The Writers Guild of America continues to express dismay at the exclusion of some writing categories from the 75th Emmy Awards.
On Tuesday, the guild sent a petition signed by more than 1,400 members calling on the Television Academy to move the categories of Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series/Special to the Emmy Awards’ primetime telecast set again.
The petition was accompanied by a letter signed by several comedians eligible for these categories, including Michael Che, Stephen Colbert, Adam Conover, Jimmy Fallon, Sam Jay, Bomani Jones, Colin Jost, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Trevor Noah and John Oliver, Amber Ruffin, Jon Stewart and Robin Thede.
In a joint statement, the comedy group wrote: “As hosts of series eligible for the Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series/Special, we are deeply disappointed by the Television Academy’s decision to deny this award to suspend “The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards on January 15, 2024. Our shows could not exist without the incredible work of our writers – as evidenced by the writers’ strike that shut down late-night television for 148 days.”
WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen and WGAW President Meredith Stiehm also offered to meet with TV Academy President Cris Abrego to discuss reinstating the category.
In November, the TV Academy announced that there would be only three writing categories instead of the usual four at the primetime ceremony during the main broadcast. 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 alternated for a slot – both air the weekend before the prime time show to be honored at the Creative Arts Emmys.
The WGA previously told Deadline that the decision to reduce the number of writing categories on the main show from four to three was “misleading given the essential role writers play in the creative process of variety series and drive the value of this industry.” .
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.
Shows competing 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.
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.
