Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad, used his WGA honorary Paddy Chayefsky Laurel For Television Writing Achievement award as a platform to address the divisive state of the nation. In his speech at the 77th annual WGA Awards, Gilligan emphasized the irony of creating iconic bad guys while urging writers to create more inspiring characters.
Gilligan noted that in today’s world, “bad guys” seem to be running the market, and he joked that he could guess who they were talking about. However, he stressed that there is a common agreement among people that there are too many real-life bad guys. He argued that this divide is largely due to living in different realities.
The Paddy Chayefsky Laurel For Television Writing Achievement award recognizes writers who have advanced the literature of TV and made outstanding contributions to the profession. Gilligan has received numerous awards for his work on Breaking Bad, including four Emmys and six WGA Awards.
In his speech, Gilligan proposed that writers create more good guys, rather than just villains. He believes that when characters are created as complex and relatable, viewers pay attention and aspire to be like them. This, in turn, can change the way we perceive bad guys.
Gilligan also discussed his upcoming Apple TV+ series, which he will co-write with Better Call Saul star Rhea Seehorn. The show is described as a sci-fi series that explores heroic ideologies. Gilligan praised Seehorn’s talent and expressed his excitement to work with her on the project.
The conversation around the WGA red carpet hinted at a more complex and nuanced approach to storytelling, one that blends genres and tones. Gilligan’s message of creating inspiring characters resonated with some attendees, while others seemed dismissive or critical.
Gilligan’s comments serve as a reminder of the power of storytelling in shaping our perceptions of reality. As he said, “We have a choice: we can be the cautionary tales that villains were meant to be or we can create characters who inspire us to be better.”
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/02/vince-gilligan-wga-award-speech-1236291243