The 50th

Writers Guild of America Award The Writers Guild of America Awards is an award for film, television, and radio writing including both fiction and non-fiction categories given by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America West since 1949. Eligibility Th ...

s, given on 21 February 1998, honored the best writers in film and television of 1997.

Film

Best Adapted Screenplay

L.A. Confidential ''L.A. Confidential'' (1990) is a neo-noir novel by James Ellroy and the third of his L.A. Quartet series. It is dedicated to Mary Doherty Ellroy. The epigraph is "A glory that costs everything and means nothing"— Steve Erickson. Plot The s ...

'' –

Curtis Hanson Curtis Lee Hanson (March 24, 1945 – September 20, 2016) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His directing work included the psychological thriller ''The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (film), The Hand That Rocks the Cradle' ...

and

Brian Helgeland Brian Thomas Helgeland (born January 17, 1961) is an American screenwriter, film producer and director. He is most known for writing the screenplays for the films ''L.A. Confidential'' and ''Mystic River''. He also wrote and directed the films ...

*''

Donnie Brasco Joseph Dominick Pistone (born September 17, 1939), is an American former FBI agent who worked undercover as Donnie Brasco between September 1976 and July 1981, as part of an infiltration primarily into the Bonanno crime family, and to a lesser ...

'' –

Paul Attanasio Paul Albert Attanasio (born November 14, 1959) is an American screenwriter and film and television producer. He has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, for ''Quiz Show (film), Quiz Show'' (1994) and ''Donnie ...

*''

The Ice Storm ''The Ice Storm'' is a 1994 American novel by Rick Moody. The novel was widely acclaimed by readers and critics alike, described as a funny, acerbic, and moving hymn to a dazed and confused era of American life.James Schamus James Allan Schamus (born September 7, 1959) is an American screenwriter, producer, business executive, film historian, professor, and director. He is a frequent collaborator of Ang Lee, the co-founder of the production company Good Machine, and ...

*''

Wag the Dog ''Wag the Dog'' is a 1997 American political satire black comedy film produced and directed by Barry Levinson and starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. The film centers on a spin doctor and a Hollywood producer who fabricate a war in Alb ...

'' –

Hilary Henkin Hilary Henkin (born November 19, 1952) is an American screenwriter and producer, nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for her work on the screenplay of ''Wag the Dog'' in 1997. Biography Henkin was born in New Orleans, ...

and

David Mamet David Alan Mamet (; born November 30, 1947) is an American playwright, filmmaker, and author. He won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony Award, Tony nominations for his plays ''Glengarry Glen Ross'' (1984) and ''Speed-the-Plow'' (1988). He first ...

*''

The Wings of the Dove ''The Wings of the Dove'' is a 1902 novel by Henry James. It tells the story of Milly Theale, an American heiress stricken with a serious disease, and her effect on the people around her. Some of these people befriend Milly with honourable ...

'' –

Hossein Amini Hossein Amini ( fa, حسین امینی; born 18 January 1966) is an Iranian-born British screenwriter and film director. Amini has worked as a screenwriter since the early 1990s. He was nominated for numerous awards for the 1997 film '' The Win ...

Best Original Screenplay

As Good as It Gets ''As Good as It Gets'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by James L. Brooks, who co-wrote it with Mark Andrus. The film stars Jack Nicholson as a misanthropic, bigoted, and obsessive–compulsive novelist, Helen Hunt ...

'' –

Mark Andrus Mark Andrus, born December 13, 1955 in Los Angeles, is an American screenwriter. After receiving a Master of Business Administration from UC Riverside, Andrus decided to take a creative writing class while waiting to hear from the law schools t ...

and

James L. Brooks James Lawrence Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is an American director, producer, screenwriter and co-founder of Gracie Films. His television and film work includes ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'', ''Taxi'', ''The Simpsons'', '' Broadcast News'', ''As G ...

*''

Boogie Nights ''Boogie Nights'' is a 1997 American period comedy-drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It is set in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley and focuses on a young nightclub dishwasher who becomes a popular star of pornographic fil ...

'' –

Paul Thomas Anderson Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26, 1970), also known by his initials PTA, is an American filmmaker. He made his feature-film debut with ''Hard Eight (film), Hard Eight'' (1996). He found critical and commercial success with ''Boogie Nights'' ( ...

*''

The Full Monty ''The Full Monty'' is a 1997 British comedy film directed by Peter Cattaneo, starring Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, William Snape, Steve Huison, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Barber and Hugo Speer. The screenplay was written by Simon Beaufoy. The film is s ...

'' –

Simon Beaufoy Simon Beaufoy (; born 26 December 1966) is a British screenwriter. Born in Keighley, West Riding of Yorkshire, he was educated at Malsis School in Cross Hills, Ermysted's Grammar School and Sedbergh School, he read English at St Peter's College ...

*''

Good Will Hunting ''Good Will Hunting'' is a 1997 American psychological drama film directed by Gus Van Sant, and written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. It stars Robin Williams, Damon, Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård and Minnie Driver. The film received positive r ...

'' –

Matt Damon Matthew Paige Damon (; born October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. Ranked among ''Forbes'' most bankable stars, the films in which he has appeared have collectively earned over $3.88 billion at the North Americ ...

and

Ben Affleck Benjamin Géza Affleck (born August 15, 1972) is an American actor and filmmaker. His accolades include two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and a Volpi Cup. Affleck began his career as a child when he starred in the PBS educationa ...

*''

Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, United ...

'' –

James Cameron James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is a Canadian filmmaker. A major figure in the post-New Hollywood era, he is considered one of the industry's most innovative filmmakers, regularly pushing the boundaries of cinematic capability w ...

Television

Best Episodic Drama

"Entrapment" - ''

Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment, launching the '' Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire run on NBC, premiering on ...

'' - Rene Balcer and Richard Sweren *"Whose Appy Now?" - '' ER'' - Neal Baer *"Deadbeat" - ''

'' - Ed Zuckerman and I. C. Rapoport

Best Episodic Comedy

The Fatigues ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

" - ''

Seinfeld ''Seinfeld'' ( ) is an American television sitcom created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. It aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, over nine seasons and List of Seinfeld episodes, 180 episodes. It stars Seinfeld as Jerry Seinfeld ( ...

'' - Gregg Kavet and Andy Robin *"

The Puppy Episode "The Puppy Episode" is a two-part episode of the American situation comedy television series ''Ellen''. The episode details lead character Ellen Morgan's realization that she is a lesbian and her coming out. It was the 22nd and 23rd episode o ...

" - ''

Ellen Ellen is a female given name, a diminutive of Elizabeth, Eleanor, Elena and Helen. Ellen was the 609th most popular name in the U.S. and the 17th in Sweden in 2004. People named Ellen include: * Ellen Adarna (born 1988), Filipino actress * Elle ...

'' - Mark Driscoll, Dana Savel, Tracey Newman, Jonathan Stark and Ellen DeGeneres *" The Impossible Dream" - ''

Frasier ''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons. It premiered on September 16, 1993, and ended on May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey (screenwriter), Peter Case ...

'' - Rob Greenberg *"

The Chicken Roaster "The Chicken Roaster" is the 142nd episode of the sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the eighth episode for the eighth season, originally airing on November 14, 1996. The episode's story follows the mishaps which follow when Kenny Rogers Roasters opens ...

" - ''

'' - Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer *"

The Bizarro Jerry "The Bizarro Jerry" is the 137th episode of the American television sitcom ''Seinfeld''. This was the third episode of the eighth season, originally airing on the NBC network on October 3, 1996. The title and plot extensively reference Bizarro Sup ...

" - ''

'' - David Mandel *"Ellen, Or Isn't She?" - ''

The Larry Sanders Show ''The Larry Sanders Show'' is an American television sitcom set in the office and studio of a fictional late-night talk show. The series was created by Garry Shandling and Dennis Klein and aired from August 15, 1992, to May 31, 1998, on the HBO ...

'' - Judd Apatow, John Markus and Garry Shandling *"The Book" - ''

'' -

Maya Forbes Maya Forbes (born July 23, 1968) is an American screenwriter and television producer. She made her debut as a film director with '' Infinitely Polar Bear'' (2014). Her other writing credits include the screenplay of '' The Rocker'' (2008) and many ...

1997 Daytime Serials Winner- ''

General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...

'':

Claire Labine Claire Vaughn Labine (née Wood; June 28, 1934 – November 11, 2016) was an American soap opera writer and producer.

;

Matthew Labine Matthew Labine (May 5, 1959 – September 1, 2017) was an American soap opera writer, the son of Claire Labine and the brother of Eleanor Labine Mancusi. Early life Labine received a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Yale University in 1981 ...

;

Robert Guza, Jr. Robert Guza Jr. (born 1951 ) is an American television writer and producer, who formerly held the position as head writer on the ABC Daytime soap opera ''General Hospital''. Personal life Guza has been married to actress and fellow writer Meg Be ...

; Karen Harris;

Michele Val Jean Michele Val Jean (b. 1950s) is an American television writer on the CBS Daytime soap opera ''The Bold and the Beautiful''. Career In 2000 she was promoted, alongside Elizabeth Korte, to the post of head writer, making her the first African Amer ...

;

Meg Bennett Meg Bennett is an American television soap opera writer and occasional actress. She is married to ex-''General Hospital'' head writer Robert Guza Jr. Early life Born Helen Bennett on October 4, 1948, Meg is the eldest daughter of a printing compan ...

; Ralph Ellis; Mary Ryan;

Jane Atkins Jane Atkins is an American film & television writer and actress. She is a native of Florida. As an actress, she has performed with the ''American Conservatory Theatre'', the ''Actors’ Theatre of Louisville'', South Coast Repertory, the Oregon ...

;

Stephanie Braxton Stephanie Braxton (born December 11, 1944 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American television writer, playwright and actress. She married Dan Hamilton (actor), Dan Hamilton in 1976 after meeting him when they were both appearing on ''The Secret ...

;

Judith Pinsker Judith Ann Pinsker (January 17, 1940, Kenmore, New York - April 26, 2014, Englewood, New Jersey) was an American television writer. Pinsker co-wrote (with Claire Labine) the 1995 ''The New York Times, New York Times'' bestseller ''General Hospital' ...

; Lynda Myles;

Elizabeth Korte Elizabeth Korte is an American television writer for the ABC Daytime soap opera ''General Hospital''. Positions held ''General Hospital'' *Occasional breakdown writer: 2005–2008 *Script editor: 2002 – January 3, 2008, March 17, 2008–prese ...

;

Patrick Mulcahey Patrick may refer to: *Patrick (given name), list of people and fictional characters with this name *Patrick (surname), list of people with this name People *Saint Patrick (c. 385–c. 461), Christian saint *Gilla Pátraic (died 1084), Patrick or ...

; Lisa Lieberman Other Nominees: ''

All My Children ''All My Children'' (often shortened to ''AMC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 20 ...

'':

Agnes Nixon Agnes Nixon ( Eckhardt; December 10, 1922 – September 28, 2016) was an American television writer and producer, and the creator of the ABC soap operas '' One Life to Live'', '' All My Children'', as well as '' Loving'' and its spin-off '' The ...

;

Lorraine Broderick Lorraine Broderick (born 1948) is an American television soap opera writer. She got her start on '' All My Children'' as a protégée of the show's creator, Agnes Nixon. She went on to serve four different stints as its Head Writer, ultimatel ...

;

Hal Corley Hal Corley is an American television writer and playwright. He was Associate Head Writer for '' All My Children'' and ''As The World Turns'', for which he won five Daytime Emmy Awards and two Writers Guild of America Awards. His plays have bee ...

;

Fredrick Johnson Fredrick may refer to: * Fredrick (given name), a given name * Fredrick (surname), a surname * ''Fredrick'' (2016 film) See also * Frederick (disambiguation) * Fredricks Fredricks is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Char ...

; Gail Lawrence; Jeff Beldner; Christina Covino; Courtney Sherman;

Millee Taggart Millee Taggart (born September 2, 1940, Ottawa, Illinois) is an American actress, writer, and producer. She is best known for her role as Janet Bergman Collins on ''Search for Tomorrow''. She portrayed the character from 1971 to 1982. Her othe ...

;

Karen Lewis Karen Lewis ( Jennings; July 20, 1953 – February 7, 2021) was an American educator and labor leader who served as president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), Chicago's division of the American Federation of Teachers, from 2010 to 2014. Fo ...

; Elizabeth Smith;

Michelle Patrick Michelle Patrick (born November 20, 1949 ) is an African-American television soap opera writer. Positions held ''All My Children'' * Associate Head Writer (November 1, 2005 - November 1, 2007) * Script Writer (1990-1998; October 26, 2007 - January ...

;

Bettina F. Bradbury Bettina Francion Bradbury (July 22, 1955 – January 13, 2019) was an American television soap opera screenwriter. She was the daughter of American science fiction writer Ray Bradbury. Positions held *''All My Children'' (hired by Megan McTavish ...

; Judith Donato;

Kathleen Klein Kathleen Klein is an American television writer. Staff writer *'' All My Children'' (Hired by Wisner Washam; 1986–1993, 1995–2001) *'' Another World'' (1993-1994) *'' Guiding Light'' (1994-1995) Awards and nominations * Writers Guild of Amer ...

;

Jane Owen Murphy Jane may refer to: * Jane (given name), a feminine given name * Jane (surname), related to the given name Film and television * ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd * ''Jane'' (2016 film), a South Korean drama fil ...

References

WGA - Previous award winners
{{DEFAULTSORT:Writers Guild Of America Awards 1997

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of t ...

1997 film awards

Writ In common law, a writ (Anglo-Saxon ''gewrit'', Latin ''breve'') is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warrants, prerogative writs, subpoenas, a ...

1997 in American cinema 1997 in American television February 1998 events in the United States