HBO’s “Watchmen” (shown here) is the big winner in the annual Television Critics Association awards.
The show – merging fantasy, action and racial commentary – was named program of the year, plus best movie or mini-series and best new show. Its star, Regina Taylor, won the individual drama award.
That was part of a year dominated by cable, with only two exceptions:
“Molly of Denali,” a new animated show on PBS, won the youth-programming award; “Cheer,: on the Netflix streaming services, won the reality show award. Otherwise, it was all cable.
Both historical awards, however, reflected the past dominance of broadcast. “Star Trek” won the Legacy Award; Alex Trebek, 80 – who has been hosting “Jeopardy” since it was revived in 1984 – won for career achievement.
The awards were announced today (Monday, Sept. 14), six days before ABC hosts the Emmy awards.
Designed as a sequel to a graphic novel, “Watchmen” begins with the real-life massacre of blacks in 1921 Tulsa, then jumps to a time when white-supremacists are at war with the Tulsa police; the police officers (including Taylor’s character) wear masks, to protect their identities.
The show was planned as a series, but then became a self-contained, nine-episode story. HBO entered it as a mini-series, allowing its “Succession” to win as best drama. The winners:
– Program of the year: “Watchmen,” HBO.
– Drama: “Succession,” HBO.
– Comedy: “Schitt’s Creek,” Pop TV.
– New show: “Watchmen,” HBO.
– Sketch/variety show: “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” HBO.
– News and information show: “The Last Dance,” ESPN.
– Youth programming: “Molly of Denali,” PBS.
– Reality show: “Cheer,” Netflix.
– Individual achievement, drama: Regina King, “Watchmen,” HBO.
– Individual achievement, comedy: Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek,” Pop TV.
– Career achievement: Alex Trebek.
– Heritage Award: “Star Trek.”