Quinta Brunson was joined by Niecy Nash-Betts and Sandra Oh to lead the stars at the 76th Writers Guild Awards on Sunday.
The stunning A-listers descended upon the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles to honor the best writing in film, television and radio.
Quinta commanded attention in a plunging black suit, while Niecy sparkled in a magenta gown and Sandra stole the spotlight with a daring fringe dress.
Emmy-winning actress and producer Niecy hosted the event in LA, part of conjoined and concurrent ceremonies in Hollywood and New York City.
With the event being postponed after the guild engaged in a strike for over four and a half months in 2023, the gliterrati made sure to come out in full force as the gorgeous ladies were joined by the likes of Busy Philipps, Natasha Lyonne. Wanda Sykes, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Sarah Silverman.
Quinta, the creator of Abbott Elementary, exuded charm in a sleek black suit vest and matching pants, complemented by a pair of stylish stiletto heels
NIecy blew a kiss to her adoring fans on the red carpet
Quinta, the creator of Abbott Elementary, exuded charm in a sleek black suit vest and matching pants, complemented by a pair of stylish stiletto heels.
Accompanied by her wife Jessica Betts, Niecy exuded movie-star glamour in a stunning outfit adorned with two-toned colors.
Sandra, not to be outdone, stunned in an elegant two-toned frock, featuring a beautiful blend of heather grey and cream that created a captivating ombre effect.
The ceremony unfolded at the Hollywood Palladium, a departure from its previous venues of hotel ballrooms at the Beverly Hilton or Century Plaza, injecting a fresh vibe into the evening.
Another change for the event was the scheduling, as winners will be honored over a month following the Academy Awards, marking a departure from the customary pre-Oscars schedule.
Though not aired, the West Coast event of the evening, boasting over 800 attendees, is ‘still produced like a television show with a big budget, with a lot of cameras and production value,’ producer Hugh Fink told Variety.
The West Coast soiree will team up with the WGA’s East Coast dinner, led by writer-performer Josh Gondelman, to coordinate announcements seamlessly and stave off any potential spoilers, according to Fink.
Fink’s primary objective is to cultivate a lively, edgy, and free-spirited atmosphere for the WGA celebrations.
Accompanied by her wife Jessica Betts, Niecy exuded movie-star glamour in a stunning outfit adorned with two-toned colors
Niecy and Jessica were adorable as they couldn’t keep their hands off each other
Wendi McClendon-Covey rocked a form-fitting dress in a gorgeous shade of orange
Busy Philipps gave a leggy display shimmering strapless number as she swept her hair into a messy bun
Ilana Glazer was perfection in pink
Natasha Lyonne took the plunge in a daring black gown adorned with butterflies
Wanda Sykes was ravishing in red for the red carpet
‘Writers as a group are obviously a different mentality than directors or actors, and they’re super-smart but somewhat cynical and sarcastic,’ he added.
Niecy kicked off the show by addressing the WGA strike.
‘We fought for equal pay, equal say and our rights to make it to the end of a 10-episode season,’ Nash-Betts said.
Moreover, Drew Carey, renowned for his generous gesture of providing millions of dollars worth of free meals to WGA members during the strike, received a heartfelt standing ovation.
Notable presenters slated to grace the L.A. awards show include Drew Carey, Tony Hale, Nathan Fielder, Bill Burr, Randall Park, and Tig Notaro.
Additional presenters included Bill Burr (Old Dads, F is For Family), Diedrich Bader (Veep, The Drew Carey Show), Gina Yashere (Bob Hearts Abishola), Lindsay Dougherty (secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 399), Maria Sten (Big Sky, Reacher), and Randall Park (Always Be My Maybe, Fresh Off The Boat).
Air, Barbie, The Holdovers, May December, and Past Lives are contending for the original screenplay WGA trophy.
American Fiction, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Oppenheimer are competing in the adapted category.
Cord Jefferson clinched the Oscar for adapted screenplay with American Fiction.
The Oscar-winning original screenplay, Anatomy of a Fall by Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, was ineligible for similar WGA honors.
On the TV front, writers on freshman shows like The Curse, The Diplomat, The Last of Us, and Jury Duty are aiming for victory against established shows such as The Crown, Succession, Abbott Elementary, Barry, The Bear, and Only Murders in the Building.
Succession’s J. Smith-Cameron dared to impress in emerald green
Niecy Nash-Betts and Wendi McClendon-Covey had a Reno 9-1-1 reunion
Brit Marling dared to impress in a chic black wardrobe
Bridget Everett was as pretty as a petal in her stunning dress
Sarah Silverman rocked daisy dukes and sheer stockings as she was joined by Rory Albanese
Randall Park cut a classic figure in his tuxedo
Loni Steele Sosth and Jen D’Angelo held up their big wins from the glitzy award show
Comedian Julio Torres kept it casual with a unique messenger bag
In the realm of honorary awards, David A. Goodman and Chris Keyser were bestowed with the Morgan Cox Guild Service Award, while Walter Hill was slated to receive the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement.
Additionally, Linda Bloodworth Thomason was recognized with the Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, and Cord Jefferson was presented with the Paul Selvin Award.
In New York, Ron Nyswaner was honored with the Walter Bernstein Award, while the Richard B. Jablow Award was conferred upon the members and leadership of IATSE, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, SAG-AFTRA, and American Federation of Musicians, recognizing their steadfast support and sacrifice during the WGA’s 148-day strike.
Last year, Severance, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and Women Talking claimed top honors at the Writers Guild of America Awards.
