The 6th Annual AAFCA TV Honors, presented by the African American Film Critics Association, took place at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Saturday, Aug. 24, at an invitation-only event that bestowed special honors to Glynn Turman, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Starz’s “Power” Universe and Streaming Platform Tubi. The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) also recognized winners in competitive categories for distinguished achievements in television and streaming and announced for the first time the Top Ten TV Shows Of The Year. The event was presided over by Gil Robertson, the president of AAFCA.
Top Ten TV Shows of the Year
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Genius: MLK/X
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Unprisoned
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Black Twitter: A People’s History
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The Chi
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The Big Cigar
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The Bear
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Abbott Elementary
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SWAT
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The Neighborhood
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Them
Winners in the competitive categories are:
BEST DOCUMENTARY – “Black Twitter: A People’s History”
BEST ENSEMBLE – “Masters of the Air”
BEST LIMITED SERIES/SPECIAL – “Genius: MLK/X”
BEST NEW SHOW – “Bookie”
BEST TV ACTING (Female) – Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”)
BEST TV ACTING (Male) – Wendell Pierce (“Elsbeth”)
BEST TV COMEDY – “Unprisoned”
BEST TV DIRECTING – Channing Godfrey Peoples (“Genius: MLK/X” – Episode 401 “Graduation”)
BEST TV DRAMA – “The Chi”
BEST WRITING – “The Bear”
BREAKOUT STAR – Josiah Cross (“Masters of the Air”)
Special Achievement honorees are:
LEGACY AWARD – GLYNN TURMAN
This prolific American actor has been gracing the stage and screen for over six decades. Starting on Broadway at just 12 years old in the 1959 production of “A Raisin in the Sun” opposite Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee, this Emmy® winner has appeared in shows like “A Different World,” “The Treatment” “Black Cake” and “The Wire” and films such as “Cooley High,” “Rustin” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” for which he won a Los Angeles Film Critics Association award for Best Supporting Actor. Turman is also a director and writer with numerous credits, and a horseman who runs a camp for underprivileged children, further defining a legacy of the highest caliber.
SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARD – NKECHI OKORO CARROLL
This versatile television producer, writer and creator currently has two hit shows on the air: The CW’s “All American” and NBC’s acclaimed drama “Found” starring Shanola Hampton, which centers on cases of marginalized missing persons.
IMPACT AWARD – STARZ’ “POWER” UNIVERSE
STARZ’s acclaimed “Power” franchise is currently celebrating a momentous 10-year anniversary of groundbreaking drama television. From the original “Power” series to its prequel and two spinoffs – “Power Book II: Ghost,” “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” and “Power Book IV: Force” – the “Power” Universe continues to influence the television landscape, particularly with its portrayal of complex and nuanced Black characters. ‘Power’ broke ground by featuring a predominantly Black cast in a high-stakes drama and continues to pave the way for more diverse representation on television.
ALLY AWARD – TUBI
The free streaming service, Tubi, has become a destination for viewers seeking diverse content and boasts an impressive collection of Black cinema, featuring titles like “Friday,” “Barbershop,” “Madea’s Reunion,” and “House Party,” as well as many sequels from these popular series and numerous other titles that celebrate Black stories. Since launching Tubi Originals in 2021, the platform has prioritized projects that reflect a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Tubi’s commitment to diverse storytelling is further exemplified by their partnership with The Black List which specifically seeks out scripts from underrepresented storytellers.
