FX’s powerful historical drama Shōgun was the big winner Friday night at the 40th annual Television Critics Association Awards.
The lavishly-produced, first-year series took home four wins including the Program of the Year Award. It also was voted the 2023-24 season’s Outstanding Achievement in Drama and Outstanding New Program. In addition, it earned an Individual Achievement in Drama award, which went to leading actress Anna Sawai. The series has already been renewed for two more seasons.
In the Comedy category, HBO | Max’s Hacks was named the season’s Outstanding Achievement in Comedy, with the individual award going to series star Jean Smart as edgy, Joan Rivers-like comedienne Deborah Vance. This was Smart’s second win in this category for playing this character.
The bracing and controversial Netflix drama Baby Reindeer — a based-on-a-true-story series about another standup performer, albeit one with a stalker — won as Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries or Specials.
The star-packed Netflix comedy John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s In LA won as Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch. Disney+ scored in two categories: Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming (for sci-fi staple Doctor Who) and Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming (with repeat animated winner Bluey).
Barely identified network ID won Outstanding Achievement in News and Information with their docuseries Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. Peacock picked up the Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming with the competition series The Traitors.
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There are 230 members of the Television Critics Association, which is represented by reporters from across North America. I’ve been a member for 40 years. While I didn’t attend this year’s ceremonies, I did vote for many of the winners.
The organization takes pride in saluting shows and stars from the past. This year’s Heritage Award went to David Lynch and Mark Frost’s cult mystery favourite Twin Peaks. The bizarre hit, which premiered on ABC in 1990, had a quirky, provocative pilot that, like a fine cup of coffee, jolted viewers and critics back in the broadcast era.
This year’s deserving Career Achievement recipient was the late, great Andre Braugher, who shone in dramas — especially Homicide: Life on the Street — as well as comedy, as seen on the more recent hit, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
The TCA Awards were announced Friday night at the Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa in Pasadena, Calif. This was the first live and in person TCA’s in a few years due to the lingering effects of the pandemic. As TCA president Jackie Cutler declared, this year’s receipients emerged “against great odds, as many were worked on during the pandemic and stopped for the strikes. Congratulations to all of the winners.”
During the ceremonies, hosted by Wendi McLendon-Covey, tribute was paid to some dearly-departed TCA members. They were founding TCA board member and Houston Chronicle critic Ann Hodges, revered Rocky Mountain News iron man Dusty Saunders, former TCA president and rules keeper Barry Garron and very recently departed past TCA president Scott Pierce.
