The winners of the 2024 Sentinel Awards, organized by Hollywood, Health & Society (HH&S), a program of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, were just announced in advance of the ceremony that will take place on Thursday, October 24 at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, CA.
Made in order to recognize some of the past year’s best TV entertainment that responsibly informs audiences on critical topics, this year’s list of Sentinel Award winners include “The Morning Show,” “Abbott Elementary,” and “Hacks,” for the shows’ approach toward tackling important subjects like the abortion, smoking, and climate consciousness, respectively. Last year, the ceremony took place the evening after Norman Lear’s passing, giving the industry their first chance to mourn the TV giant, and cementing the event as a celebration of his life and impact as well.
Comedian, writer, “SNL” alum, and The Groundlings founding member Laraine Newman will serve as host of the awards, which have been around for nearly 25 years. “The Sentinel Awards celebrates the voices and stories that transcend TV and help shape our culture,” she said via statement. “Norman Lear’s work has touched countless lives, and I’m proud to celebrate the transformative impact of our craft. As we approach the November 5th election, it’s crucial to address the pressing issues facing voters, including significant topics like abortion, which will be honored for their portrayal onscreen at the Sentinel Awards. These narratives are more important now than ever.”
Sarayu Blue from “Expats,” Matt Shively and Selenis Leyva of “Lopez vs Lopez,” Yeardley Smith from “The Simpsons,” and more stars from the winning series will attend to present the trophy to the writers, showrunners, and executive producers who are taking on these important storylines.
“Television has the power to affect audiences’ perceptions and influence how they view and engage with the world. While entertainment is vital, it should never compromise accuracy, especially when addressing important topics – a hallmark of Norman Lear’s legacy. Thoughtful and responsible storytelling can educate, inspire and drive meaningful conversations, something critical to the evolution of our society,” said Kate Folb, program director for Hollywood, Health & Society.
See the full list of 2024 Sentinel Award winners listed below.
The Culture of Health:
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC), Body of work for 20 Seasons – Shonda Rhimes (Creator, Executive Producer), Meg Marinis (Executive Producer/Showrunner, Writer)
Depiction of Abortion:
“The Morning Show” (Apple TV+), “The Kármán Line” – Charlotte Stoudt (Executive Producer/Showrunner, Writer)
Depiction of Addiction:
“Lopez vs Lopez” (NBC), “Lopez vs Sobriety” & “Lopez vs George” – Debby Wolfe (Creator, Executive Producer/Showrunner, Writer), George Lopez (Creator, Executive Producer), Mayan Lopez (Creator, Producer), Dan Signer (Writer)
Depiction of Caregiving:
“Expats” (Prime Video), “Central” – Lulu Wang (Creator, Showrunner, Director, Writer)
Depiction of End of Life:
“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” (FX), “Beautiful Babe” – Jon Robin Baitz (Executive Producer, Writer, Developed by)
Depiction of Mental Health:
“Gen V” (Prime Video), “#ThinkBrink” – Michele Fazekas (Executive Producer/ Showrunner), Erica Rosbe (Executive Producer, Writer)
Depiction of Smoking and Vaping:
“Abbott Elementary” (ABC), “Smoking” – Quinta Brunson (Creator, Executive Producer/Showrunner), Jordan Temple (Co-Executive Producer, Writer)
Depiction of Racism:
“The Big Cigar” (Apple TV+), “Panther/Producer” – Jim Hecht (Executive Producer, Writer, Developed By), Janine Sherman Barrois (Executive Producer/Showrunner)
Depiction of Racism in Healthcare:
“Dark Winds” (AMC), Multi-episode Storyline – Graham Roland (Creator, Executive Producer, Writer), John Wirth (Executive Producer/Showrunner, Writer),
Depiction of Climate Consciousness:
“Hacks” (Max), “One Day” – Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky (Creators, Executive Producers, Showrunners), Carol Leifer (Co-executive Producer, Writer), Carolyn Lipka (Writer)
Depiction of Economic Disparity
“The Simpsons” (Fox), “Night of the Living Wage” – Matt Selman (Executive Producer/Showrunner), Cesar Mazariegos (Writer, Supervising Producer)
