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TV critics award repeat winners Modern Family, Mad Men

Oprah Winfrey nets career-achievement recognition

By: Brad Oswald

Posted: 08/7/2011 9:40 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Ty Burrell won an individual-achievement award at the Television Critics Association awards for his role in Modern Famiiy. (HANDOUT / POSTMEDIA NEWS)

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BEVERLY HILLS — Quality, consistency and a towering career achievement were in the spotlight Saturday night when the Television Critics Association handed out its annual awards, recognizing the year’s best TV programs and performers as well as several pioneering efforts that helped shape the medium.

The TCA Awards were presented at a gala ceremony at the showbiz-history-steeped Beverly Hilton Hotel, with actor/comedian Nick Offerman of NBC’s Parks and Recreation acting as the evening’s guest host.

The theme of the evening seemed to be that quality is enduring, with several winners from previous years returning to the podium to accept TCA Awards.

ABC’s hit sitcom Modern Family, which was honoured last year, took home two TCA Awards — outstanding achievement in comedy, and an individual-achievement nod for series star Ty Burrell (in a rare ballot-box tie that saw host Offerman also receive a trophy in the same category).

AMC’s time-warped drama Mad Men, another critical favourite in years past, also took home two awards — outstanding achievement in drama, which it had won twice before (2008 and 2009), and outstanding individual achievement in drama, given to series star Jon Hamm.

The mythical HBO drama Game of Thrones received the award for outstanding new program, while the PBS/Masterpiece thriller Sherlock — a modern-day reinterpretation of the Sherlock Holmes saga — was honoured for outstanding achievement in movies, mini-series or specials.

The timeless PBS series Sesame Street was named outstanding youth program, and CBS’s The Amazing Race took home the TCA’s first-ever award for outstanding achievement in reality programming. The National Geographic Channel documentary Restrepo, which chronicled life in a front-line U.S. Army outpost in Afghanistan, was honoured for outstanding achievement in news and information.

The critically beloved NBC drama Friday Night Lights, which recently ended its prime-time run, was named program of the year.

The TCA bestowed its career-achievement award on Oprah Winfrey, in recognition of the societal impact of her 25-year run in daytime TV.

The TCA’s Heritage Award, which recognizes a program that has had lasting social or cultural impact, was presented to the classic ’60s sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show. Series creator Carl Reiner accepted the award; cast members Rose Marie and Larry Mathews were also on hand for the ceremony.

The Television Critics Association is comprised of more than 200 journalists who cover television for print and online publications throughout North America. The TCA Awards have been recognizing the best work of the TV industry for the past 27 years.

brad.oswald@freepress.mb.ca

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