The verdict is in for the 2016 Television Critics Association Awards, and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story was the biggest winner.
The FX anthology miniseries not only won Program of the Year, but was the night’s only multiple winner, also taking home awards for Sarah Paulson for Individual Achievement in Drama and for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials.
The Americans was a repeat winner for Outstanding Achievement in Drama, while black-ish became the first broadcast network show in a few years to win Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.
With People v. O.J. as the only multiple winner, the TCA got to share the wealth at the private ceremony, which took place tonight at the Beverly Hilton.
Mr. Robot was named Outstanding New Program, but the night had many winners from first-year series. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator and star Rachel Bloom won the Individual Achievement in Comedy trophy. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee won the Outstanding Achievement in New and Information category (which has tended of late to go to comedy/news shows like The Daily Show and Last Week Tonight). Making a Murderer was named Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming. After The Americans, the most veteran series recognized in a regular category was Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, which won for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming.
The two historical awards went to ’70s comedy icons: Lily Tomlin for Career Achievement, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show for the Heritage Award, which is sort of the TCA equivalent of our hall of fame.
(Here’s this year’s list of nominees, if you’re curious whom these people and shows beat.)
“This was truly a landmark season-not just for television, but for women in television,” said Amber Dowling, TCA President. “We had an unprecedented amount of female winners this year, which is a testament to both the talented actresses who were honored tonight, as well as to the growing number of high-quality roles being created for and by women. It”s extremely encouraging to see this growing trend being embraced, accepted, and expanded upon, and I look forward to seeing even more of it in the future.”