# Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Best Comedy/Variety – Specials

The Writers Guild of America Award for Best Television Writing in a Comedy/Variety Specials is an award presented by the Writers Guild of America to the best written television comedy or variety specials. During the 70s, different categories were presented to recognize writing in comedy or variety specials until 1987, when the category Variety – Musical, Award, Tribute, Special Event started to be awarded, later being renamed to its current name, Comedy/Variety Special.

## Winners and nominees

The winners are indicated in gold and in bold.

### 1970s
#### Best Written Variety Script

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 1973 (26th) |
| 1973 (26th) | Lily | Bob Illes, Rosalyn Drexler, Lorne Michaels, Richard Pryor, Jim Rusk, Herbert Sargent, James R. Stein, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, George Yanok, Ann Elder, Karyl Miller and Rod Warren | CBS |

#### Best Variety Series or Special – Musical or Comedy

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 1977 (30th) |
| 1977 (30th) | The Carol Burnett Show | Ed Simmons, Roger Beatty, Rick Hawkins, Liz Sage, Bob Illes, James R. Stein, Franelle Silver, Larry Siegel, Tim Conway, Bill Richmond, Gene Perret, Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon | CBS |
| 1978 (31st) |
| 1978 (31st) | The Carol Burnett Show "Steve Martin and Betty White" | Roger Beatty, Rick Hawkins, Liz Sage, Bob Illes, James R. Stein, Franelle Silver, Larry Siegel, Tim Conway, Bill Richmond, Gene Perret, Dick Clair, Jenna McMahon and Ed Simmons | CBS |

### 1980s
#### Best Variety, Musical or Comedy

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 1980 (33rd) |
| 1980 (33rd) | All Commercials, A Steve Martin Special | Steve Martin, Neal Israel, Jeffrey Barron, Earl Brown, Carmen Finestra, Denny Johnston, Sean Kelly, Pat McCormick, Michael McManus, Pat Proft and Mason Williams | NBC |
| 1982 (35th) |
| 1982 (35th) | I Love Liberty | Rita Mae Brown, Arthur Allan Seidelman, Rick Mitz, Richard Alfieri and Norman Lear | ABC |

#### Variety – Musical, Award, Tribute, Special Event

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 1987 (40th) |
| 1987 (40th) | Will Rogers: Look Back in Laughter | Bennett Tramer | HBO |
| 1987 (40th) | 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards | Daryl G. Nickens, Rita Cash, Royce Osborn Jr. | NBC |
| 1988 (41st) |
| 1988 (41st) | A Muppet Family Christmas | Jerry Juhl | ABC |
| 1988 (41st) | Family Comedy Hour | Jack Elinson, Jay Leno, Marvin Silbermintz, Jay Teitzell, Ted Herrmann, Wayne Kline | NBC |
| 1989 (42nd) |
| 1989 (42nd) | The Earth Day Special | Steve Tamerius | ABC |

#### Variety – Musical

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 1989 (42nd) |
| 1989 (42nd) | Not Necessarily the News | Nancy Harris, Larry Arnstein, Steve Barker, Joe Guppy, Matt Neuman, Duncan Scott McGibbon, Jon Ross, Lane Sarasohn, Steve Young, Merrill Markoe, Tom Kramer, Peter Ocko | HBO |

### 1990s
#### Variety – Musical, Award, Tribute, Special Event

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 1992 (45th) |
| 1992 (45th) | Medusa: Dare to Be Truthful | Julie Brown and Charlie Coffey | Showtime |
| 1993 (46th) |
| 1993 (46th) | This Just In "Show 2" | Matt Neuman, Larry Arnstein, Jon Ross, Lane Sarasohn, and John Derevlany | ABC |
| 1993 (46th) | Bob Hope: The First 90 Years | Buz Kohan, Linda Perret, Martha Bolton, and Gene Perret | NBC |
| 1994 (47th) |
| 1994 (47th) | Tracey Ullman Takes on New York | Tony Sheehan, Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais, Stephen Nathan, and Marc Flanagan | HBO |
| 1995 (48th) |
| 1995 (48th) | Dennis Miller Live "Episode 8" | Eddie Feldmann, Jeff Cesario, Ed Driscoll, David Feldman, Gregory Greenberg, Dennis Miller, and Kevin Rooney | HBO |
| 1995 (48th) | AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Steven Spielberg | Robert Shrum, and George Stevens Jr. | NBC |
| 1996 (49th) |
| 1996 (49th) | Dennis Miller: Citizen Arcane | Dennis Miller | HBO |
| 1996 (49th) | Sinatra: 80 Years My Way | Buz Kohan, George Schlatter | ABC |
| 1996 (49th) | The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts | Robert Shrum, George Stevens Jr., Sara Lukinson, John Frook | CBS |

#### Comedy/Variety – Music, Awards, Tributes – Specials – Any Length

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 1998 (51st) |
| 1998 (51st) | Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute | Tim Doyle | ABC |
| 1998 (51st) | AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Robert Wise | Robert Shrum, Chris Henchy and George Stevens Jr. | NBC |
| 1999 (52nd) |
| 1999 (52nd) | The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts | Robert Shrum, George Stevens Jr. and Sara Lukinson | CBS |

### 2000s
#### Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) – Specials

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 2000 (53rd) |
| 2000 (53rd) | Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special | Tina Fey, Anne Beatts, Tom Davis, Steve Higgins, Lorne Michaels, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Paula Pell, Paul Shaffer, T. Sean Shannon, Michael Shoemaker, Robert Smigel | NBC |
| 2000 (53rd) | Evening at Pops Special featuring the Cast of Sesame Street | Christine Ferraro | PBS |
| 2001 (54th) |
| 2001 (54th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | Don Baer, George Stevens Jr., Sara Lukinson and Harry Miles Muheim | CBS |
| 2001 (54th) | Saturday Night Live: Presidential Bash 2000 | James Downey and Al Franken | NBC |
| 2002 (55th) |
| 2002 (55th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | Don Baer, George Stevens Jr. and Sara Lukinson | CBS |
| 2002 (55th) | NBC 75th Anniversary Special | Doug Abeles, James Anderson, Robert Carlock, Tina Fey, Charlie Grandy, Steve Higgins, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell, Herbert Sargent, Michael Schur, Michael Shoemaker | NBC |
| 2003 (56th) |
| 2003 (56th) | The 75th Annual Academy Awards | Hal Kanter, Rita Cash, Buz Kohan, Steve Martin, Beth Armogida, Dave Barry, Dave Boone, Andy Breckman, Jon Macks, Rita Rudner, Bruce Vilanch | ABC |
| 2003 (56th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | George Stevens Jr., Sara Lukinson and David Leaf | CBS |
| 2004 (57th) |
| 2004 (57th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | George Stevens Jr., Sara Lukinson and David Leaf | CBS |
| 2004 (57th) | The 58th Annual Tony Awards | Dave Boone, Bruce Vilanch | CBS |
| 2005 (58th) |
| 2005 (58th) | The Kennedy Center Honors | George Stevens Jr., Sara Lukinson | CBS |
| 2005 (58th) | The 59th Annual Tony Awards | Dave Boone, Jon Macks | CBS |
| 2006 (59th) |
| 2006 (59th) | The National Memorial Day Concert | Joan Meyerson | PBS |
| 2006 (59th) | Assume the Position with Mr. Wuhl | Robert Wuhl, Allan Stephan, Rebecca Reynolds | HBO |
| 2006 (59th) | The 60th Annual Tony Awards | Dave Boone | CBS |
| 2007 (60th) |
| Not awarded |||
| 2008 (61st) |
| 2008 (61st) | 23rd Independent Spirit Awards | Billy Kimball, Aaron Lee, Jennifer Celotta, and Rainn Wilson | IFC, AMC |
| 2008 (61st) | Jimmy Kimmel's Big Night of Stars | Jimmy Kimmel, Gary Greenberg, Molly McNearney, Bryan Paulk, Ned Rice, Jon Bines, Will Burke, Rick Rosner, Jake Lentz, Sal Iacono, and Tony Barbieri | ABC |
| 2009 (62nd) |
| 2009 (62nd) | 24th Independent Spirit Awards | Billy Kimball and Neal MacLennan | IFC, AMC |
| 2009 (62nd) | We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial | George Stevens Jr., Michael Stevens, and Sara Lukinson | HBO |

### 2010s

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 2010 (63rd) |
| 2010 (63rd) | National Memorial Day Concert 2010 | Joan Meyerson | PBS |
| 2010 (63rd) | Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards | Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Will Burke, Gary Greenberg, Sal Iacono, Jimmy Kimmel, Jonathan Kimmel, Jacob Lentz, Molly McNearney, Bryan Paulk, Rick Rosner | ABC |
| 2010 (63rd) | The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice! | Jeremy Chilnick, Morgan Spurlock | Fox |
| 2011 (64th) |
| 2011 (64th) | Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards | Gary Greenberg, Molly McNearney, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, John N. Huss, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Jimmy Kimmel, Jonathan Kimmel, Jacob Lentz, Danny Ricker, Richard G. Rosner | ABC |
| 2011 (64th) | TheKennedy Center Honors | Lewis Friedman, Sara Lukinson, Michael Stevens, George Stevens Jr. | CBS |
| 2012 (65th) |
| 2012 (65th) | 66th Tony Awards | Dave Boone, Paul Greenberg, David Javerbaum, Adam Schlesinger | CBS |
| 2012 (65th) | 27th Independent Spirit Awards | Billy Kimball, Wayne Federman | IFC |
| 2012 (65th) | Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards | Gary Greenberg, Molly McNearney, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeffrey Loveness, Bryan Paulk, Danny Ricker, Richard G. Rosner | ABC |
| 2012 (65th) | National Memorial Day Concert | Joan Meyerson | PBS |
| 2013 (66th) |
| 2013 (66th) | Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas | Jay Martel, Ian Roberts, Alex Rubens, Charlie Sanders | NBC |
| 2014 (67th) |
| 2014 (67th) | 71st Golden Globe Awards | Barry Adelman, Alex Baze, Dave Boone, Robert Carlock, Tina Fey, Jon Macks, Sam Means, Seth Meyers, Amy Poehler, Mike Shoemaker | NBC |
| 2014 (67th) | 68th Tony Awards | Dave Boone, Jon Macks | CBS |
| 2014 (67th) | 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards | Gerry Duggan, Wayne Federman, Patton Oswalt, Erik Weiner | IFC |
| 2014 (67th) | Bill Maher: Live from D.C. | Bill Maher | HBO |
| 2014 (67th) | Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles | Sarah Silverman | HBO |
| 2015 (68th) |
| 2015 (68th) | Jimmy Kimmel Live!: 10th Annual After The Oscars Special | Jack Allison, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Greg Dorris, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Jimmy Kimmel, Bess Kalb, Jeff Loveness, Molly McNearney, Danny Ricker, Joe Strazzullo, Bridger Winegar | ABC |
| 2015 (68th) | Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo | Amy Schumer | HBO |
| 2015 (68th) | 69th Tony Awards | Dave Boone, Adam Goldman and Carol Leifer | CBS |
| 2015 (68th) | 2014 Kennedy Center Honors | Lewis Friedman, Sara Lukinson, Nell Scovell, George Stevens Jr., Michael Stevens | CBS |
| 2015 (68th) | 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards | Benji Aflalo, Wayne Federman, Marika Sawyer, Frank Sebastiano, Erik Weiner | IFC |
| 2015 (68th) | Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special | James Anderson, Fred Armisen, Tina Fey, Steve Higgins, Chris Kelly, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels, John Mulaney, Paula Pell, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Tom Schiller, Sarah Schneider, Marc Shaiman, Michael Shoemaker, Robert Smigel, Emily Spivey, Kent Sublette, Jorma Taccone, Bryan Tucker | NBC |
| 2016 (69th) |
| 2016 (69th) | Triumph's Election Special | Andy Breckman, Josh Comers, Rajan Desai, David Feldman, R. J. Fried, Jarrett Grode, Ben Joseph, Matthew Kirsch, Michael Koman, Mike Lawrence, Brian Reich, Craig Rowin, Robert Smigel, Zach Smilovitz, David Taylor, Andrew Weinberg, Ray James, Jesse Joyce, Jason Reich, Alex Scordelis | Hulu |
| 2016 (69th) | 68th Primetime Emmy Awards | Jack Allison, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Robert Cohen, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Jimmy Kimmel, Bess Kalb, Jeff Loveness, Jon Macks, Molly McNearney, Danny Ricker, Jeff Stilson, Joe Strazzullo, Alexis Wilkinson | ABC |
| 2016 (69th) | 88th Academy Awards | Dave Boone, Billy Kimball, Scott Aukerman, Rodney Barnes, Neil Campbell, Matthew Claybrooks, Lance Crouther, Mike Ferrucci, Langston Kerman, Jon Macks, Steve O'Donnell, Nimesh Patel, Vanessa Ramos, Chris Rock, Frank Sebastiano, Chuck Sklar, Jeff Stilson, Michelle Wolf | ABC |
| 2016 (69th) | 73rd Golden Globe Awards | Barry Adelman, Dave Boone, Ricky Gervais, Jon Macks, Matthew Robinson | NBC |
| 2017 (70th) |
| 2017 (70th) | 39th Kennedy Center Honors | Dave Boone | CBS |
| 2017 (70th) | 89th Academy Awards | Billy Kimball, Jon Macks, Jack Allison, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Gonzalo Cordova, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Bess Kalb, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeff Loveness, Molly McNearney, Danny Ricker, Joe Strazzullo | ABC |
| 2017 (70th) | AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Diane Keaton | Bob Gazzale, Jon Macks | TNT |
| 2017 (70th) | Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special | Scott Aukerman, Dave Ferguson, Mike Hanford, Tim Kalpakis, Joe Saunders, Akiva Schaffer, Zach Kanin, Claudia O'Doherty, Tim Robinson | Netflix |
| 2017 (70th) | Nathan For You: A Celebration | Leo Allen, Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Michael Koman, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola | Comedy Central |
| 2018 (71st) |
| 2018 (71st) | The Fake News with Ted Nelms | John Aboud, Andrew Blitz, Michael Colton, Ed Helms, Elliott Kalan, Joseph Randazzo, Sara Schaefer | Comedy Central |
| 2018 (71st) | 2018 Rose Parade Hosted by Cord & Tish | Will Ferrell, Jake Fogelnest, Andrew Steele | Prime Video |
| 2018 (71st) | Drew Michael Stand-Up Special | Drew Michael | HBO |
| 2018 (71st) | The Oscars 2018 | Dave Boone, Carol Leifer, Jon Macks, Megan Amram, Tony Barbieri, Jonathan Bines, Joelle Boucai, Gonzalo Cordova, Adam Carolla, Devin Field, Gary Greenberg, Josh Halloway, Sal Iacono, Eric Immerman, Jesse Joyce, Bess Kalb, Jimmy Kimmel, Molly McNearney, Danny Ricker, Joe Strazzullo | ABC |
| 2019 (72nd) |
| 2019 (72nd) | Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents: Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner Part 2 | Melinda Taub, Joe Grossman, Nicole Silverberg, Samantha Bee, Kristen Bartlett, Pat Cassels, Sean Crespo, Mike Drucker, Mathan Erhardt, Miles Kahn, Sahar Rizvi, Allison Silverman | TBS |
| 2019 (72nd) | Desi Lydic: Abroad | Devin Delliquanti and Lauren Sarver | Comedy Central |
| 2019 (72nd) | The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special 2019 | Lauren Greenberg, Ian Karmel, Demi Adejuyigbe, James Corden, Rob Crabbe, Lawrence Dai, Nate Fernald, Caroline Goldfarb, John Kennedy, James Longman, Jared Moskowitz, CeCe Pleasants, Tim Siedell, Benjamin Stout, Tom Thriveni, Louis Waymouth, and Ben Winston | CBS |
| 2019 (72nd) | Ramy Youssef: Feelings | Ramy Youssef | HBO |

### 2020s

| Year | Program | Writer(s) | Network |
| 2020 (73rd) |
| 2020 (73rd) | Stephen Colbert's Election Night 2020: Democracy's Last Stand: Building Back America Great Again Better 2020 | Ariel Dumas, Jay Katsir, Delmonte Bent, Michael Brumm, River Clegg, Aaron Cohen, Stephen T. Colbert, Nicole Conlan, Paul Dinello, Glenn Eichler, Django Gold, Gabe Gronli, Barry Julien, Michael Cruz Kayne, Eliana Kwartler, Matt Lappin, Felipe Torres Medina, Opus Moreschi, Asher Perlman, Tom Purcell, Kate Sidley, Brian Stack, John Thibodeaux, Steve Waltien | Showtime |
| 2020 (73rd) | 30 Rock: A One-Time Special | Tina Fey, Robert Carlock | NBC |
| 2020 (73rd) | Father of the Bride Part 3(ish) | Nancy Meyers | YouTube |
| 2020 (73rd) | Yearly Departed | Bess Kalb, Karen Chee, Akilah Green, Franchesca Ramsey, Jocelyn Richard | Prime Video |
| 2021 (74th) |
| 2021 (74th) | Full Frontal Wants to Take Your Guns | Kristen Bartlett, Samantha Bee, Pat Cassels, Sean Crespo, Mike Drucker, Miles Kahn, Chris Thompson, Holly Walker, Allison Silverman, Joe Grossman, Sahar Rizvi, Michael Rhoa | TBS |
| 2021 (74th) | 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors | Dave Boone | CBS |
| 2021 (74th) | Drew Michael: Red Blue Green | Drew Michael | HBO |
| 2021 (74th) | The Tony Awards Presents: Broadway's Back! | Dave Boone, Amber Ruffin, Marc Shaiman, Daniel J. Watts, Scott Wittman | CBS |
| 2021 (74th) | Yearly Departed | Bess Kalb (head writer); Karen Chee, Akilah Green, Franchesca Ramsey, Jocelyn Richard (writers) | Prime Video |
| 2022 (75th) |
| 2022 (75th) | Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel | Jerrod Carmichael | HBO/HBO Max |
| 2022 (75th) | The National Memorial Day Concert 2022 | Kirk Ellis, Jon Macks (writers); Rita Brent (special material) | PBS |
| 2022 (75th) | Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration | Matt Roberts, Beth Sherman (head writers); Rita Brent, Page Hurwitz, Carey O’Donnell (writers); Guy Branum, Chris Sartinsky, Louis Virtel (special material) | Netflix |
| 2022 (75th) | The Problem with Jon Stewart: Election Wrap-Up Special | Kristen Acimovic (head writer); Henrik Blix, Rob Christensen, Jay Jurden, Alexa Loftus, Tocarra Mallard, Robby Slowik, Maria Randazzo, Jon Stewart, Kasaun Wilson (writers) | Apple TV+ |
| 2023 (76th) |
| 2023 (76th) | Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love | Sarah Silverman | HBO/Max |
| 2023 (76th) | Adam Sandler: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor | Jon Macks, Rita Brent, Jeff Stilson, Meggie McFadden | CNN |
| 2023 (76th) | Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love | Jon Macks, Carol Leifer | NBC |
| 2023 (76th) | Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark | Marc Maron | HBO/Max |