The 2020 Television Critics Association Awards looked a little different this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, but that didn’t stop
the TCA and its 200-plus members from across the United States and Canada from celebrating all of the best TV series of the year.The association, which ditched its in-person ceremony this past summer when it cancelled its biannual press tour in Pasadena, Calif., announced its winners via a press release on September 14. As expected,
Watchmen (
which led the nominations) was the big winner, winning four trophies. Those included Outstanding Achievement in Movie, Miniseries or Special, Program of the Year, Outstanding New Program, and Individual Achievement in Drama for Regina King (the TCAs don’t have gender-specific acting awards). In fact,
Watchmen won in every category in which it was nominated.[video_embed id='-1']RELATED: Regina King shares why she's turned down offers for big roles[/video_embed]“My heart is just jumping, thank you so much for all of your support,” King said in a private acceptance video that was only made available to TCA members. “What a wonderful group of thespians to be named alongside. I’m just bubbling.
Watchmen means so much to us and just... thank you. Thank you.”The HBO series and its
deep dive into race relations introduced many viewers to the real-life horrors of the Tulsa Massacre in its pilot, and continued sparking important conversations about Black history and systemic racism throughout its run.
Watchmen wasn’t the only show to be recognized for its contribution to the TV landscape over the past year, though.
Schitt’s Creek, which is expected to walk away with at least an Emmy or two during the upcoming September 20
th virtual ceremony, also won a TCA award for best comedy. Meanwhile, Catherine O’Hara was named the winner for Individual Achievement in Comedy. “I try not to take anything said about me too seriously, but your very kind encouragement and this award is making it really difficult to keep my head on straight,” O’Hara said in the video.“Well I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like a kind word from the critics,” Eugene Levy also said in the video, accepting on behalf of the show. “[This is] the best cast I’ve ever worked with in my 50 years… and that includes my dear friend and TCA winner tonight Catherine O’Hara. I’m particularly proud of the work my two kids Daniel and Sarah have done, on-camera, with me over the past six years,” he continued. “Okay, well that’s a dad moment… and finally I want to thank my partner, my son Daniel, who gave me the honour of accepting this award tonight. There would be no award to accept if it hadn’t been for the brilliant work he has done on this show as an actor, writer, producer, director, and showrunner for the past six years. So thank you son.”Another Canadian to be recognized for his body of work was Alex Trebek, whom the TCAs named as this year’s Career Achievement Honoree. “I was looking over a list of some of the previous honourees, people like Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley. My good friends Lucille Ball and Betty White. Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, Fred Rogers, Sid Caesar, Carol Burnett, Oprah Winfrey and now… Alex Trebek. I am truly humbled and most appreciative. Thank you so much,” he said from the set of
Jeopardy.Other winners included
Cheer (Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming),
Molly of Denali (Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming),
Succession (Outstanding Achievement in Drama), the Michael Jordan doc
The Last Dance (Outstanding Achievement in News and Information),
Star Trek (Heritage Award), and
A Black Lady Sketch Show (Outstanding Achievement in Sketch/Variety Show).“It’s an honour to be nominated against all my friends and I’m so happy that… we beat them,”
A Black Lady Sketch Show creator and star Robin Thede said in the video. “Thank you TCA members for this award. You are gonna send an award, right?”Guess those trophies are still in the mail…[video_embed id='2033618']Before you go: OG Aunt Viv takes part in 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' reunion[/video_embed]
