures Classics
The Pigeon Tunnel, Written by Errol Morris; Apple Original Films (WINNER)
Stamped From the Beginning, Written by David Teague, Based on the book Stamped From the Beginning by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi; Netflix
What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?, Written by John Scheinfeld; Abramorama

Drama Series

The Crown, Written by Peter Morgan; Netflix

The Curse, Written by Carmen Christopher, Nathan Fielder, Alex Huggins, Carrie Kemper, Benny Safdie; Showtime

The Diplomat, Written by Eli Attie, Debora Cahn, Mia Chung, Anna Hagen, Amanda Johnson-Zetterstrom, Peter Noah; Netflix

The Last of Us, Written by Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross, Craig Mazin, Bo Shim; HBO | Max

Succession, Written by Will Arbery, Jesse Armstrong, Miriam Battye, Jon Brown, Jamie Carragher, Ted Cohen, Nate Elston, Francesca Gardiner, Callie Hersheway, Lucy Prebble, Georgia Pritchett, Tony Roche, Susan Soon He Stanton, Will Tracy; HBO | Max (WINNER)

Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary, Written by Quinta Brunson, Ava Coleman, Riley Dufurrena, Justin Halpern, Joya McCrory, Morgan Murphy, Brittani Nichols, Kate Peterman, Brian Rubenstein, Patrick Schumacker, Justin Tan, Jordan Temple, Garrett Werner; ABC

Barry, Written by Emma Barrie, Alec Berg, Duffy Boudreau, Bill Hader, Nicky Hirsch, Taofik Kolade, Liz Sarnoff; HBO | Max

The Bear, Written by Karen Joseph Adcock, Joanna Calo, Kelly Galuska, Rene Gube, Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Alex Russell, Catherine Schetina, Christopher Storer; FX Networks (WINNER)

Jury Duty, Written by Tanner Bean, Lee Eisenberg, Marcos Gonzalez, Cody Heller, Mekki Leeper, Katrina Mathewson, Kerry O’Neill, Ese Shaw, Gene Stupnitsky, Andrew Weinberg, Evan Williams; Amazon Freevee

Only Murders in the Building, Written by Matteo Borghese, Madeleine George, Sas E. Goldberg, Joshua Allen Griffith, John Hoffman, Elaine Ko, Noah Levine, Tess Morris, J.J. Philbin, Ben Philippe, Jake Schnesel, Ben Smith, Siena Streiber, Pete Swanson, Rob Turbovsky; Hulu

New Series

The Diplomat, Written by Eli Attie, Debora Cahn, Mia Chung, Anna Hagen, Amanda Johnson-Zetterstrom, Peter Noah; Netflix

Jury Duty, Written by Tanner Bean, Lee Eisenberg, Marcos Gonzalez, Cody Heller, Mekki Leeper, Katrina Mathewson, Kerry O’Neill, Ese Shaw, Gene Stupnitsky, Andrew Weinberg, Evan Williams; Amazon Freevee

The Last of Us, Written by Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross, Craig Mazin, Bo Shim; HBO | Max (WINNER)

Poker Face, Written by Christine Boylan, Wyatt Cain, Chris Downey, CS Fischer, Rian Johnson, Alice Ju, Joe Lawson, Natasha Lyonne, Charlie Peppers, Lilla Zuckerman, Nora Zuckerman; Peacock

Shrinking, Written by Wally Baram, Rachna Fruchbom, Brian Gallivan, Neil Goldman, Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, Annie Mebane, Bill Posley, Jason Segel, Sofia Selig; Apple TV+

Limited Series

A Murder at the End of the World, Written by Zal Batmanglij, Cherie Dimaline, Brit Marling, Melanie Marnich, Rebecca Roanhorse; FX Networks

Beef, Written by Joanna Calo, Bathsheba Doran, Jean Kyoung Frazier, Niko Gutierrez-Kovner, Lee Sung Jin, Alice Ju, Carrie Kemper, Mike Makowsky, Marie Hanhnhon Nguyen, Kevin Rosen, Alex Russell; Netflix (WINNER)

Daisy Jones & The Six, Written by Susan Coyne, Jihan Crowther, Harris Danow, Charmaine DeGraté, Will Graham, Nora Kirkpatrick, Jenny Klein, Liz Koe, Judalina Neira, Scott Neustadter, Stacy Traub, Michael H. Weber; Prime Video

Fargo, Written by Thomas Bezucha, Bob DeLaurentis, Noah Hawley, April Shih; FX Networks

Lessons in Chemistry, Written by Victoria Bata, Lee Eisenberg, Hannah Fidell, Emily Jane Fox, Susannah Grant, Rosa Handelman, Elissa Karasik, Boo Killebrew, Mfoniso Udofia; Apple TV+

TV & New Media Motion Pictures

Finestkind, Written by Brian Helgeland; Paramount +
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie, Written by Andy Breckman; Peacock
No One Will Save You, Written by Brian Duffield; Hulu
Quiz Lady, Written by Jen D’Angelo; Hulu (WINNER)
Totally Killer, Screenplay by David Matalon & Sasha Perl-Raver and Jen D’Angelo, Story by David Matalon & Sasha Perl-Raver; Prime Video

Animation

“A Mid-Childhood Night’s Dream” (The Simpsons), Written by Carolyn Omine; Fox
“Carl Carlson Rides Again” (The Simpsons), Written by Loni Steele Sosthand; Fox (WINNER)
“Homer’s Adventure Through the Windshield Glass” (The Simpsons), Written by Tim Long; Fox
“I Know What You Did Next Xmas” (Futurama), Written by Ariel Ladensohn; Hulu
“Thirst Trap: A Corporate Love Story” (The Simpsons), Written by Rob LaZebnik; Fox

Episodic Drama

“Crown Jewels” (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story), Written by Shonda Rhimes; Netflix
“Kill List” (Succession), Written by Jon Brown & Ted Cohen; HBO | Max
“The Last Generation” (Star Trek: Picard), Written by Terry Matalas; Paramount +
“Living+” (Succession), Written by Georgia Pritchett & Will Arbery; HBO | Max (WINNER)
“Our Black Shining Prince” (Godfather of Harlem), Written by Chris Brancato & Michael Panes; MGM+
“Sleep, Dearie Sleep” (The Crown), Written by Peter Morgan; Netflix

Episodic Comedy

“Escape From Shit Mountain” (Poker Face), Written by Nora Zuckerman & Lilla Zuckerman; Peacock (WINNER)
“Fishes” (The Bear), Written by Joanna Calo & Christopher Storer; FX Networks
“Forks” (The Bear), Written by Alex Russell; FX Networks
“House Made of Bongs” (Reservation Dogs), Written by Tommy Pico and Sterlin Harjo; FX Networks
“Ice” (The Great), Written by Tony McNamara; Hulu
“Pride Parade” (What We Do in the Shadows), Written by Jake Bender & Zach Dunn; FX Networks

Comedy/Variety Talk Series

The Daily Show, Head Writer Dan Amira Senior Writers Daniel Radosh, Lauren Sarver Means Writers David Angelo, Nicole Conlan, Devin Delliquanti, Anthony DeVito, Zach DiLanzo, Jennifer Flanz, Jason Gilbert, Dina Hashem, Scott Hercman, Josh Johnson, David Kibuuka, Matt Koff, Lenny Marcus, Joseph Opio, Randall Otis, Zhubin Parang, Kat Radley, Lanee’ Sanders, Scott Sherman, Ashton Womack, Sophie Zucker; Comedy Central

Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Sketches by Rory Albanese Writers Jamie Abrahams, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Bryan Cook, Blaire Erskine, Devin Field, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Eric Immerman, Jesse Joyce, Jimmy Kimmel, Greg Martin, Jesse McLaren, Molly McNearney, Keaton Patti, Danny Ricker, Troy Walker, Louis Virtel; ABC

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 (WINNER)

Late Night With Seth Meyers, Head Writer Alex Baze Writing Supervised By Seth Reiss, Mike Scollins Closer Look Writing Supervised By Sal Gentile Writers Jermaine Affonso, Karen Chee, Bryan Donaldson, Matt Goldich, Dina Gusovsky, Jenny Hagel, Allison Hord, Mike Karnell, John Lutz, Seth Meyers, Ian Morgan, Amber Ruffin, Mike Shoemaker, Ben Warheit, Jeff Wright; NBC Universal Television

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 Lapin, Caroline Lazar, Pratima Mani, Carlos Felipe Torres Medina, Opus Moreschi, Carley Moseley, Asher Perlman, Michael Pielocik, Tom Purcell, Kate Sidley, Brian Stack, John Thibodeaux, Steve Waltien; CBS Studios

The Problem With Jon Stewart, Head Writer Kris Acimovic Writers Henrik Blix, Rob Christensen, Jay Jurden, Alexa Loftus, Tocarra Mallard, Maria Randazzo, Robby Slowick, Jon Stewart, Kasaun Wilson; Apple TV+

Comedy/Variety Sketch Series

History of the World, Part II, Writers Ike Barinholtz, Emmy Blotnick, Guy Branum, Owen Burke, Adam Countee, Lance Crouther, Ana Fabrega, Fran Gillespie, Janelle James, Jennifer Kim, Nick Kroll, Sergio Serna, David Stassen, Wanda Sykes; Hulu

How To with John Wilson, Written by John Wilson, Michael Koman, Allie Viti; HBO | Max

I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson, Writers Tim Robinson, Zach Kanin, John Solomon, Gary Richardson, Reggie Henke, Brendan Jennings, Patti Harrison; Netflix (WINNER)

Saturday Night Live, Head Writers Kent Sublette, Alison Gates, Streeter Seidell Writers Rosebud Baker, Dan Bulla, Megan Callahan-Shah, Michael Che, Mike DiCenzo, Alex English, Jimmy Fowlie, Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, Steve Higgins, Vannessa Jackson, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Steve Koren, Ben Marshall, Dennis McNicholas, Lorne Michaels, Jake Nordwind, Ceara O’Sullivan, Josh Patten, Gary Richardson, Pete Schultz, KC Shornima, Ben Silva, Will Stephen, Bryan Tucker, Asha Ward, Auguste White, Celeste Yim; NBC

Comedy/Variety Specials

Adam Sandler: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Written by Jon Macks, Rita Brent, Jeff Stilson, Meggie McFadden; CNN
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love, Written by Jon Macks, Carol Leifer; NBC
Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark, Written by Marc Maron; HBO | Max
Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love, Written by Sarah Silverman; HBO | Max (WINNER)

Quiz and Audience Participation

Baking It, Writers Chad Carter, Neil Casey, Jessica McKenna, Zach Reino, Nicolle Yaron; Peacock

The Chase, Head Writer David Levinson Wilk Writers Erik Agard, Kyle Beakley, Micki Boden, Megan Broussard, Jonathan Daly, Brian Greene, Robert King, Jason Lundell, Sierra Mannie, Amy Ozols, Bobby Patton, Ellen Teitel, Ari Yolkut; NBC (WINNER)

Jeopardy!, Writers Marcus Brown, Michael Davies, John Duarte, Mark Gaberman, Debbie Griffin, Michele Loud, Robert McClenaghan, Jim Rhine, Billy Wisse; ABC

Weakest Link, Head Writer Ann Slichter Writers Chip Dornell, Ryan Hopak, Walter Kelly, Stuart Krasnow, Jon Macks, Meggie McFadden, Rylee Newton, Ryan O’Dowd, Scott Saltzburg, Doug Shaffer, Aaron Solomon, Grant Taylor, Mia Taylor; NBC

Daytime Drama

Days of Our Lives, Head Writer Ron Carlivati Creative Consultant Ryan Quan Writers Sonja Alar, Jazmen Darnell Brown, Joanna Cohen, Carolyn Culliton, Richard Culliton, Cheryl Davis, Kirk Doering, Christopher Dunn, Jamey Giddens, David Kreizman, Henry Newman, Dave Ryan, Katherine D. Schock; Peacock (WINNER)

General Hospital, Head Writers Dan O’Connor, Chris Van Etten Writers Ashley Cook, Emily Culliton, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Elizabeth Korte, Shannon Peace, Stacey Pulwer, Dave Rupel, Lisa Seidman, Scott Sickles; ABC

Children’s Episodic, Long Form and Specials

“The Ballad of the Last Men” (Sweet Tooth), Written by Jim Mickle & Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt; Netflix
“I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher” (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), Written by Rick Riordan & Jonathan E. Steinberg; Disney+
“Romance Dawn” (One Piece), Written by Matt Owens & Steven Maeda; Netflix (WINNER)
“Say Cheese and Die!” (Goosebumps), Written by Rob Letterman &…