Wanda Sykes to Receive the WGA East's Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence at 76th Annual Writers Guild Awards

NEW YORK, NY (March 19, 2024) - Wanda Sykes will be honored with the Writers Guild of America East's Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence at the 76th Annual Writers Guild Awards at New York's Edison Ballroom on Sunday, April 14, 2024.

The Sargent Award is awarded to a writer who embodies the spirit, commitment and comic genius of Mr. Sargent, as well as his dedication to mentoring new writers.

A Guild member since 1997, Wanda Sykes is a comedy writer who has found remarkable success by crafting humor that hits home for audiences of widely varied demographics. She is hailed by peers and audiences alike as an exceptional comedian, one of the all-time greats, who has spent many years producing and mentoring new comedic talent.

Named to Entertainment Weekly's "25 Funniest People in America," the Emmy-winning Sykes has developed her singular comedic voice through a diverse career that spans from her early days of writing on THE CHRIS ROCK SHOW to multiple eponymous Netflix standup specials - and beyond. Sykes can currently be seen in season 4 of the Netflix comedy THE UPSHAWS, which she is writing, co-showruning and starring in.

Sykes joined forces with Page Hurwitz to form Push It Productions, whose mission is to create "high quality comedy programming that promotes diversity in front of and behind the camera."

The duo joined NBC's LAST COMIC STANDING competition show as Executive Producers where, along with helping select contestants, Sykes spent one-on-one time mentoring the comics with kindness and transparency into her own experiences. Their hands-on approach turned the show into a broadcast hit showcasing new talent.

Sykes and Hurwitz have been recognized by OUT and the Point Foundation for their production of projects by and featuring LGBTQ+ creators. She is nominated for a 2024 Writers Guild Award for her work on HISTORY OF THE WORLD: PART II.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, President of the Writers Guild of America East, said, "Wanda Sykes is a master storyteller with a heart of gold. Her singular voice as a writer, performer, producer and mentor has given us decades worth of laughter and joy. Even while wearing all of these hats, Wanda has prioritized scouting and mentoring the next generation of comedy writers. She's a true champion of diversity, and also of labor - as anyone who saw her leading the picket lines in New York City last summer would attest. We're so proud to have Wanda as a Writers Guild member, and to present her with this award."

A legendary writer and television producer, Herb Sargent served as president of the WGAE for 14 years and his credits include being a writer/producer of "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" for more than 20 years. The Sargent Award has been presented to influential comedy writers Judd Apatow, Tina Fey & Robert Carlock, Steve O'Donnell, Norman Stiles, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, James L. Brooks, and Paul Simms.

The Writers Guild Awards honor outstanding writing in film, television, new media, news, radio, and promotional categories. The 2024 Writers Guild Awards (76th Annual) will be presented at concurrent ceremonies on Sunday, April 14, 2024, in New York City at the Edison Ballroom and in Los Angeles.

For media inquiries about the 2024 WGA New York show, please contact Jason Gordon in the WGAE Communications Department at (212) 767-7809 or email: [email protected].

For media inquiries about the 2024 WGA Los Angeles show, please contact Bob Hopkinson in the WGAW Communications Department at (310) 801-8563 or email: [email protected].

The Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) are labor unions representing writers in motion pictures, television, cable, digital media and broadcast news. The Guilds negotiate and administer contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of their members; conduct programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and present writers' views to various bodies of government. For more information on the Writers Guild of America East, visit www.wgaeast.org. For more information on the Writers Guild of America West, visit www.wga.org.

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