Norman Lear To Receive WGA East Honor
The Writers Guild of America East will be honoring television legend Norman Lear at its New York ceremony in February. Lear will be receiving the Evelyn F. Burkey Award. The Guild says the award goes “to celebrate the achievements of leaders – in the arts or politics – who have advanced the causes of creativity and freedom of speech.”
Norman Lear created iconic TV shows including the pioneering sitcom “All in the Family”, as well as “Maude”, “Sanford and Son”, “Good Times”, “The Jeffersons”, “One Day at a Time” and “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman”.
Michael Winship, President of the Writers Guild of America East said, “This year, by honoring Norman Lear, we choose a man who spans the worlds of both the arts and public affairs. Over his long career as a writer and producer, he has given audiences laughter that entertains and provokes. As a spokesman and advocate, he has been a forthright and resolute defender of civil liberty.”
The WGA East Award ceremony in New York City will be held simultaneously with the Guild awards show happening in Los Angeles.
At the L.A. show, the comedy series up for WGA Awards this year include, “Louie”, “Orange Is the New Black”, “Silicon Valley”, “Transparent” and “Veep”.
The comedy – variety and talk series nominees are “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (John Oliver is also listed as a nominee for the Daily Show), “Inside Amy Schumer”, “The Colbert Report”, “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, “Saturday Night Live” and “Real Time with Bill Maher”.
The Writers Guild of America Awards will be presented Saturday, February 14th.
