Monday, May 21st, 2012
The Televisions Critics Association held its 23rd annual TCA awards ceremony last Saturday night inside the Beverly Hilton, also the site of the Golden Globes. Without all the hoorah of other broadcast award ceremonies, the TCA is a subtler honoring of television’s best programs.
NBC boasted four awards including "Heroes" for program of the year, "The Office" for best comedy, Alec Baldwin for outstanding achievement in comedy (yes he was in attendance), and "Friday Night Lights for the best new show.
To clarify how "Heroes" could take home program of the year but not best new show, the award for program of the year is targeted towards a show that has extended its reach beyond television to touch the general population.
A great deal of celebrating was done in honor of "The Sopranos". A standing ovation greeted the cast and staff of the show as they approached the stage to accept their best drama award. They also received the TCA’s Heritage Award in recognition of the cultural impact created by the HBO series.
"The Sopranos" creator, David Chase, appeared to offer a few humorous remarks and absolutely no insight to the "fade to black" ending of the popular series. However it wasn’t really expected of him anyway.
"Planet Earth" provided the Discovery channel with an honor of outstanding achievement in news and information as well as outstanding achievement in miniseries, film or special. Michael C. Hall, of "Dexter’s", was overlooked by the Emmys but received outstanding dramatic achievement by an individual at the TCA ceremony. ABC Family show "Kyle XY" received a trophy for outstanding achievement in kids programming.
Mary Tyler Moore, who unfortunately was not present, was awarded an honor for career achievement.
