2023 Sentinel Awards
Writers Guild Theater
Norman Lear, the legendary Emmy Award-winning television producer whose regular attendance at the Sentinel Awards had been an inspiring presence at the annual red-carpet event, took center stage in spirit this year during a celebrity-filled show hosted by comedian and writer Larry Wilmore at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills.
Lear, who died a day earlier at the age of 101 surrounded by his wife, Lyn, and family at their Los Angeles home, was memorialized during the celebratory event on Dec. 6, which was presented by Hollywood, Health & Society (HH&S), a program of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, to honor TV shows whose outstanding storytelling makes an impact.
A visibly moved Marty Kaplan, the founding director of the Lear Center and a dear friend of his for 40 years, told the audience at the beginning of the show: “I’m glad you’re here. I’m gonna need you tonight.”
“Norman’s shows moved our hearts and minds to embrace our common humanity and live up to what’s best in us,” Kaplan said. “Doing that is why these winning writers are being honored,” he said.
In her introductory remarks, HH&S program Director Kate Folb talked about growing up in Indiana as a “latch-key” kid watching Lear’s shows for their comfort and company. “They say never to meet your heroes because you might be disappointed,” she said. “Not so when I met Norman. He was everything I imagined and so much more. I feel so blessed to have been a very small part of his massive universe.”
More photos | Watch the full event
Norman Lear Changed the Face of TV
At the outset, Kaplan read a statement from Lyn Lear that said: “I would have been there tonight if not for the passing of our beloved Norman. He was so proud of the work of The Lear Center and Hollywood Health and Society. And he would not have wanted all of us to mourn. He would want us to celebrate the important shows you are honoring tonight, and most of all… he would want us to laugh.”
With the Emmy-winning Wilmore as host, there was indeed plenty of laughter.
“Well you got to say this about Norman—the man knew how to make an exit,” said Wilmore, who called Lear “a giant.”
“This evening meant a lot to Norman, because he believed television can reflect our best,” Wilmore said. “That’s why the Sentinel Awards were created—to honor television’s best and brightest writing.”
Depicting topics that included racism, abortion, climate crisis, breast cancer and others, the 11 shows honored were: The Diplomat (Netflix); Station 19 (ABC); Extrapolations (Apple TV+); Tiny Beautiful Things (Hulu); Best Foot Forward (Apple TV+); Superman & Lois (The CW); Grey’s Anatomy (ABC); This Is Going to Hurt (AMC+); Mrs. Davis (Peacock); This Fool (Hulu); and Fleishman Is In Trouble (FX on Hulu).
Accepting awards for their shows included showrunners Damon Lindelof, Liz Tigelaar, author Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Scott Z. Burns, and comedians Chris Estrada and Frankie Quinones.
The stellar lineup of awards presenters included:
- Debbie Allen, producer/director of Grey’s Anatomy
- Michael McKean, who plays President William Rayburn on The Diplomat
- Kathryn Hahn, star of Tiny Beautiful Things
- Jake McDorman, co-star of Mrs. Davis
- Adam Brody, co-star of Fleishman Is in Trouble
- Jason George, co-star of Station 19
The evening’s remarks included a tribute to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA unions and their members who had recently returned to work with new contracts following months-long strikes, and a soulful solo performance by three-time Grammy Award-winning musician Ben Harper.
But with Lear’s passing, the occasion offered writers, producers and performers the chance to remember his influential life and lasting legacy, with ground-breaking shows that included All in the Family, Maude, One Day at a Time, Good Times and The Jeffersons.
Allen of Grey’s Anatomy recalled that her first network television job was on Lear’s ‘70s hit Good Times. “I call him King Lear because he really changed the landscape of television and the industry,” she said.
“TV grew up in the ‘70s,” McKean said during an interview on the red carpet. “That was the real golden age [of TV] and Norman was one of the great miners of that age.”
Here is the complete list of the 11 winning shows, writers and topics:
- Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) –“When I Get to the Border,” written by Julie Wong; abortion
- Mrs. Davis (Peacock)—“The Final Intercut: So I’m Your Horse,” story by Nadra Widatalla and Chikira Bennett; co-created by Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof; artificial intelligence
- Superman & Lois (The CW)—Season 3 multi-episode storyline (4 episodes), written by Kristi Korzec, Katie Aldrin, George Kitson and Andrew N. Wong, showrunners Brent Fletcher and Todd Helbing; breast cancer
- Best Foot Forward (Apple TV+)—“Halloween,” written by Zach Anner and Gillian Grassie, executive producer Matt Fleckenstein disabilities/children’s programming
- Extrapolations (Apple TV+)— “2046: Whale Fall,” written, created, directed and produced by Scott Z. Burns; climate emergency
- The Diplomat (Netflix)— “Some Lusty Tornado,” written by Anna Hagen; created by Debora Cahn; diplomacy
- This Fool (Hulu)— “Los Botes,” written by Monica Padrick, co-created by Chris Estrada, Matt Ingebretson, Pat Bishop and Jake Weisman; economic disparities
- Tiny Beautiful Things (Hulu)— “The Nose,” written by Des Moran; created by Liz Tigelaar from the book by Cheryl Strayed; end of life
- Fleishman Is in Trouble (FX/Hulu)—“Me-Time,” written by Taffy Brodesser-Akner; maternal health
- This Is Going to Hurt (AMC+)— “Episode 6,” written by Adam Kay; mental health
- Station 19 (ABC)—“We Build Then We Break,” written by Zaiver Sinnett, executive producer Zoanne Clack; directed by Peter Paige; systemic racism
2023 Sentinel Awards: Highlights Reel
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History of the Sentinel Awards
Hollywood, Health & Society’s Sentinel Awards honoring TV writers for their accurate and entertaining depictions of health, safety & security topics in storylines has been going on for over 20 years! See how much the annual awards ceremony has changed over the years.
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To commemorate Norman Lear’s exceptional life and career, the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center is highlighting his amazingly impactful 101 years.
