LOS ANGELES — “Fleabag” — a handmade British show, filled with charm and regret – is the year’s big winner in the Television Critics Association awards.
The TCA gave it the top award for comedy and also named it program of the year. In addition, Phoebe Waller-Bridge – its creator and star — won the individual comedy award. (She and the show are shown here.)
The drama awards went to “Better Call Saul” and to “Fosse/Verdon” star Michelle Williams, with “Russian Doll” named best new show and “Chernobyl” winning for best movie or mini-series.
In the two historical categories, it was a “Deadwood” sweep. It won the Heritage Award; its creator, David Milch –who also did “NYPD Blue,” “Hill Street Blues” and more – won the Lifetime Achievement Award.
But the big winner was Waller-Bridge, who originally did a 10-minute storytelling piece about her frazzled life. That became a theater piece and then a series in which she often talks to he camera.
There have only been two six-episode seasons and Waller-Bridge – writing and producing the acclaimed “Killing Eve” series — says there won’t be a third; Amazon, the show’s American network, says it’s trying to change her mind.
The winners, announced a 8 p.m. PT Saturday, are:
— Program of the year: “Fleabag,” Amazon.
— New program: “Russian Doll,” Netflix.
— Comedy: Program, “Fleabag”; individual, Waller-Bridge.
— Drama: Program, “Better Call Saul,” AMC; individual, Michelle Williams, “Fosse/Verdon,” FX.
— Movie or mini-series: “Chernobyl,” HBO.
— News and information: “Leaving Neverland,” HBO.
— Youth programming: “Arthur,” PBS.
— Also: The second straight win for HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (sketch/variety) and Netflix’s “Queer Eye” (reality). HBO’s “Deadwood” won the Heritage Award, with its creator, David Milch, winning for Lifetime Achievement.