This event is SOLD OUT. We will have a first come, first serve stand-by line at the event starting 30 minutes before doors open. The stand-by line does not guarantee entry into the event and we will only accept credit card transactions for any released seats.
The Writers Guild Foundation, in partnership with the Writers Guild of America West and Deadline, present SUBLIME PRIMETIME 2025, our annual event celebrating the Emmy-Nominated writers for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
Join us for two back-to-back panels at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. Learn about their process for crafting the nominated scripts as well as their journeys navigating the industry as screenwriters.
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Panel
Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky - “A Slippery Slope” Hacks
Hannah Bos & Paul Thureen - “AGG” Somebody Somewhere (Written by Hannah Bos & Paul Thureen and Bridget Everett)
Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola - “Pilot’s Code” The Rehearsal
Sarah Naftalis - “The Finale” What We Do In The Shadows (Written by Sam Johnson & Sarah Naftalis & Paul Simms)
Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Frida Perez - “The Promotion” The Studio (Written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg & Peter Huyck & Alex Gregory & Frida Perez)
Moderated by Peter White (Executive Editor, Television, Deadline)
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Panel
Dan Erickson - “Cold Harbor” Severance
R. Scott Gemmill - “7:00 A.M.” The Pitt
Dan Gilroy - “Welcome to the Rebellion” Andor
Joe Sachs - “2:00 P.M.” The Pitt
Moderated by Lynette Rice (Senior Television Writer, Deadline)
Doors open at 6PM. Program begins at 7PM.
General admission tickets are now available. WGA members can RSVP for free. All proceeds benefit the Writers Guild Foundation’s Library, Archive and Community Outreach Programs.
Got a question about this event? E-mail us at events@wgfoundation.org.
This event is SOLD OUT. We will have a first come, first serve stand-by line at the event starting 30 minutes before doors open. The stand-by line does not guarantee entry into the event and we will only accept credit card transactions for any released seats.
In Partnership With
About the Panelists
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Panel
Photo Credit: Ryan Pfluger
Lucia Aniello is an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning writer, director, producer, and performer, and one half of the creative duo Paulilu alongside her partner Paul W. Downs.
Together, Aniello and Downs have earned critical and commercial success through a string of acclaimed comedies including “Hacks,” “Broad City,” “Time Traveling Bong,” “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens,” and “The Baby-Sitters Club.”
Most recently, Aniello wrapped Season 4 of the HBO Max Original series “Hacks,” which she co-created with Downs and Jen Statsky. She also directed, wrote, and executive produced the season. Starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, the series has received 48 Emmy nominations and nine wins, including “Outstanding Comedy Series,” “Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series,” and “Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.” Additional honors include two Golden Globes, five Writers Guild Awards, a Peabody Award, and two Directors Guild of America Awards for Aniello’s direction. “Hacks” was named one of the American Film Institute’s Outstanding Television Programs of the Year for three consecutive seasons and has also been recognized by the SAG Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, Producers Guild, and Gotham Awards, among others. A fifth season was officially announced by HBO Max in May 2025, just ahead of the Season 4 finale.
Following the release of “Hacks” in 2021, Aniello and Downs signed a multiyear overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group. Aniello also directed and executive produced “ Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens” (Comedy Central) and “The Baby-Sitters Club” (Netflix). She previously served as a writer, director, and executive producer on the acclaimed “Broad City,” which aired for five seasons on Comedy Central. On the feature side, she directed “Rough Night” for Sony Pictures, starring Scarlett Johansson, which she also co-wrote and produced with Downs. Additional past credits include the cult favorite miniseries “Time Traveling Bong,” which she co-created and wrote with Downs and Ilana Glazer.
Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen are a writing duo who are creators, showrunners and executive producers of HBO’s Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning, critically acclaimed comedy series Somebody Somewhere. Hannah and Paul received a Humanitas Prize nomination for the Somebody Somewhere pilot, and along with Bridget Everett, were recently nominated for a WGA Award for Episodic Comedy. The series has received nominations from the GLAAD Media Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, Gotham Awards, Spirit Awards, TCA & HCA Awards, Dorian TV Awards, and was honored by AFI amongst their Television Programs of the Year in 2022. Hannah and Paul received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for "Best First Screenplay" for their feature Driveways (dir. Andrew Ahn). Together they have also written for HBO’s High Maintenance and Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle and were founders/co-Artistic Directors of The Debate Society, a multiple-Obie award winning theater company.
Photo Credit: Octavia Klein
Paul W. Downs is an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning writer, director, producer, and actor. He is the co-creator, co-showrunner, and executive producer of the HBO Max Original series “Hacks,” in which he also stars as ‘Jimmy’ and directs several episodes. He also earned an Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series” for his performance.
Together, Aniello and Downs have earned critical and commercial success through a string of acclaimed comedies including “Hacks,” “Broad City,” “Time Traveling Bong,” “Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens,” and “The Baby-Sitters Club.” “Hacks” has received 48 Emmy nominations and nine wins, including “Outstanding Comedy Series,” “Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series,” and “Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.” Additional honors include two Golden Globes, five Writers Guild Awards, a Peabody Award, and two Directors Guild of America Awards for Aniello’s direction. “Hacks” was named one of the American Film Institute’s Outstanding Television Programs of the Year for three consecutive seasons and has also been recognized by the SAG Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, Producers Guild, and Gotham Awards, among others. A fifth season was officially announced by HBO Max in May 2025, just ahead of the Season 4 finale.
Following the debut of “Hacks” in 2021, Downs and his creative partner and wife, Lucia Aniello, signed a multiyear overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.
Downs is also known for his role as ‘Trey Pucker’ on Comedy Central’s “Broad City,” where he also served as a writer, director, and executive producer. On the big screen, he co-wrote, produced, and starred in Sony’s “Rough Night,” opposite Scarlett Johansson and directed by Aniello. His additional credits include Netflix’s “Like Father” alongside Kristen Bell and Kelsey Grammer, “Time Traveling Bong” on Comedy Central, as well as in his own half-hour special of Netflix's “The Characters.”
Nathan Fielder is a comedian, actor, writer, producer and director. He is the creator and star of the acclaimed HBO comedy series, The Rehearsal, which just premiered its second season in April 2025. Previously, Fielder co-created the A24 and Showtime series The Curse, with Benny Safdie, where he starred alongside Emma Stone. He also served as the series director.
Fielder is widely known for his award winning series Nathan for You, which ran four seasons on Comedy Central. He also executive produced HBO’s How To With John Wilson, which was recently nominated for an Emmy.
In 2023, Fielder was listed as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People.
Photo Credit: Art Streiber, Rolling Stone | 2024
Evan Goldberg is a director, screenwriter, producer, and co-founder of Point Grey Pictures, alongside longtime collaborators Seth Rogen and James Weaver. Known for their multi-genre films and television projects, Point Grey is respected for its dynamic, authentic storytelling. The company has generated over $1 billion in global box office revenue and continues to bring smart, irreverent narratives to audiences.
Upcoming projects include the animated film “Tangles," based on Sarah Leavitt's graphic novel; and season three of the popular adult animated series “Invincible,” which premieres February 6, 2025. Additionally, “The Boys” has been renewed for a fifth season, and a sequel to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" is slated for release in 2026.
Goldberg’s distinguished work includes the Emmy-winning series “Pam & Tommy,” “The Boys” and its spinoff “Gen V,” which was Emmy-nominated and renewed for a second season, and “Invincible.” He also produced “Joy Ride,” which won CinemaCon’s 2023 Comedy Ensemble of the Year Award; “This Is the End”; “Neighbors” and “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising”; “The Interview”; “The Night Before”; “Sausage Party”; “Blockers”; and “The Disaster Artist,” which was nominated for multiple awards, including an Academy Award for Adapted Screenplay and Critics Choice Awards for Best Comedy, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor. His television credits include “Preacher,” “Future Man,” “Black Monday,” and “Middle West.”
In 2024, Goldberg produced the CGI film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” the series “Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” and “Sausage Party: Foodtopia,” which premiered July 11, 2024, and was renewed for a second season.
On the entrepreneurial front, Goldberg co-founded Houseplant, a lifestyle brand rooted in cannabis, alongside Michael Mohr, James Weaver, and Alex McAtee. Houseplant curates design-led, innovative products to deliver a top-tier cannabis experience paired with premium house goods.
Goldberg also founded Reel Start, an organization aimed at improving diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry by introducing career paths to young people from underrepresented communities. The program gives teens the opportunity to work hands-on with the filmmaking process, developing, writing, and producing socially relevant short films with the guidance of industry professionals. Reel Start’s programs are currently offered in Los Angeles and Toronto, with a focus on students from populations of color and other underrepresented groups.
Peter Huyck received a BA in History at Stanford University in 1993. He wrote and produced “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Frasier,” “King of the Hill,” “Veep,” and “White House Plumbers,” for which he won Emmy, WGA and Humanitas Awards. Huyck is currently the co-creator and co-showrunner of “The Studio.”
Carrie Kemper is an Emmy Award-winning writer from St. Louis. She was a writer and co-executive producer for both seasons of The Rehearsal.
Kemper started her television career in college, interning for Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman. She has written for The Office, Silicon Valley, Nathan For You, Baskets, The Curse, and Beef. She has also had comedy pieces published in The New Yorker and The New York Times. She lives in Pasadena with her husband and three kids.
Adam Locke-Norton is an editor and writer from Vancouver, Canada. In addition to writing on The Rehearsal and Nathan For You, he previously collaborated with Nathan Fielder as an editor on The Curse, How To with John Wilson and The Rehearsal.
This is Sarah Naftalis’ fifth season on the writing team for FX’s What We Do in the Shadows. In 2022, she was nominated for an Emmy® for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for her season three episode “The Casino.” Naftalis was previously a contributor to The Onion, and her work was included in The Onion Magazine: The Iconic Covers that Transformed an Undeserving World. Her writing was also published in the collection Notes from the Bathroom Line: Humor, Art, and Low-Grade Panic from 150 of the Funniest Women in Comedy, released by Harper Design. Recently, Naftalis wrote an episode for the upcoming season of the Beavis and Butt-Head revival series. Originally from New York City, she received her B.A. in American Studies from Yale University and her M.A. in Art History from Stanford University.
Eric Notarnicola is a writer, director, and producer based in Los Angeles. He is a writer and executive producer of The Rehearsal on HBO and has been with the show since developing its pilot episode with Nathan Fielder.
His other writing credits include Nathan For You (Comedy Central), Who Is America? (Showtime), and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (Adult Swim).
He is also known for his long-running collaboration with Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington on the multi-format comedy series On Cinema. He directed and co-executive produced Decker, a meta-textual offshoot which ran for three seasons on Adult Swim. His feature directorial debut, Mister America, was released theatrically by Magnolia Pictures.
Frida Perez is a writer and filmmaker originally from The Bronx. After graduating from Brown University in 2017, Perez moved to Los Angeles where she worked as an assistant and directed short films before writing and producing “The Studio.”
Photo Credit: Shayan Asgharnia
Seth Rogen is an Emmy Award-nominated actor, writer, producer, director, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose films and TV projects have had an impressive impact on popular culture and box office returns.
Rogen voices ‘Pumbaa’ in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” a Barry Jenkins-directed film which was released on December 20, 2024. Rogen will also appear in “Good Fortune,” an American comedy written by Aziz Ansari slated for release on October 17, 2025.
Recently, Rogen starred in the Apple TV+ comedy series “Platonic”; the animated adaptation of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”; and the film “Dumb Money.” He recently wrapped production on the second season of “Platonic.”
As an actor, Rogen was nominated for a 2022 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for “Pam & Tommy.” He starred as the "favorite uncle of young Spielberg" in Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical Oscar-nominated film “The Fabelmans,” which garnered numerous awards and nominations including seven Oscar nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, two SAG nominations, 11 Critics Choice nominations, and more. Rogen also starred in “An American Pickle,” “Good Boys,” Jon Favreau's remake of “The Lion King,” and “Long Shot,” which won the Audience Award at SXSW in 2019.
As a producer, Rogen's esteemed work includes the Emmy-winning series, “Pam & Tommy”; “The Boys” and its spinoff Emmy-nominated superhero drama “Gen V,” which has been renewed for a second season; “Joy Ride,” which garnered CinemaCon's 2023 Comedy Ensemble of the Year Award; “This Is the End,” “Neighbors” and “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," “The Interview,” “The Night Before,” the animated film “Sausage Party,” “Blockers," and “The Disaster Artist," which was nominated for a number of awards including an Academy Award for Adapted Screenplay, Critics Choice Awards for Best Comedy, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor, “Preacher,” “Future Man,” “Black Monday,” and “Middle West.”
Recently, Rogen produced the CGI film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” the series “Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” and “Sausage Party: Foodtopia,” in which he also starred. “Sausage Party: Foodtopia” premiered on July 11, 2024, and has already been renewed for a second season.
Rogen is also a bestselling author with his debut book, “Yearbook,” which is a collection of comical and relatable short stories about his life published by Penguin Random House. In March 2019, Rogen collaborated with the Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX:WEED, NYSE:CGC) to launch Houseplant, a Canadian cannabis company dedicated to product quality and consumer education with business partner, Goldberg. The company has since expanded to the United States and added a line of home goods to their collection. In 2012, Rogen and his wife Lauren Miller-Rogen founded HFC, a national non-profit organization providing care for families contending with Alzheimer's.
Jen Statsky is the Emmy award winning co-creator, showrunner, and executive producer of HBO Max's HACKS. Prior to that, she was most recently a co-executive producer on NBC’s THE GOOD PLACE, working all four seasons on the Emmy nominated show. She also served as a co-executive producer on Comedy Central’s BROAD CITY. Her other writing credits also include NBC’s PARKS AND RECREATION, Netflix’s LADY DYNAMITE, and Amazon’s FOREVER.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Having joined Deadline in 2017 as the trades London-based International Television Editor, Peter White made the move to the brand’s headquartered LA office and rose the ranks to Executive Editor of Television. Peter is a respected veteran journalist who covers all aspects television programming, development and executive moves, as well as the business of late-night, reality and unscripted television, and music documentaries. He has previously held the position of News Editor for UK-based Broadcast and Deputy Editor for Television Business International Magazine.
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Photo Credit: Eric Charbonneau
Dan Erickson grew up in Olympia, Washington with his parents Mark and Lynn, brother Matt and sister Hayley. He began writing plays and making movies with his siblings and friends at a young age, and went on to get his BA in English and Creative Writing from Western Washington University. He later attended NYU's Tisch School, where he received a Masters in Dramatic Writing. Upon moving to Los Angeles, he delivered food and worked in a string of office jobs, all while conceiving and writing the original pilot for “Severance.” The script became the first TV pilot ever selected for the annual Bloodlist, which ultimately led to a creative partnership with Red Hour Productions, Endeavor Content, and Apple TV+. Erickson now splits his time between Los Angeles and New York, while sneaking back to his beloved Washington state every chance he gets.
Born and raised in Canada, R. Scott Gemmill has spent nearly four decades working as a television writer. In 1995, after writing for various Canadian television shows, Gemmill moved to Los Angeles, where he worked on the television series JAG. During his time at JAG, he was nominated for a Humanitas Prize, which recognizes outstanding writing that enriches human values. In 1999, Gemmill was asked to join the writing staff of the Emmy Award-winning series ER, on which he also served as an executive producer. From 2009 to 2023, Gemmill served as an executive producer on NCIS: Los Angeles. Today, Gemmill is the creator and current showrunner of the Emmy-nominated television show, THE PITT, which is currently in production for its second season.
Dan Gilroy is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter, director, and producer. His feature directing debut NIGHTCRAWLER won Best Screenplay at the 30th Independent Spirit Awards and was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 87th Academy Awards. Gilroy went on to write and direct ROMAN J. ISRAEL starring Denzel Washington, who was nominated for the Oscar, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for his starring role; and VELVET BUZZSAW starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
His other screenwriting credits include THE BOURNE LEGACY, KONG: SKULL ISLAND, THE FALL, REAL STEEL. Most recently, Gilroy was nominated in the Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series category at the 2025 Emmy Awards, as well as in both the Best Drama Series and Best New Series categories at the 2023 WGA Awards,for his work on ANDOR on Disney+.
Joe Sachs is an emergency physician, television writer, and Executive Producer of the HBO Max series, “The Pitt. He began his interdisciplinary career as a student at Stanford Medical School, where he simultaneously pursued a Master’s degree in Filmmaking at Stanford. After graduation, he completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at UCLA.
His television career began in 1994 with the NBC television series “ER." He remained with the program throughout its fifteen-year run, eventually serving as Executive Producer and writing a total of thirty-five episodes of the acclaimed series. He has also held positions as a writer-producer on NBC's “Mercy” (2010), ABC’s "OZ the Map” (2011), and the CBS drama “NCIS: Los Angeles” (2011-2020). In 2023, he joined Max’s "The Pitt,” and wrote multiple episodes during the show's first season.
Throughout his career as a television writer, Dr. Sachs has maintained a part-time practice in Emergency Medicine at a designated trauma center for Los Angeles County, even attending to the most critical patients during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. While writing compelling drama always comes first, his commitment to state-of-the-art medical accuracy has created a positive impact on both professional and public health education all around the world.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Having covered the television industry for more than two decades, Lynette Rice is a seasoned veteran who covers the television awards season for Deadline’s digital and print properties, as well as focusing on breaking news coverage within the television space. Before joining Deadline, Lynette worked at Entertainment Weekly, covering the TV business for the magazine and website, as well as The Hollywood Reporter and Broadcasting & Cable. Lynette is also the author of the 2021 bestseller "How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey's Anatomy."