Posted: Mon., Feb. 19, 2007, 8:55am PT

Scribes keep speeches short

WGA hands out annual kudos

By Dave McNary

Steve Carell accepts his prize from the WGA for his work on 'The Office.'

Amy Berg won for 'Deliver Us from Evil.'

HOLLYWOOD -- With a room full of writers of five of the 10 feature nominations for comedies, WGA West president Patric Verrone set the tone at the start of the Feb. 10 Writers Guild kudofest, saying, "Brevity is the soul of wit and we have a very witty show."

Robert Benton, who maintained his composure despite an alarm ringing throughout his speech for the Screen Laurel Award, noted he'd been intro'd by Morgan Freeman. "I can't tell you what a thrill it is to receive this award from God himself," he added.