Human(itas) league

Here's how you know Humanitas award-winning writer Kirk Ellis isn't talking about the past eight years:

"It was a time when intelligent men spoke complex thoughts in complete sentences."

He means the early American statesmen depicted in the HBO miniseries "John Adams," which picked up eight Emmys last weekend and could become the winningest show in Emmy history with the expected haul on Sunday.

Ellis (pictured) was among those honored Wednesday at the 34th annual Humanitas Prize Awards, given out for TV and film writing that "explores the human condition." We take that to mean work that's insightful, touching, personal yet universal and, most important, smarm-free.

Nancy Oliver, who was robbed this year of the Oscar, snagged an award for her original screenplay for "Lars and the Real Girl," beating Diablo Cody. (The love and understanding theme of this particular award dictates we not say anything snarky about the "Juno" scribe here -- but check back later. We can hold it in for only so long.)

Ronald Harwood, an Oscar winner for "The Pianist" and nominee for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," won the Humanitas for the latter film. He adapted the screenplay from the novel by Jean-Dominique Bauby.

More details on the awards here.