The Lee Daniels-created show wins the top prize in this year's Television Critics Association Awards which also applauds Jon Hamm, John Oliver, and David Letterman.
- Aug 9, 2015
AceShowbiz - Winners for the 31st annual Television Critics Association Awards are revealed. FOX's hip-hop drama series "Empire" won the coveted Program of the Year, AMC's "Breaking Bad" spinoff "Better Call Saul" was named Outstanding New Program, and Comedy Central's "Inside Amy Schumer" nabbed Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.
Amy Schumer also won an Individual Achievement in Comedy. The Individual Achievement in Drama, meanwhile, went to "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm. James L. Brooks was introduced by an animated Homer Simpson as the recipient of Career Achievement Award. "The L most definitely does not stand for loser," Homer joked.
The event was hosted by James Corden. He took a dig at Donald Trump's hair when commenting on "The Americans" which won Outstanding Achievement in Drama, "It is the only show with more fake hair than 'The Apprentice'." John Oliver's and David Letterman's shows were among the winners as well.
"I am that kid in the trash can," the openly-gay Lee Daniels said when accepting the prize for "Empire". "For you to like me is everything my father told me would not happen in my life." He also thanked the cast, "They're [bleeping] a bag of nut jobs. We don't know if they'll be working next week sometimes. Straight up real talk, y'all."
- Individual Achievement in Drama: Jon Hamm ("Mad Men" - AMC)
- Individual Achievement in Comedy: Amy Schumer ("Inside Amy Schumer" - Comedy Central)
- Outstanding Achievement in News and Information: "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" - HBO
- Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming: "The Chair" - Starz
- Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming: "The Fosters" - ABC Family
- Outstanding New Program: "Better Call Saul" - AMC
- Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials: "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst" - HBO
- Outstanding Achievement in Drama: "The Americans" - FX
- Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: "Inside Amy Schumer" - Comedy Central
- Career Achievement Award: James L. Brooks
- Heritage Award: "Late Show/Late Night with David Letterman" - CBS/NBC
- Program of the Year: "Empire" - FOX
