BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – It was as simple as ABC on Saturday night as the TV Critics Association Awards gave a huge pat on the back to the alphabet network’s remarkable turnaround and its two breakout hits, “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost.”
TV critics spend every day of the year telling you which shows we think you should watch.
But once a year, we put our heads together and decide which shows and actors we think most merit recognition.
The TCA Awards aren’t the Emmys, but they have been known to carry some weight in the past. The critics, for example, give themselves credit for pushing Michael Chiklis to an Emmy victory on his first season of “The Shield” in 2002.
The 21st Annual TV Critics Association Awards were presented at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles as part of the annual press tour that looks ahead to the fall schedule.
Craig Ferguson of CBS’ “Late Late Show” hosted the ceremony, which was a laid back, informal nod to the best of the 2004-05 television season.
The desperate housewives of Wisteria Lane earned Outstanding Program of the Year honors, while the deserted islanders of “Lost” won both the Best New Program and Outstanding Achievement in Drama.
“Housewives” creator Marc Cherry said in accepting the award: “A lot of writers in Hollywood go around and they say, ‘Oh, I don’t care what the critics say, I don’t care about critics.’ I must tell you now, I care desperately what you guys say. It matters to me greatly.”
Fox’s ratings-challenged but critically acclaimed comedy “Arrested Development” won Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.
In the individual categories, Hugh Laurie of Fox’s drama “House” won for Best Individual Achievement in Drama.
Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” won for Individual Achievement in Comedy.
The TV critics again got serious with their Outstanding Achievement in News and Information award, which went to “The Daily Show” last year. It returned to PBSs “Frontline,” which has won three of the past four years, and has won the award seven times since 1992.
ABC’s “Nightline” received the Heritage Award, which recognizes a long-standing program that has had a lasting cultural or social impact. Past winners include “60 Minutes,” “The Simpsons” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
Other winners included “The Office Special” for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Mini-series and Specials, and “Degrassi: The Next Generation” for Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming.
Bob Newhart was on hand to accept the TCA’s Career Achievement award. Past winners include Lucille Ball, Angela Lansbury, Johnny Carson and Bob Hope.
The Television Critics Association was founded in 1978 and includes more than 200 reporters and columnists in print media from the United States and Canada.
Seen and heard
Hugh Laurie, accepting his award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Drama, told the roomful of critics: “I have held the belief that television critics are some of the wisest and kindest people in our community, and with this (award), you have shown the wisdom of Solomon. Although I know a lot of you think that Solomon was rather two-dimensional.”
Victor Balta is on assignment at the TV Critics Association press tour in Los Angeles, filing dispatches on the fall TV season. E-mail him at vbalta@ heraldnet.com.
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