Wyle’s “Pitt” sweeps TCA awards

Twenty years after leaving “ER,” Noah Wyle is back on top of the TV world.
His “The Pitt” (shown here) — an intense medical drama on HBO Max — has swept the Television Critics Association awards, announced today. It won for program of the year plus best drama and best new program; Wyle also won the award for individuals in a drama.
Other winners included “The Studio” on Apple TV+ (comedy), “Adolescence” on Netflix (movie or miniseries) and “Traitors” on Peacock (reality), plus HBO’s Pee-wee Herman documentary and the 50th-anniversary special for “Saturday Night Live.” The individual comedy award went to Bridget Everett in HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere.”
But this is clearly the year for Wyle, 54. He left “ER” (after 11 seasons) in 2005, returning for parts of two other seasons. Since then, he’s been artistic director of a theater company and done some series on cable (“The Librarians,” “Falling Skies,” “Leverage: Redemption”) plus a CBS min-series (“The Red Line”).
All drew praise — but nothing compared to “The Pitt,” which follows life in the emergency department of a Pittsburgh hospital. The first season had one grueling, 15-hour day, one hour per episode; the second starts Jan. 8.
Wyle produces the show with two of the former “ER” producers and stars as a doctor still bearing the impact of his Covid ordeal.
The TCA has 235 professional TV critics. This year, their awards were filled with first-timers. The only ones that had won previously were “Traitors” and (in the family and children’s categories) “Doctor Who” and “Sesame Street.”
The winners:
— Program of the year, new program, drama: “The Pitt,” HBO Max.
— Comedy: “The Studio,” Apple TV+.
— Movie, mini-series or special: “Adolescence,” Netflix.
— Reality: “The Traitors,” Peacock.”
— Variety, talk or sketch: “SNL 50: The Anniversary Special.”
— News and information: “Pee-wee as Himself,” HBO.
— Family programming: “Doctor Who,” Disney+.
— Children’s programming: “Sesame Street,” HBO and PBS.
— Individual drama: Wyle.
— Individual comedy: Bridget Everett.
— Career achievement: Kathy Bates.
— Heritage Award: “Sesame Street.”