News

Kathy McGee will be the recipient of the WGA East’s Richard B. Jablow Award for Devoted Service to the Guild at the 77th annual Writers Guild Awards ceremony in March.

McGee, a member of the WGA East since 1997, is an award-winning news writer and producer for Wcbs-tv. She has served as the shop leader at Wcbs-tv since 2006 and is a member of the bargaining committee for CBS contracts.

She is currently as a member of the guild’s Committee for Inclusion and Equity. Additionally, Wgae Activities Committee, the Wgae Black Writers Salon and is a longtime member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Previously, McGee was the WGA East’s vice president from 2019 to 2021 and the vice president of the broadcast/cable/streaming news sector between 2022 and 2024. She also served as a Council member from 2014 to 2019.

“I am filled with gratitude and joy and thank the committee for this honor.

The Writers Guild of America strike formed a picket line Tuesday at “The View” production in New York, punctuating the grassroots effort to protest projects that are still in production despite the strike.

The Wgae Career Longevity Salon, a group of writers over the age of 50 within the Wgae have shown a presence as well, especially through co-leader Courtney Simon, who spoke on camera in a video posted to Twitter.

“We’re here today picketing ‘The View,’ an ABC show that is still continuing to be written even though we are on strike,” Simon said in video you can watch below. “We are gonna make noise along with everyone else. It’s a righteous cause.”

Starting week 5 of the #WGAstrike with Wgae Career longevity salon co-chair Courtney Simon out picketing The View, and highlighting the importance of supporting each other during our fight for a fair contract #WGAstrong pic.twitter.

Penelope Koechl will be this year’s recipient of the WGA East’s Richard B. Jablow Award for Devoted Service to the Guild. The honorary award will be presented at the 75th annual Writers Guild Awards ceremony at New York’s Edison Ballroom on March 5.

Related Story WGA Awards TV Nominations: ‘Abbott Elementary,’ ‘Better Call Saul,’ ‘The Crown,’ ‘Severance’, ’Yellowjackets’ Among Shows Vying For Top Prizes Related Story WGA East & HuffPost Reach Deal On New Contract, Avert Threatened Strike Related Story 'Living Single' Creator Yvette Lee Bowser Set For WGA West's Top TV Honor

Koechl, who served five terms on the guild’s Council, is currently a member of the Trustee Review and Appointment Committee and chairperson of the Election Committee. After joining the guild in 1986, she served as a member of the 1988 Strike Committee, the 2001 Negotiating Committee and an alternate on the 2007 Negotiating Committee. A longtime writer for the...

Beau Willimon, running unopposed, has been re-elected president of the WGA East. His slate of running mates, all of whom support the guild’s five-month-long battle with the talent agencies, also were elected. They include The Deuce co-creator David Simon, an outspoken critic of the agencies’ business practices, who was re-elected to one of six open freelance seats on the guild’s Council.

The election sweep is further evidence that WGA members remain solidly behind their leaders’ efforts to reshape the agenting business by banning packaging fees and agency affiliations with corporately related production entities. The guild, as is its practice, did not release any vote totals, other than to say that 21.32% of its 5,919 eligible members voted.

Their victory comes just three days after WGA West president David A. Goodman and his running mates, who also support the agency campaign, swept their election. Goodman called his slate’s lopsided victory...

Beau Willimon, the playwright and showrunner who launched Netflix’s “House of Cards,” has been re-elected without opposition to a two-year term as president of the Writers Guild of America East.

Willimon also ran unopposed in 2017 to succeed Michael Winship. Kathy McGee was elected to the vice president slot over Phil Pilato. Secretary-treasurer Bob Schneider ran unopposed and was re-elected.

Incumbents Bonnie Datt, Courtney Simon, David Simon and Amy Sohn were re-elected as freelance members of the WGA East council along with Josh Gondelman and Dru Johnston. Incumbents Kim Kelly, Hamilton Nolan and Pilato were re-elected as staff members on the council.

All of the winning WGA East candidates were endorsed by Willimon’s Unity slate, which supported the guild strategy in the agency fight. About 21% of eligible voters cast ballots.

The announcement comes with the WGA locked in a heated standoff with Hollywood agents over the issues of how agents represent WGA members.

Beau Willimon will run unopposed for reelection as president of the WGA East. It’s the second time the House of Cards creator has run unopposed for president – the first time was when he was first elected in 2017. Only this time, he’ll be running unopposed in the middle of the WGA East and West’s contentious battle with Hollywood’s talent agencies. Voting online and by mail will begin on August 28.

Bob Schneider, the WGA East’s incumbent secretary-treasurer, will also be running unopposed, although Kathy McGee and Phil Pilato will be vying to become the guild’s next vice president. Jeremy Pikser, the guild’s current vp, is not seeking reelection.

Sixteen candidates are vying for six open freelance seats on the guild’s Council. Incumbents seeking reelection include Bonnie Datt, Tracey Scott Wilson, Courtney Simon, Amy Sohn, and David Simon, who is a named plaintiff in the...

1976: Days of our Lives' Marlena met Don Craig.

1982: General Hospital's Luke asked a favor from a prince.

1986: Santa Barbara's Santana did a striptease.

1999: Another World's Cass and Felicia were trapped."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1965: On Another World, Jim (Shepperd Strudwick) walked Pat (Susan Trustman) down the aisle for her wedding to John (Michael M. Ryan).

1968: On Dark Shadows, Victoria (Alexandra...

“House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon was elected president of the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) on Tuesday as a result of its 2017 Council election. Vice President Jeremy Pikser and Secretary-Treasurer Bob Schneider both won reelection. Incumbents Bonnie Datt, Susan Kim and Courtney Simon, along with new members David Simon, Amy Sohn and Tracey Scott Wilson, were elected to the Freelance Council. Also Read: Writers Guild of America West Blasts Trump Charlottesville Comments: 'Disgraces Our Nation' Incumbent Andrea Ciannavei, runner-up to the six open Freelance Council seats, was elected to a one-year term on the Council to fill the...

The Illinois father allegedly killed when he was dragged by a car after an alleged robbery attempt was a kind family man, his friends tell People.

“He was such a kind and gentle soul,” Tina Rompala says of longtime friend, 43-year-old Trinidad ‘Javier’ Bueno-Sanchez, a father of seven. “He was big on family dinners, family vacations, spending time with the family. Just a very loving man.”

On Monday, Bueno-Sanchez died of head trauma he suffered from an April 24 incident, when he was dragged by a car being driven by a group of teens to whom he was trying to sell his iPhone 6.

Courtney Sherman,...

Three teenage girls have been charged with reckless homicide and robbery in last week’s death of a Chicago father who was attempting to sell them an iPhone 6.

Courtney Sherman, 18, and two 17-year-old girls were arrested and charge in connection with the death of 43-year-old Trinidad ‘Javier’ Bueno-Sanchez.

“He was such a good person,” Bueno-Sanchez’s daughter, Lily Olmos, told ABC7 Chicago. “He didn’t deserve any of this.”

Police said Bueno-Sanchez met the suspects, along with three other teen girls, on April 24 after agreeing to sell his phone to them. But the suspects allegedly tried to give the man...

Three teenage girls have been charged by police after allegedly dragging a North Chicago man with their car after he met a group of girls to sell them an iPhone 6.

Trinidad Bueno-Sanchez, 43, died of head trauma he suffered in the April 24 incident, according to a press release by the Round Lake Beach Police Department on Monday.

Courtney Sherman, 18, and two 17-year-old girls have been charged with reckless homicide and robbery. It is unclear if the girls have entered a plea.

Police said Bueno-Sanchez met the suspects, as well as two 16-year-old girls, after posting his phone for sale on an app called OfferUp.

New York – The Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) announced today the 2013 nominees (order determined by lot) for its Council election. The term is for two years from 2013-2015. There are nine (9) open Council seats (six Freelance seats and three Staff seats) in this election. The twelve (12) candidates for the six (6) open Freelance seats are: Zhubin Parang, Bonnie Datt (i), David Atkins, Henry Bean (i), Bernardo Ruiz (i), Susan Kim (i), Robert Levi, Michael Lannan, Amy Sohn, Courtney Simon (i), Norman Steinberg and George Strayton. The five (5) candidates for the three (3) open Staff seats are: Duane Tollison (i), Jeff Christman, Phil Pilato (i), Matt Nelko and Sue Brown McCann (i). Guild President Michael Winship and Secretary-Treasurer Bob Schneider are running for reelection unopposed. Vice President Jeremy Pikser is running for re-election and faces Jeff Christman. The Wgae annual membership meeting and election is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, 2013. Related: Wgaw Unveils...

The Writers Guild of America, East has elected Jeremy Pikser its vice president, the union announced Friday. Members reelected Michael Winship, who was running unopposed for president, and elected Bob Schneider, who was unopposed for secretary treaurer. Schneider had been vice president. This election marked the first time members could vote online. As a result, the Guild says, one in 10 eligible members cast ballots. No ballots were invalidated. Guild members also elected Henry Bean, Bonnie Datt, Elliot Kaplan, Susan Kinn, Bernardo Ruiz and Courtney Simon as freelance members on the Council. Three incumbents, Sue...

The Writers Guild East has announced the results of its 2011 elections, notable not so much for the lack of competition (the main incumbents ran unopposed) but for being the first to institute online voting, which the guild said resulted in higher participation and no invalidated ballots. Wgae president Michael Winship ran unopposed and was re-elected; Jeremy Pikser was elected VP and replaces Bob Schneider, who was elected Secretary Treasurer succeeding Gail Lee. Henry Bean, Bonnie Datt, Elliot Kalan, Susan Kim, Bernardo Ruiz, and Courtney Simon were voted in as freelance members to the Wgae Council, while Sue Brown McCann, Phil Pilato, and Duane Tollison were elected to staff seats. The terms run through September 2013.

On this date in...

1966: On The Guiding Light, Bill laments his failure with Ed.

1975: Search For Tomorrow co-stars Peter Simon (Scott) and Courtney Sherman (Kathy) married in real life. Simon would eventually go on to a long run at Guiding Light while Sherman wrote (and sometimes appeared on) As The World Turns.

Celebrating a birthday today are:

Eileen Davidson (Ashley, The Young And The Restless/The Bold And The Beautiful; ex-Kristen, Days Of Our Lives; ex-Kelly, Santa Barbara) - 52

Kristoff St. John (Neil, The Young And The Restless; ex-Adam, Generations) - 45

Greg Vaughan (ex-Lucky, General Hospital; ex-Diego, The Young And The Restless; ex-Cliff, Beverly Hills, 90210) - 38

Jordi Vilasuso (Griffin, All My Children; ex-Tony, Guiding Light; ex-Eddie, Fashion House) - 30

Ryan Marsini (ex-River, One Life To Live) - 19...

La Writer Perplexed by Homophobic Censorship of His Facebook Page

Over the weekend, Facebook deemed the photo below “abusive material” and removed it from the profile of Los Angeles-based author Richard Metzger.

The pic above is from a 2008 episode of the British soap opera Eastenders. An image of two fully clothed, adult men sharing a closed-mouth kiss that has been deemed appropriate for the whole of England, but is apparently too racy for Facebook.

The photo had been posted to Metzger’s profile by Brit blogger Niall O’Conghaile, who received a written warning from Facebook for sharing the pic. Both men write for DangerousMinds.net, and have been using the popular site to protest what they see as blatant homophobia.

TV's changing landscape is washing soaps away

A gradual loss of fans led to less advertising revenue — which didn’t impact soaps right away. But when the soaps became...

As soon as we thought we could predict the outcome of the Oscars, here comes another surprise! This one's brought to you by the Writers Guild of America. Picked for Best Original Screenplay was Christopher Nolan's "Inception." The director, famously dissed for not getting a Best Director Oscar nomination, may just win the Best Original Screenplay come Oscar night. Oscar front-runner, "The King's Speech" was not nominated because it didn't quality under union rules which prompted Nolan to say during his WGA acceptance award that he looked forward to a time when he could accept the award "without qualification."

That could be the beginning of a great script Mr. Nolan, go write it :happy

For adapted screenplay, I'm happy to report that Aaron Sorkin's fantastic script won! Based on "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich, "The Social Network" was the only film last year that I predicted to win this very category.

"I Love You Phillip Morris" came out of nowhere and secured a nod for the 2011 Writers Guild Awards. Based on the book by Steven McVicker, the film starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGRegor as prisoners in love received a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination.

"Phillip Morris" will be competing with awards-favorites "127 Hours" (screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy), "The Social Network" (screenplay Aaron Sorkin), "The Town" (screenplay by Peter Craig and Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard), and True Grit (screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen).

In the Original Screenplay category, critics-darlings "Black Swan" (screenplay by Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin), "The Fighter" (screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson), "Inception" (Christopher Nolan), and "The Kids Are All Right" (written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg) will be competing with "Please Give" by Nicole Holofcener. Much like "I Love You Phillip Morris," "Please Give," a family dramedy set in New York,...

HollywoodNews.com: The Writers Guild of America, West and the Writers Guild of America, East have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, news, radio, promotional writing, and graphic animation during the 2010 season to be honored at the 2011 Writers Guild Awards on February 5, 2011, in Los Angeles and New York.

Television Nominees

Dramatic Series

Boardwalk Empire, Written by Meg Jackson, Lawrence Konner, Howard Korder, Steve Kornacki, Margaret Nagle, Tim Van Patten, Paul Simms, Terence Winter; HBO

Breaking Bad, Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, George Mastras, Tom Schnauz, John Shiban, Moira Walley-Beckett; AMC

Dexter, Written by Scott Buck, Manny Coto, Charles H. Eglee, Lauren Gussis, Chip Johannessen, Jim Leonard, Clyde Phillips, Scott Reynolds, Melissa Rosenberg, Tim Schlattmann, Wendy West; Showtime

Friday Night Lights, Written by Bridget Carpenter, Kerry Ehrin, Ron Fitzgerald, Etan Frankel, Monica Henderson, David Hudgins, Rolin Jones, Jason Katims, Patrick Massett, Derek Santos Olson, John Zinman; NBC

Mad Men,...

The Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, news, radio, promotional writing, and graphic animation during the 2010 season to be honored at the 2011 Writers Guild Awards on February 5, 2011, in New York and Los Angeles.

Here are the television nominees in soap-related categories:

Daytime Serial

* As The World Turns, Written by Susan Dansby, Lucky Gold, Janet Iacobuzio, Penelope Koechl, David Kreizman, Leah Laiman, David A. Levinson, Leslie Nipkow, Jean Passanante, Gordon Rayfield, David Smilow; CBS

* General Hospital, Written by Meg Bennett, Nathan Fissell, David Goldschmid, Robert Guza, Jr., Karen Harris, Elizabeth Korte, Mary Sue Price, David F. Ryan, Tracey Thomson, Michele Val Jean, Susan Wald; ABC

* One Life To Live, Written by Shelly Altman, Ron Carlivati, Anna Theresa Cascio, Aida Croal, Carolyn Culliton, Frederick Johnson, Elizabeth Page, Gordon Rayfield, Melissa Salmons, Katherine Schock, Scott Sickles, Courtney Simon, Chris...

The 2010 Writers Guild of America Awards Winners The Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) and the Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) tonight announced the winners of the 2010 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, and videogame writing at simultaneous ceremonies at the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City and the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Susie Essman of Curb Your Enthusiasm hosted the East Coast show, which was executive produced by Craig Shemin, who was also the head writer. Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) hosted the West Coast show, which was executive produced by Spike Jones, Jr.

The Writers Guild of America, East presented special honors to: Alan Zweibel - Ian McLellan Hunter Lifetime Achievement Award; Gary David Goldberg - Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence; Edward Albee - Evelyn F. Burkey Award for contributions...

As hard as it may be to believe sometimes, someone (or someones) actually sits down and writes a movie or TV show before you end up seeing it at your local multiplex or on your favorite TV network. The people who do the sitting and the writing are, surprisingly, called writers and, like the Directors, the Golden Globes and the Oscars, they have their own awards show.

This week, the Writers Guild of America, which is the trade group and advocate for writers, announced its nominations for outstanding achievement in feature film and television, radio, news, promotional writing, and graphic animation during the 2009 season to be honored at the upcoming 2010 Writers Guild Awards on February 20, 2010, in Los Angeles and New York.

We realize that these nominations may not be as glamorous as the Golden Globes or the Oscars, but we kinda like writers around here and think they do a pretty important job.

It’s mid-December and that can only mean one thing: awards season. Today, the WGA announced their TV nominations (feature nominations will be announced Jan. 11th) and it’s the usual suspects for the most part with a couple of surprises. Mad Men, 30 Rock, The Office, and newcomer Modern Family earned 3 nominations each. Meanwhile, popular fan favorite Glee received two. There are a lot of categories and nominees so I’m just going to mention the two big awards before the jump.

The nominees for Best Drama Series are: Breaking Bad, Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Lost, and Mad Men. The nominees for Best Comedy Series are: 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Glee, Modern Family, and The Office.

The WGA will announce the winners on Feb. 20th. Hit the jump to see the full list of nominees.

Drama Series

“Breaking Bad” - Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, George Mastras,...

Awards heavyweights "Mad Men," "30 Rock" and "The Office" and buzzed-about newcomer "Modern Family" led the TV field for the 2010 Writers Guild Awards with three nominations each.

AMC's "Mad Men" and NBC's "30 Rock" and "The Office" are in the running for best drama/comedy series, and each received two nominations for episodic writing. "Family" made the cut for best comedy series, best new series and best episodic writing for a comedy series.

ABC's "Family" was one of two new shows to break into the best series categories along with Fox's quirky high-school dramedy "Glee," which faces "Family" in the best comedy series and best new series fields.

While the WGA Awards are still in its nomination phase, Fox's "The Simpsons" can already uncork the champagne. The veteran series is assured to win the animation category after landing all five nomination slots.

The biggest surprise among the series nominees was HBO's low-key baseball comedy "Eastbound & Down,...

Michael Winship has been re-elected to a second term as president of the WGA East.

Bob Schneider was re-elected to a second term as vp, and Gail Lee was re-elected to her seventh term as secretary-treasurer. Winship and Lee ran unopposed.

The officers' terms run through September 2011.

"Once again, I am honored to have been chosen by the members of the Writers Guild East to serve as their president," Winship said in a statement. "Many of the issues and problems we have addressed over the past two years continue, but within them are opportunities to continue growing our union and to further the interests of Guild East members and writers everywhere."

There were 427 valid ballots cast. New vp Schneider received 230 votes (53.9%), while opposing candidate Tom Phillips received 118 votes (27.6%) and Ambrose J. Raftery received 39 votes (9.1%).

The election also filled nine council seats. Re-elected as freelance...

"Milk" emerged with an original screenplay honor at the 2009 WGA awards!

Dustin Lance Black, the film's scriptwriter said:

.I want to thank God for making my dreams come true, and I want to thank God for giving us Harvey Milk.

.Milk. beat the screenplays for "Burn After Reading," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," "The Visitor" and "The Wrestler."

Black was also honored by the WGA with the Paul Selvin award for his work on civil rights. According to Variety, Black revealed:

.We need to dream bigger than Proposition 8...I.m a child of Harvey Milk, and I.m a child of the movies. Those two things can inspire a guy to dream big..

I love that, "a child of the movies." Yay!

Meanwhile, "Slumdog Millionaire" continues to dominate awards circuit. Scriptwriter Simon Beaufoy won for best adapted screenplay. "Slumdog" is based on a Vikas Swarup novel.

Oscar prognosticators take note!

It's award time yet again. Now, the 2009 WGA winners have been announced! Took place at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City. Film-wise, "Milk" won the best original screenplay, "Slumdog Millionaire" once again impressed with Simon Beaufoy winning in the adapted screenplay category. "30 Rock" won again in TV and "Black Radio Month" written by Anthony J. McHugh, won the award in Radio for documentary. As listed, here are the winners of the 2009 Writers Guild Awards: Screen Winners Original Screenplay Milk, Written by Dustin Lance Black, Focus Features Adapted Screenplay Slumdog Millionaire, Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, Based on the Novel Q & A by Vikas Swarup, Fox Searchlight Pictures Documentary Screenplay Waltz with Bashir, Written by Ari Folman, Sony Pictures Classic Television Winners Dramatic Series Mad Men, Written by Lisa Albert, Jane Anderson, Rick Cleveland, Kater Gordon,...

Slumdog Millionaire continued its winning streak this awards season, with Simon Beaufoy winning the 2009 Writers Guild of America award this evening for adapted screenplay. Dustin Lance Black won the award for best original screenplay for Milk. Slumdog has already won DGA, SAG, PGA and Golden Globe awards, and is a multi-award favorite for the Oscars. Milk has won SAG and PGA awards and is also a strong Oscar contender in multiple categories.

On the television side, awards went to the writers of Mad Men (drama), 30 Rock (comedy), Recount and John Adams in long-form categories, and In Treatment, Breaking Bad, and The Simpsons in various other fields. Controversially, among other awards was one for videogame writing (to Star Wars: The Force Unleashed). Some publishers declined to submit their titles for consideration, viewing the award as primarily an organizing tool for a guild seeking to gain a foothold in a non-unionized sector.

Fox Searchlight's Indian drama "Slumdog Millionaire" put another notch in the kudos-season win column Saturday, copping a WGA Award for best adapted screenplay for Simon Beaufoy.

Focus Features' Harvey Milk biopic "Milk," penned by Dustin Lance Black, won best original screenplay.

"This wasn't the easiest movie to produce, you know -- it's pretty gay!" said a grinning Black, who also was honored with the guild's Paul Selvin Award for championing constitutional rights and civil liberties.

Black added that he prayed a lot during the writing of the "Milk" screenplay.

"Mostly, I'll admit, I prayed for a green light," he said. "So I have to thank God, and I want to thank God for making my dreams come true."

In addition to "Milk," nominees in the original screenplay category included "Burn After Reading, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," The Visitor" and "The Wrestler."

In winning the best-adapted laurels, "Slumdog" overcame competition from...

"The Dark Knight," "Slumdog Millionaire," "Doubt," "Frost/Nixon," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" are among the nominees in the Adapted Screenplay category for the WGA's (Writers Guild Awards) 61st Anniversary awards show.

Winners will be announced February 7th, and will be held simultaneously between two ceremonies -- West Coast at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, and the East Coast at the Hudson Theatre at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.

What about "Milk" or "The Wrestler?" Click Read More to see full list of nominees!

Original Screenplay

Burn After Reading, Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Focus Features

Milk, Written by Dustin Lance Black, Focus Features

Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Written by Woody Allen, The Weinstein Company

The Visitor, Written by Tom McCarthy, Overture Films

The Wrestler, Written by Robert Siegel, Fox Searchlight Pictures

Adapted Screenplay

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Screenplay...