53rd Annual Writers Guild Awards
March 4 (NYC/Beverly Hills)

The Writers Guild of America, West and East announced the winners of the 53rd Annual Writers Guild of America Awards for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen, television and radio in gala ceremonies at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, and at the Plaza Hotel in New York.

The NY ceremony was emceed by Jane Curtin and included presenters Christine Baranski, Blythe Danner, Edie Falco, Angie Harmon, Chuck Scarborough, Lesley Stahl, and Lily Tomlin.

Meanwhile, the Beverly Hills ceremony included presenters Jennifer Beals, Stockard Channing, Tyne Daly, Charles S. Dutton, Nanette Fabray, Kelsey Grammar, Alfred Molina, Lesley Ann Warren, and Geoffrey Rush.

And the Winners Are

SCREEN

Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, Written by Kenneth Lonergan

Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

TRAFFIC, Screenplay by Stephen Gaghan, Based on the British series "Traffik" created by Simon Moore

TELEVISION

Original Long Form (tied)

FREEDOM SONG, Written by Phil Alden Robinson and Stanley Weiser

SALLY HEMINGS: AN AMERICAN SCANDAL, Part 1, Written by Tina Andrews

Adapted Long Form (tie)

RKO 281, Written by John Logan, based in part on the documentary "The Battle Over Citizen Kane" from The American Experience,

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, Written for television by Tom Rickman, based on the book by Mitch Albom

Episodic Drama

"IN EXCELSIS DEO" ("THE WEST WING"), Written by Aaron Sorkin and Rick Cleveland

Episodic Comedy

"SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMEONE BLUE" ("FRASIER"), Written by Christopher Lloyd & Joe Keenan

Comedy/Variety - Music, Awards, Tributes - Specials - Any Length

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL, Writing supervised by Tina Fey, written by Anne Beatts, Tom Davis, Tina Fey, Steve Higgins, Lorne Michaels, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Paula Pell, Paul Shaffer, T. Sean Shannon, Michael Shoemaker, and Robert Smigel

Comedy/Variety - (including Talk) Series

DENNIS MILLER LIVE, Writing supervised by Eddie Feldmann, written by Jose Arroyo, David Feldman, Jim Hanna, Leah Krinsky Atkins, Dennis Miller, Jacob Sager Weinstein, and David Weiss

Daytime Serials

ALL MY CHILDREN, Written by Agnes Nixon, Jean Passanante, Craig Carlson, Frederick Johnson, N. Gail Lawrence, Victor Miller, Juliet Law Packer, Addie Walsh, Mimi Leahey, Bettina F. Bradbury, Caroline Franz, Charlotte Gibson, David Hiltbrand, Janet Iacobuzio, Royal Miller, John Piroman, Rebecca Taylor, ABC

Children's Script (tie)

THE COLOR OF FRIENDSHIP, Written by Paris Qualles

A STORM IN SUMMER, Written by Rod Serling

Documentary Current Events

JOHN PAUL II: THE MILLENNIAL POPE (FRONTLINE), Written by Helen Whitney & Jane Barnes

Documentary - Other Than Current Events

GEORGE WALLACE: SETTIN' THE WOODS ON FIRE (THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE), Written by Steve Fayer and Daniel McCabe & Paul Stekler

News - Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report

SUNDAY MORNING HEADLINES, Written by Gail Lee, CBS

News - Analysis, Feature or Commentary

HURRICANE: EYEWITNESS TO A STORM, Written by Glenn Steinfast & Darcy Bonfils, ABC

RADIO

Radio Documentary - any length

CBS NEWS 20TH CENTURY ROUND-UP, Written by Paul Farry & Steve Kathan

News - Regularly Scheduled, Bulletin or Breaking Report (tie)

CBS NEWS ON THE HOUR, Written by Steven Gosset, CBS Radio Network

WORLD NEWS THIS WEEK, Written by Michelle Gillan Fisher, ABC News Radio

News - Analysis, Feature or Commentary

THE WEDDING DRESS, Written by Mike Silverstein, ABC News Radio

On-Air Promotion

NBC PROMOTIONS, Written by Lori Sunshine, NBC

HONORARY AWARDS

Presented by the Writers Guild of America, West

Screen Laurel Award to BETTY COMDEN & ADOLPH GREEN

Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television to DAVID LLOYD

Valentine Davies Award to PAUL HAGGIS

Morgan Cox Award to GEORGE KIRGO

Paul Selvin Award to DOUG WRIGHT for Quills

Presented by the Writers Guild of America, East

Evelyn F. Burkey Award to TOM FONTANA

Ian McLellan Hunter Award to EVAN HUNTER

Richard B. Jablow Award to RICHARD WESLEY