Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale was the big winner at the Television Critics Association’s (TCA) Awards presentation, earning Program of the Year distinction as well as Outstanding Achievement in Drama. These marked the first ever TCA honors for Hulu.
Also snagging major honors during the Saturday night (8/5) awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton hotel was FX. The network garnered a TCA-leading three awards thanks in large part to its dynamic new series Atlanta, which earned Outstanding Achievement In Comedy, and scored an Individual Achievement In Comedy Award for series star and creator Donald Glover. FX also netted an Individual Achievement In Drama Award for Carrie Coon, who made TCA awards history by being recognized for two separate performances. Coon was recognized for her standout roles as the tech-challenged police chief Gloria Burgle on FX’s twisting crime caper Fargo and playing the emotionally resilient Nora Durst on HBO’s spiritually-rich drama series The Leftovers.
Additionally, NBC’s beloved interpersonal drama This Is Us was recognized as the season’s Outstanding New Program; HBO’s star-studded suburban murder mystery Big Little Lies came away with the award for Outstanding Achievement In Movies, Miniseries, and Specials; A&E’s investigative true-life series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath received the award for Outstanding Achievement In Reality Programming; ESPN’s provocative five-part documentary event O.J.: Made In America nabbed Outstanding Achievement In News and Information; and ABC’s family comedy Speechless topped the category of Outstanding Achievement in Youth for its family dynamic and strong, heartfelt storylines.
The TCA also bestowed a Heritage Award upon NBC’s revolutionary sitcom Seinfeld, which redefined the genre with its relatable characters, instantly quotable dialogue and hilarious spin on everyday life over its nine-season run. Influential documentarian Ken Burns was presented with the Career Achievement Award celebrating his legacy, which includes illuminating TCA Award-winning projects as varied as The Central Park Five, The War, Jazz, Baseball and the 1990-’91 Program of the Year The Civil War. Burns’ next project, PBS’ The Vietnam War, premieres this fall.
“This was one of the most diverse seasons in recent memory, offering a wide range of programming that truly had a little something for everyone,” said Amber Dowling, TCA president. “It also treated us to some incredible performances and eclectic plotlines that challenged us, moved us, and thrilled us, reinvigorating the television landscape with bold and innovative subjects that we had rarely seen before.”
Emmy and Tony Award-winning entertainer Kristin Chenoweth emceed the TCA Awards ceremony. The results were determined from votes cast by the TCA’s membership, comprised of more than 220 professional TV critics and journalists from the United States and Canada.
2017 TCA Award recipients are as follows:
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Carrie Coon, The Leftovers, HBO, & Fargo, FX
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Donald Glover, Atlanta, FX
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION
O.J.: Made in America, ESPN
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMMING
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, A&E
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING
Speechless, ABC
OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM
This Is Us, NBC
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES AND SPECIALS
Big Little Lies, HBO
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Atlanta, FX
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu
Career Achievement Award
Ken Burns
Heritage Award
Seinfeld (NBC)