Movies / News / TV

Steve O’Donnell accepts the Herb Sargent Award at the 2017 Writers Guild Awards, and other winners

Steve O’Donnell remained humble as he accepted the Herb Sargent Award at the 2017 Writers Guild Awards, wondering if perhaps the WGA had confused him for another former head writer of Late Night with David Letterman, or perhaps Saturday Night Live, or even his identical twin, Mark, who co-wrote the Broadway musical Hairspray.

Steve O’Donnell’s credits have included The Simpsons, Seinfeld, The Chris Rock Show, The Dana Carvey ShowJimmy Kimmel Live and Letterman, where he served as head writer when they launched the Top Ten lists.

Here is his acceptance speech, delivered after opening remarks by Letterman himself and writer Steve Young, who saw O’Donnell as a mentor.

Patton Oswalt once again hosted the WGA Awards from Beverly Hills, while Lewis Black presided over the WGA East ceremony in New York City.

President Trump got plenty of mentions on both coasts, and an appearance by our favorite Trump impersonator and satirist, Anthony Atamaniuk.

Here are the rest of your comedy-related winners at the 2017 WGA Awards. Congrats!

COMEDY SERIES
Atlanta: Written by Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Stefani Robinson, Paul Simms; FX

NEW SERIES
Atlanta: Written by Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Stefani Robinson, Paul Simms; FX

EPISODIC COMEDY
“Kimmy Goes on a Playdate!” (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt): Written by Robert Carlock; Netflix

COMEDY / VARIETY – SKETCH SERIES
Saturday Night Live: Head Writers: Rob Klein, Bryan Tucker Writers: James Anderson, Fred Armisen, Jeremy Beiler, Chris Belair, Megan Callahan, Michael Che, Mikey Day, Jim Downey, Tina Fey, Fran Gillespie, Sudi Green, Tim Herlihy, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Zach Kanin, Chris Kelly, Erik Kenward, Paul Masella, Dave McCary, Dennis McNicholas, Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels, Josh Patten, Paula Pell, Katie Rich, Tim Robinson, Sarah Schneider, Pete Schultz, Streeter Seidell, Dave Sirus, Emily Spivey, Andrew Steele, Will Stephen, Kent Sublette; NBC

COMEDY / VARIETY (INCLUDING TALK) – SERIES
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Writers: Kevin Avery, Tim Carvell, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, John Oliver, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner; HBO

COMEDY / VARIETY – MUSIC, AWARDS, TRIBUTES – SPECIALS
Triumph’s Election Special: Written by Andy Breckman, Josh Comers, David Feldman, R J Fried, Jarrett Grode, Ben Joseph, Matthew Kirsch, Michael Koman, Mike Lawrence, Brian Reich, Craig Rowin, Robert Smigel, Zach Smilovitz, Andrew Weinberg; Hulu

ANIMATION
“Stop the Presses” (BoJack Horseman): Written by Joe Lawson; Netflix

 

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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