The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is proud to announce that it will present Penelope Koechl with the Richard B. Jablow Award for Devoted Service to the Guild at the 75th Annual Writers Guild Awards ceremony at New York’s Edison Ballroom on Sunday, March 5, 2023.
Established in 1978 to recognize devoted service to the Guild, the Jablow Award was created in honor of Richard B. Jablow, who helped found the WGAE, authored its constitution, and served as its first counsel. Past honorees include Claire Labine, Herb Sargent, Ernest Kinoy, Stephen Schiff, James Schamus, Warren Leight, Chris Albers, Courtney Simon, and Tom Fontana.
The honorary award will be presented to Koechl by the award’s previous honoree, WGAE Vice President for Film/Television/Streaming Lisa Takeuchi Cullen.
A Writers Guild of America, East member since 1986, Koechl began her involvement with the WGAE as a member of the 1988 MBA Strike Committee. She went on to serve a total of five terms on the WGAE Council and was a member of the 2001 MBA Negotiating Committee and an Alternate on the 2007 MBA Negotiating Committee. She is currently a member of the Trustee Review and Appointment Committee, and Chairperson of the Election Committee.
Koechl wrote for the CBS daytime dramas As the World Turns and The Guiding Light for many years, winning two Writers Guild Awards and one Daytime Emmy. She has also written for the web serial Venice: The Series and Law & Order: SVU.
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Michael Winship, President of the Writers Guild of America, East, said, “My friend and colleague Penelope Koechl has always been, and continues to be, an inspiring presence at the Guild. We are grateful for her time and hard work, not to mention the creativity and skill she has contributed to make our union stronger. At this, our 75th Annual Writers Guild Awards, she is an ideal recipient of our Jablow Award. She has our warmest thanks and appreciation.”
At the New York Ceremony, Spike Lee will be presented with the Ian McLellan Hunter Award for Career Achievement by John Turturro and Paul Simms will be presented with the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence by Donald Glover.
The 75th Annual Writers Guild Awards in New York will be hosted by Michelle Buteau, and feature presenters F. Murray Abraham, Alex Borstein, Charlamagne tha God, Sarita Choudhury, Tony Dokoupil, Jackie Hoffman, Tony Kushner, Jake Lacy, Susan Lucci, Amy Schumer, Morgan Spector, and more to be announced.
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