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TV finales are by their very nature emotional, which often complicates matters when it's time for a comedy to say its goodbyes. Unlike adventure programs or dramas, sitcoms don't have a built-in final act. There's no battle to win or mystery to solve. And yet, there is a sense that something special must happen in the series finale. As a result, many sitcoms choose to build their final episode around major moments of transition in the lives of their characters.

The end of a show can mean it's time for fans to part ways with characters they've known and laughed along with for years of their lives. Many sitcoms respect this by taking a break from their normally hilarious antics to imbue the plot with weight and emotion.

Doug and Carrie Consider Divorce Their Marriage Is the Show's Driving Force

Number of Seasons

9

Finale Title

China Syndrome Part 2

Airdate

May...

Exclusive: Sony Pictures Television has finalized a new licensing deal with Paramount Global for comedy series The King of Queens to continue to be available on Paramount linear cable networks. The new pact also includes for the first time streaming rights on Paramount+ for all nine seasons and on Pluto TV for some (currently Seasons 1-3).

Paramount Global would not specify which linear networks will be carrying The King Of Queens. The sitcom has been running on the company’s TV Land and CMT.

Sony TV took The King of Queens out a year ago, offering rights across all linear and digital platforms starting in April 2024. The new pact with Paramount Global kicked in at the start of the month, with the show already available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

The deal is not exclusive — The King of Queens continues to also be available on NBCU platforms, including Peacock, as well as in broadcast syndication.

More than 1,000 Jewish creatives, executives and Hollywood professionals have signed an open letter denouncing Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” Oscar speech.

The list of co-signees provided to Variety Monday morning covers a broad swath of the industry including actors, executives, creators (Amy Sherman-Palladino), directors, producers and representatives. About 500 more individuals have added their names to the nearly 500 who signed on when the open letter was first published.

The group’s statement says: “We refute our Jewishness being hijacked for the purpose of drawing a moral equivalence between a Nazi regime that sought to exterminate a race of people, and an Israeli nation that seeks to avert its own extermination.”

Glazer declined to comment.

With such high-profile co-signees as Jennifer Jason Leigh, “La La Land” producer Gary Gilbert and “The Americans” creators Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, the statement adds, “The use of words like ‘occupation’ to describe an...

Joel Fields, the showrunner of “The Americans,” blasted the Writers Guild of America on Wednesday for failing to issue a statement condemning the Hamas attack on Israel.

“The Writers Guild has failed us deeply,” Fields said. “For an organization that constantly puts out statements to make sure that it’s on the right side of history, it has sadly issued its statements through its silence.”

Fields was speaking on a panel at Variety’s Hollywood & Antisemitism Summit, presented by The Margaret & Daniel Loeb Foundation and Shine A Light.

His remarks followed up an open letter that was issued on Sunday, which argued that the WGA’s silence on the issue showed that it had “lost the plot.” Fields was among the signatories, as was Joe Weisberg, the creator of “The Americans,” along with Jerry Seinfeld, Eli Roth, Susannah Grant, Steven Levitan, Scott Frank, Amy Sherman-Palladino, Jenji Kohan and many others.

Fans are still reeling from the news that CBS comedy series Mom is coming to an end.

Over the last few days, the cast of the beloved show has been speaking out about the end date announcement.

The latest to speak out is Jaime Pressly, who has played Jill Kendall since Mom Season 2.

"I had the great fortune of being asked to join a show called @mom_cbs in its second season 7 years ago," the actress wrote on Instagram, adding that she didn't know of the series beforehand.

"But I knew with Chuck Lorre at the helm and @allisonbjanney and @annafaris ⁣as the leads it must be something special. So I jumped in head first not knowing what I was in for. Boy did I hit the jackpot. Being able to tell the stories of these beautifully flawed women supporting each other through recovery from addiction, loss, love, failures, wins,...

The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) and the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) tonight announced the winners of the 2012 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, videogame, and new media writing at simultaneous ceremonies at Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles and the B.B. King Blues Club in New York City.

Screenplay Nominees

Original Screenplay:

Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics

50/50, Written by Will Reiser; Summit Entertainment

Bridesmaids, Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig; Universal Studios

Win Win, Screenplay by Tom McCarthy; Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni; Fox Searchlight

Young Adult, Written by Diablo Cody; Paramount Pictures

Adapted Screenplay:

The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash; Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings; Fox Searchlight

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Screenplay by Steven Zaillian; Based on the novel by Stieg Larsson,...

Well you don't have to tell me twice, after Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash were awarded the USC Libraries Scripter Award on Saturday I got a feeling the Writers Guild would be going the same way, and just that has happened. Last night the WGA awarded The Descendants for Best Adapted Screenplay while also awarding Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris for Best Original Screenplay. As a result I have had to change my Oscar predictions in the Best Adapted Screenplay category as it would appear all heat was on the adaptation of Kaui Hart Hemmings's novel and not on Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian's script for Moneyball. You can see those updated predictions right here. In the Original category I have had Allen's script at the top since the beginning and I see no reason to change that now. Granted, The Artist is expected to...

The Descendants, Breaking Bad, and the other winners for the 2012 Writers Guild Awards have been announced. The 64th Annual Writers Guild Awards is “a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different Us labor unions: The Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae), representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi. The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw), representing TV and film writers in Hollywood and southern California.”

The full listing of the 2012 Writers Guild Awards winners is below.

Screen Winners

Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics

Adapted Screenplay:The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash; Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings; Fox Searchlight

Documentary Screenplay: Better This World, Written by Katie Galloway & Kelly Duane de la Vega; Loteria Films

Television Winners

Drama Series: Breaking Bad, Written by Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison,...

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has announced the winners of the WGA Awards for outstanding achievement in writing. In the Screenplay category, "Midnight in Paris," written by Woody Allen, took home the Original Screenplay award while "The Descendants," written by Alexander Payne, and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemming, received the Best Adapted Screenplay award.

Winners of the WGA awards were announced Sunday, Feb. 19 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Zooey Deschanel and Joel McHale served as hosts of the ceremony.

Here is the full list of winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 2012 WGA Awards (to see winners/nominees of other award-giving bodies, visit our Awards Avenue coverage right here)

Screenplay Nominees

Original Screenplay

50/50, Written by Will Reiser; Summit Entertainment

Bridesmaids, Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig; Universal Studios

*** (Winner) Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics

Win Win,...

Midnight in Paris and The Descendants, along with Showtime’s Homeland and ABC’s Modern Family, were among the big winners at the annual Writers Guild Awards, held Sunday at ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York City. The WGA honors achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, and news, among for other forms.

The night’s big winners were:

Original Screenplay Midnight in Paris, written by Woody Allen

Adapted Screenplay The Descendants, screenplay by by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash; Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings

Documentary Screenplay Better This World, written by Katie Galloway...

Midnight in Paris, Young Adult, and the other nominations for the 2012 Writers Guild Awards have been announced. The 64th Annual Writers Guild Awards is “a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different Us labor unions: The Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae), representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi. The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw), representing TV and film writers in Hollywood and southern California.” The 2012 Writers Guild Awards will be held on February 19, 2012.

The full listing of the 2012 Writers Guild Awards nominations is below.

Screenplay Nominees

Original Screenplay

50/50, Written by Will Reiser; Summit Entertainment

Bridesmaids, Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig; Universal Pictures

Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics

Win Win, Screenplay by Tom McCarthy; Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni; Fox Searchlight

Young Adult, Written by Diablo Cody; Paramount Pictures

Adapted Screenplay

The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne...

The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) and the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) announced nominations for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen in both film and television for 2011. Winners will be honored at the 2012 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday, February 19, 2012, during simultaneous ceremonies in Hollywood and New York.

Categories for film include Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Documentary Screenplay. The TV nominations are a little more extensive, offering awards for Best Drama Series, Best Comedy Series, Best New Series, Best Episodic Drama, Best Animated Series, Best Comedy/Variety Series, and Best Daytime Drama.

To find out what got nominated, check out our full list of nominees below.

Screenplay Nominees

Original Screenplay:

50/50, Written by Will Reiser; Summit Entertainment

Bridesmaids, Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig; Universal Studios

Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics

Win Win, Screenplay by Tom McCarthy; Story by...

HollywoodNews.com: The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) and the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, news, radio, promotional writing, and graphic animation during the 2011 season. The winners will be honored at the 2012 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday, February 19, 2012, at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.

Television Nominees

Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire, Written by Bathsheba Doran, Dave Flebotte, Howard Korder, Steve Kornacki, Itamar Moses, Margaret Nagle, Terence Winter; HBO

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

Game of Thrones, Written by David Benioff, Bryan Cogman, Jane Espenson, George R.R. Martin, D.B. Weiss; HBO

The Good Wife, Written by Courtney Kemp Agboh, Meredith Averill, Corinne Brinkerhoff, Leonard Dick, Keith Eisner, Karen Hall, Ted Humphrey, Michelle King, Robert King, Steve Lichtman, Matthew Montoya, Julia Wolfe; CBS

Homeland, Written by Henry Bromell,...

Writers behind such HBO dramas as Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones were nominated for the 2012 Writers Guild Awards, announced today. Scribes for the AMC drama Breaking Bad also received multiple nods, as did NBC’s 30 Rock and ABC’s Modern Family.

Here is a partial list of nominees. Statues will be handed out Feb. 19 in Los Angeles and New York City.

Drama series

Boardwalk Empire, written by Bathsheba Doran, Dave Flebotte, Howard Korder, Steve Kornacki, Itamar Moses, Margaret Nagle, Terence Winter

Breaking Bad, Sam Catlin, Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Gennifer Hutchison, George Mastras, Thomas Schnauz, Moira Walley-Beckett

Game of Thrones,...

Modern Family, Downton Abbey, and the other winners of the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced. The 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards “often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards (for film), Grammy Awards (for music) and Tony Awards (for stage).” The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awarded the 2010-2011 Primetime Emmys® for programs and individual achievements last night in Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. I was happy to see Peter Dinklage win for his work in Game of Thrones. He deserved it. The full listing of the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards winners is below.

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy ABC (Modern Family)

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy ABC (Modern Family...

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.

It's no surprise that Aaron Sorkin's script for The Social Network won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Writers Guild Awards last night -- that script is the favorite for pretty much any award it's up for.  The same is roughly true for David Seidler's script for The King's Speech in the original category.  But the very British The King's Speech does not meet WGA eligibility, leaving a vacuum at the top.  Christopher Nolan stepped up and won Best Original Screenplay for Inception, news that ought to please the masses. In television, Mad Men was named the Best Drama Series for the third year in a row, while Modern Family managed to end 30 Rock's three-year reign as Best Comedy Series.  Hit the jump to see the full list of winners. Screen Winners Original Screenplay Inception, Written by Christopher Nolan; Warner Bros. Adapted Screenplay The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin...

The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) and the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) tonight announced the winners of the 2011 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, videogame, and new media writing at simultaneous ceremonies at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel-Grand Ballroom in Los Angeles and the Axa Equitable Center in New York City.

Screen Winners

Original Screenplay

Inception, Written by Christopher Nolan; Warner Bros.

Black Swan, Screenplay by Mark Heyman and Andres Heinz and John J. McLaughlin; Story by Andres Heinz; Fox Searchlight

The Fighter, Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Paramount Pictures

The Kids Are All Right, Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg; Focus Features

Please Give, Written by Nicole Holofcener; Sony Pictures Classics

Adapted Screenplay

The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires...

HollywoodNews.com: The Writers Guild of America, West (Wgaw) and the Writers Guild of America, East (Wgae) tonight announced the winners of the 2011 Writers Guild Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional, videogame, and new media writing at simultaneous ceremonies at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel-Grand Ballroom in Los Angeles and the Axa Equitable Center in New York City.

Screen Winners

Original Screenplay

Inception, Written by Christopher Nolan; Warner Bros.

Adapted Screenplay

The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich; Sony Pictures

Documentary Screenplay

Inside Job, Written by Charles Ferguson; Co-written by Chad Beck, Adam Bolt; Sony Pictures Classic

Television Winners

Drama Series

Mad Men, Written by Jonathan Abrahams, Lisa Albert, Keith Huff, Jonathan Igla,Andre Jacquemetton, Maria Jacquemetton, Brett Johnson, Janet Leahy, Erin Levy,

Tracy McMillan, Dahvi Waller, Matthew Weiner; AMC

Comedy Series

Modern Family, Written by Jerry Collins,...

"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,...

Writers Guild of America has announced the writers who receive nominations at next year's awards for their work in television. The most nod that one show gets is three, and that number is claimed by "Modern Family", "30 Rock" and "Breaking Bad".

"Modern Family" and "30 Rock", which have won Emmys, will be up against each other in comedy series and have each received two nods for episodic category. Meanwhile, "Breaking Bad" takes a nod in drama field and two additional episodic nominations.

AMC's "The Walking Dead" is vying for new series prize, battling "Boardwalk Empire", "Justified", "Treme" and "Men of a Certain Age" along the way. "Empire" in particular is also nominated for drama series against older and more prominent shows like "Mad Men" and "Dexter".

The WGA Awards will hand out the prizes in a ceremony held February 5 in Los Angeles and New York. Partial list of nominations can be...

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...

Today the Writer’s Guild of America kept the spirit of awards season happy by revealing their nominations for achievements in writing for television. Plenty of our favorite shows got some love from WGA members including like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, 30 Rock and Modern Family while plenty of new series like Boardwalk Empire, Justified and The Walking Dead also got some praise. Even the finale episode of Lost is in the mix of episodic nominees. Aside from the narrative dramas and comedies, other staple series like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report get their due diligence as well. Check out the full list of nominees, complete with all the writing talents behind them, after the jump.

Drama 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,...

There are very few series that I fall in love with at first sight but Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd's superb comedy Modern Family was one of them, delivering an astute and nuanced portrait of a thoroughly modern family in America. Throughout the twenty-odd episodes that followed, I quickly fell in love with the extended Dunphy-Pritchett clan, looking forward to each Wednesday evening, when I would get a chance to curl up on the couch and spend a half an hour with my favorite television family. The first season of ABC's deliciously hilarious comedy Modern Family comes to a close tonight with a fantastic episode ("Family Portrait"), written by Ilana Wernick and directed by Jason Winer, that displays the often complex bonds of family and how one's expectations of perfection don't always match up with reality. The main storyline revolves around Claire (Julie Bowen) as she attempts to create...