“Scrubs” creator and “Ted Lasso” writer Bill Lawrence is set to receive the Writers Guild of America East’s Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence at the 77th annual WGA Awards next month.
Named in honor of legendary “Saturday Night Live” writer and television producer Herb Sargent, who served as WGAE president for 14 years, the WGA East‘s Sargent Award is given to a writer who “embodies the spirit, commitment and comic genius of Mr. Sargent, as well as his dedication to mentoring new writers,” per the writers’ union.
Previous recipients of the Sargent Award include writers Paul Simms, Judd Apatow, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, Steve O’Donnell, Norman Stiles, Lorne Michaels, Paula Pell and James L. Brooks.
The prize will be bestowed upon Lawrence at the 2025 Writers Guild Awards’ New York ceremony for WGA East members on Feb. 15, which is held concurrently with the WGA West’s Los Angeles event.
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Lawrence has been a WGA member since 1991. His first WGA-covered gig was on the series “Billy,” a job followed by a stint as a writer on the first season of “Friends.” Lawrence is best known for creating the Zach Braff-led medical comedy “Scrubs,” and as co-creator of “Ted Lasso,” “Spin City,” “Cougar Town” and “Clone High.” Lawrence’s current series include Apple TV+ comedies “Shrinking” and “Bad Monkey,” and an untitled Steve Carell project.
Other series produced by Lawrence through his production banner, Doozer, over the years include “Whiskey Cavalier,” “Undateable,” “Surviving Jack” and “Ground Floor.” Lawrence’s first WGA-covered job was on the short-lived series BILLY.
“I first met Bill Lawrence at the Showrunner Training Program, where he imparted his wisdom and experience with his trademark extreme candor,” Writers Guild of America East president Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said. “What I remember most, though, are his eyes, which are the blue of the tablet you put in toilet tanks. Beyond showrunning and creating iconic shows, Bill embodies the spirit of this award by mentoring an enormous cadre of writers. We are thrilled to present him with the Herb Sargent Award at this year’s ceremony in New York.”
Lawrence added in a statement: “I couldn’t be more honored to be included with the amazing writers who received this before me. I hope people think I look young.”