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WGA Award for Ken Keeler / Godfellas

A few hours ago, the 55th Annual Writers Guild Awards were handed out at the Beverly Hilton Hotel for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen, television, and radio. New in this case was that the animation writers got a category, too. Before they had their own, publicly less regarded awards.

Former Letterman, PJ and Simpsons writer Ken Keeler beat the tough competition of three Simpsons episodes, one King of the Hill and 'Santa, Baby!' to the WGA Award for writing in animation on television with his work for (one of my personal favourites) "Futurama - Godfellas".

This means that Futurama won or helped people win the following awards since its production stop:
  • Emmy Award for "Roswell that ends well"
  • Annie Award for Rich Moore's directing work
  • AWC Lifetime Achievement Award for P. Verrone
  • AWG Award for Ken Keeler / Godfellas
    and was nominated (without winning, but still a big recognition) for:
  • Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation

    Congrats to Ken!
  • View comments | Mar 9th 2003 | contributor

    Comments (9)

    Comments locked
    TeralMar 9th 2003, 00:00
    Wow. Big congrats to Ken Keeler for an award welldeserved. "Godfellas" is one of Futurama's finest episodes, not giving the award (without knowing anything about the competition) would be a crime.

    Upon hearing about this prestigious award for one of her shows, FOX president Gail Berman went on record stating: "I think I ate too many cheese doodles" *buuurp*

    That's a really impressive list of awards. If Futurama doesn't get renewed (I'm still hoping, yeah, I know I'm naive) we can at least be happy that it went out with it's head held high, riding on a wave of praise, recognition and great ratings (on CN).
    zimbaMar 9th 2003, 00:00
    This is absolutely amazing. Grats to Keeler for winning this award, and we can only hope this is another step towards bringing Futurama back to TV.

    God bless awards.
    CyberKnightMar 9th 2003, 00:00
    That is a great achievement! Congratulations to Ken Keeler for beating out three! Simpsons eps.
    OtisPJivefunkMar 9th 2003, 00:00
    Awesome to the max! Godfellas RULES! If Ken Keeler's work on 'Idol Hands are the Devils Playthings' is anything like it was on Godfellas, then Futurama certainly will go out in style!
    JoeAnybodyMar 9th 2003, 00:00
    Congratulations to Ken Keeler, for bringing home another award, and congratulations to FOX, for keeping 3/4 of your shows that will absolutely no awards. Simple, Fox: just a little promotion, and Futurama can do better.
    NeroMar 9th 2003, 00:00
    That's really great. When will FOX understand? Futurama rules!
    JamesMar 9th 2003, 00:00
    Jurassic Bark was just broadcast in the UK! And it was the possibly the best episode ever! I loved Robo-Puppy, the Professors hilarious endorsment for dolomite "It's dolomite baby", Leela and Amy wrestling (did anyone else notice that Leela's costume is the one she is wearing for the exclusive 'swimsuit leela' figure), Seymor was so cute, and Bender was the best he has ever been, totally evil but oblivious to that fact.
    "If you love your dog so much, maybe you'd like to play FETCH! (then he throws Seymor into the lava) "Oh well your dogs dead, now we're best friends again"
    This episode found the perfect balance between humour and emotion (but I didn't cry, no really I swear. Well, maybe a little b... ALL RIGHT I CRIED!)
    Anyway what am I meant to be talking about, oh yeah congratulation to Ken Keeler!
    BrianEarlBrownMar 9th 2003, 00:00
    Just last night I was reading an article in Entertainment Weekly that echoed this situation. The article was a roundtable discussion of the impact of reality tv on scripted tv by producers of several scripted programs. None of them were from Futurama. The producer of the Bernie mac show mentioned how they had won a shelf full of awards in their first season, the show was a critical success, doing well in the rating, one of the full Black shows on the air - a show that should almost be preempt=proof. did help them a bit. They've been pre-empted almost as badly as Futurama. It isn't just Futurama and it isn't just Fox - the network have no respect for the shows they produce any more.

    Brian Earl Brown
    CarbitoMar 10th 2003, 00:00
    Yet a nother point for Fox to bring back Futurama. It is getting all these awards from industry professionals yet Fox still refuses to order new episodes. Fools. It all goes to show if you promote it a bit like Cartoon Network did then a show will do well. Oh, and congratulations to Ken Keeler.
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