There’s the Emmys, the Globes, even the Critics Choice Awards — yet when determining the best of the small screen, the Television Critics Association’s annual TCA Awards can always be trusted.
This year’s roster of winners is no exception. Honoring TV’s finest over the past 12 months, Apple TV horror comedy “Widow’s Bay” was the year’s big winner, emerging with three awards. Also proving popular with the association’s membership of TV critics was “Heated Rivalry,” which won the honors for Program of the Year.
Here are this year’s honorees, along with acceptance speeches from the winners.
Program of the Year: ‘Heated Rivalry’
The Canadian drama about the forbidden romance between competing pro hockey players took the top award.
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: ‘Widow’s Bay’
Accepting the first of three awards for the Apple TV horror-comedy was star Matthew Rhys.
“Thank you so much, TCA — we are beyond honored,” the actor said. “Obviously, it takes nothing more than an enormous thank you to say please do visit Widow’s Bay — because we really do have the best beaches, the greatest seafood as we all ….” he said before the lights began flickering in spooky “Widow’s Bay” fashion.
Outstanding Achievement in Drama: ‘The Pitt’
“It is certainly not easy to come back and have a sophomore attempt,” said “The Pitt” star Noah Wyle in his acceptance speech, referencing the show’s second consecutive win in this category.
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries or Specials: ‘Death by Lightning’
This Netflix historical drama is based on the assassination of U.S. President James Garfield by a deluded former admirer.
Series star Nick Offerman, revealing he was backstage at Chicago’s Goodman Theater, accepted.
“I just wanted to take a moment on behalf of all of us on ‘Death By Lightning’ to say thank you for the TCA Award …” he said. “We are so grateful our weird little piece of history … it was like theater camp for all of us.”
Outstanding New Program: ‘Widow’s Bay’
Winning its second TCA Award, the cast and producers of “Widow’s Bay” shared their thanks.
Individual Achievement in Drama: Rhea Seehorn, ‘Pluribus’
Rhea Seehorn won for Individual Achievement in Drama, and thanked the TCA in her acceptance remarks.
“I appreciate you recognizing my work on ‘Pluribus’ so much,” she said. “I mean, it’s a weird show. It’s really weird…”
Individual Achievement in Comedy: Kate O’Flynn, ‘Widow’s Bay’
“My head blew clean off when I found out I won this,” Flynn declared, adding, “It’s time to let our inner Patricias out in the world and run free.”
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information: ‘The American Revolution’
Accepting his award for PBS docuseries “The American Revolution,” famed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns declared, “It is a true honor.”
Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch: ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’
“Hey, give my best to TV! I miss it,” Stephen Colbert cheerily proclaimed, a joking reference to CBS canceling “The Late Show.”
Outstanding Achievement in Reality: ‘The Traitors’
“I cannot believe that this is the first time that a show has won any TCA Award three times in a row,” marveled “Traitors” host Alan Cumming of the show’s TCA Awards winning streak.
Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming: ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’
Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming: ‘Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical’
Outstanding Achievement in Animation: ‘Long Story Short’
Outstanding International Series: ‘Squid Game’
Career Achievement: Stephen Colbert
“Hello TCA, Stephen Colbert here,” the former late-night host said.
“And since this is for the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award, I wanna class things up a bit with a bowtie and a blue blazer,” he said, just as the camera panned out to reveal he was sitting in his bathtub.
The reason, he explained, is because “it allows me to bathe in, to wallow in, as it were, the adulation I feel coming my way.”
