The Writers Guild of America echoes the Television Academy’s plans to reduce the number of writing awards presented during major Emmy telecasts.
The guild asked writers to “express their feelings” about the “regrettable” decision to remove the Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series/Special award from the main primetime awards.
In a memo to members, the WGA said the TV Academy made the decision “without justification or justifiable reason.”
It comes after the Emmys announced the category format this month. Later that day, the WGA told Deadline that the decision to reduce the number of writing categories on the main show from four to three “given the essential role writers play in the creative process of variety series and creating value for this industry. ” “Mislead”.
The move means that “Outstanding Variety Special (Live)” will once again be broadcast live, as “Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special” and “Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series” – which each alternated for a spot – both the weekend before Primetime show is honored at the Creative Arts Emmys.
One of the WGA’s arguments is that it will negatively affect late-night show writers, who were the first to return to work after the writers’ strike ended.
The shows nominated in the Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series category are The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Last Week Tonight, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert And Saturday Night Live.
Maybe the TV Academy is tired of watching John Oliver’s writing team win again after winning seven years in a row.
Nominations for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special include: Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter and Love, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, John Mulaney: Baby J, Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer And Would it kill to laugh? With Kate Berlant and John Early.
“The Guild has contacted the Academy to express our objection to this decision and we strongly support the category being broadcast in prime time on January 15, 2024,” the report said. “It doesn’t just affect the people who write for the Emmy-nominated shows in a given year; This decision devalues our profession as a whole. The Emmys are fundamentally about recognizing excellence in television, and by removing these categories from broadcast television, the Television Academy is essentially ignoring that writing serves as the foundation for excellence in television.
The full notice can be found below.
The guild hopes that the power of writers on social media, which was so valuable during the writers’ strike, can help academia change its mind. “We’re calling on you – our fellow writers – to join us in advocating for the retention of these categories in the main Emmy telecast: Tweet at @TheEmmys or tag @televisionacad on Instagram to share your feelings and encouragement her decision to maintain it. Categories on air,” it added.
The letter was signed by WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, WGAE Vice President of Film/TV/Streaming Erica Saleh, WGAE Treasurer Christopher Kyle, WGAW President Meredith Stiehm, WGAW Vice President Michele Mulroney and WGAW Treasurer Betsy Thomas Adam Ruin’s Everything’s Adam Conover, a comedy-variety writer and WGAW board member and member of the WGAE Comedy-Variety Council.
The latter includes Kaitlin Fontana (black and white), Desus & Mero And Last week tonight Writers Josh Gondelman, Liz Hynes (last week tonight)Greg Iwinski (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert), The Daily programs Zhubin Parang and Sasha Stewart (The Night Show with Larry Wilmore).
The Emmys air January 15 on Fox.
Here is the WKV’s letter to members:
Dear members,
The Television Academy made the unfortunate decision not to present the Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series/Special Award during the primetime broadcast of the Emmy Awards. They did this without any justification or justifiable reason.
The Guild has contacted the Academy to convey our objection to this decision and we are strongly advocating that the category remain on prime time television on January 15, 2024.
It doesn’t just affect the people who write for the Emmy-nominated shows in a given year; This decision devalues our profession as a whole. The Emmys are fundamentally about recognizing excellence in television, and by removing these categories from broadcast television, the Television Academy is essentially ignoring that writing serves as the foundation for excellence in television.
We all know how many writers it takes to create these incredible shows, and that’s exactly what it’s all about: the shows we write for are seen, loved, shared – and yes, even nominated for awards – because of our writing.
And if the Television Academy can make this decision without justification, we fear it could set a precedent for the elimination of other writing categories in the years to come.
We haven’t stopped fighting for months for the recognition we deserve for the work we help create, only to be sidelined when it’s time to do so.
The WGAE and WGAW are strongly committed to maintaining these categories in the best television programs, and we will continue to pressure the Television Academy to change its mind.
We’re calling on you – our fellow writers – to join us in advocating to keep these categories on the main Emmys telecast: Tweet @TheEmmys or tag @televisionacad on Instagram to express your feelings about their decision and them encourage maintaining these categories. in the air.
Thank you for your support. We will stay tuned for further updates.
Source: Deadline
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
