Posted: Tue., Feb. 18, 1997, 11:00pm PT

SHOWEST HONORS PEN PALS

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Albert Brooks and Monica Johnson have been named ShoWest's Screenwriters of the Year, it was announced Wednesday.

The honor will be presented to the pair for their collaboration on the Paramount pic "Mother," as well as their body of work, at the organization's awards show March 6, to be telecast by TNT.

Brooks and Johnson also won the New York Film Critics Award and the National Society of Film Critics Award for writing "Mother."

Since making his feature film debut in "Taxi Driver," Brooks has forged a career that included stints in front of and behind the camera.

He received an Academy Award nomination for his role in "Broadcast News," and starred in several films he also wrote, including "Real Life," "Modern Romance" and "Defending Your Life," which also starred Meryl Streep.

Johnson began her career writing for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and her TV credits include "Laverne and Shirley," "The Paul Sands Show" and "The Garry Shandling Show."

She and Brooks have worked together on the screenplays for five pics, including "Real Life," "Modern Romance," "Lost in America" and "The Scout." Her other credits include "Jekyll & Hyde ... Together Again" and "Americathon." "Lost in America" won best screenplay award from the National Society of Film Critics.