'Don't Look Up', 'Coda' Win Top Honours at Writers Guild Awards

Don't Look Up' and 'Coda' added momentum to their hopes for Oscar gold by nabbing the top film honours at the 74th annual Writers Guild Awards. Sunday's wins for the Apple TV Plus and Netflix titles come as film award season heads into its final seven-day countdown leading into the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, reports 'Variety'.

The Writers Guild of America West and East joined forces this year to present Sunday's kudos in a virtual format, hosted by actor-writer Ashley Nicole Black, out of Covid-related precaution.

The leaders of both guilds, WGA West president Meredith Stiehm and WGA East president Michael Winship made a brief side-by-side video appearance to assure members that the Writers Guild Awards will be back in person next year.

"Enjoy your sweat pants and slippers now. Next year you'll be back in heels and ties and Spanx again," said Stiehm.

On the TV side, the HBO/HBO Max platform stood tall. 'Succession' scooped up more hardware, taking the trophies for drama series and episodic drama, the latter snared by the memorable shareholders meeting romp 'Retired Janitors of Idaho'.

'Hacks' continued its freshman-year streak with wins for comedy series and new series. Episodic comedy honours went to Hulu's offbeat period vehicle 'The Great', for creator/showrunner Tony McNamara's 'Alone At Last' episode.

'Coda' screenwriter Sian Heder made a point to thank "people from the deaf community" who gave her "a really incredible education" to understand the culture depicted in the film. She also thanked her ASL consultants Anne Tomasetti and Alexandria Wailes.

McKay singled out journalist David Sirota, who helped spark with the idea of the climate change-themed comedy/thriller with an all-star cast. "If this is airing, this is real, legitimate excitement," McKay quipped in his acceptance remarks, also winking at the pre-taped format forced by the event's virtual presentation.

'Succession' made history on Sunday, finishing its 2022 sweep of the major guild awards with two big WGA wins. The show has already collected the SAG Award for drama ensemble, the DGA Award for drama series (for director Mark Mylod) and the PGA honor as well. That gives the white-hot HBO ensembler quite a bit of momentum heading to Emmy season, where it faces off with a tough crop of competitors, including 'Squid Game'.

"After a couple of tough years working through Covid, it's particularly welcome," 'Succession' showrunner Jesse Armstrong said in his pre-taped remarks. Armstrong tantalised fans of the twisty drama about a media mogul and his adult children by standing in front of a bulletin board with index cards arranged as if to suggest a story outline. "Anodyne intro" read the first card. (IANS)

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