Television and screenwriter Don Payne will receive the 2004 Paul Selvin Award for his Fraudcast News episode of THE SIMPSONS at the upcoming 57th annual Writers Guild Awards ceremony to be held Feb. 19, 2005.
To earn laughs is one thing, but to consistently challenge and inspire an audience to think while theyre laughing is quite another achievement, said Writers Guild of America, west president Daniel Petrie Jr. Don Payne has managed to do both with wit and style over the years as part of one of the most ground-breaking and influential series on television, and he is most deserving of this important guild award, continued Petrie Jr.
The Paul Selvin Award goes to that WGA member whose script best embodies the spirit of the constitutional and civil rights and liberties, which are indispensable to the survival of free writers everywhere, and to whose defense Paul Selvin committed his professional life. Selvin was counsel to the guild for 25 years. Previous recipients include Allison Cross, George Stevens Jr., Cynthia Whitcomb, Gary Ross, David E. Kelley, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, Eric Roth and Michael Mann, Tim Sexton and last years recipient, Jason Horwitch.
Fraudcast News takes a satirical stab at TV news culture and media consolidation with the signature Simpsons humor Payne has contributed to many episodes of FOXs longest running hit series.
Payne has co-written several popular episodes of THE SIMPSONS with his frequent writing partner John Frink, including The Wandering Juvie, Old Yeller-Belly, The Great Louse Detective, and The Bart Wants What It Wants, which was nominated for a Writers Guild Award for Animation in 2003. Payne shared Emmy wins with THE SIMPSONS writing staff in 2003, 2001 and 2000 for Outstanding Animated Program. Paynes other TV credits include co-writing episodes for MEN BEHAVING BADLY, CANT HURRY LOVE and THE BRIAN BENBEN SHOW.
The 57th Annual Writers Guild Awards will be held in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Palladium and simultaneously in New York at the Pierre Hotel. For further information about the Writers Guild Awards, please call (323) 782-4574 or visit www.wga.org and www.wgaeast.org.
The Writers Guild of America, west and east represent writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, and new media industries in both entertainment and news. The union conducts numerous programs, seminars, and events throughout the world on issues of interest to, and on behalf of, writers.
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