“Succession” tops TV critics’ awards

With its final burst of Emmy glory being delayed, “Succession” (shown here) has a solid concession prize:
It has won the top Television Critics Association award, as program of the year. It has also been named the best drama.
The awards were announced today (Monday, Aug. 7), with no accompanying ceremony, due to the actors’ and writers’ strikes. By comparison, the Emmys have been delayed indefinitely.
“Succession” – a four-season drama on HBO and Max, about a family’s in-fighting for corporate control – is a favorite to win the best-drama Emmy whenever that is awarded. It won in its third and second seasons and was nominated in its first.
For the TCA awards, it was nominated for best drama in its first season and won in its second, third and now its fourth and final year. It was nominated as program of the year in its second and third years, but this is its first win.
The comedy award went to “The Bear,” the story of an intense young chef at a Chicago restaurant. The show – produced by FX for Hulu — also won for best new show; its second season aired this summer, too late for this year’s awards.
Neither “Succession” nor “Bear” won the individual awards, however. They went to Natasha Lyonne (the star of Peacock’s “Poker Face”) for comedy and Rhea Seehorn (co-star of “Better Call Saul” on AMC and AMC+) for drama.
Other awards ranged from the new “BEEF” mini-series to two classics: A lifetime award for Mel Brooks, 97, and a heritage award for the show that starred Carol Burnett, now 90.
The winners are:
— Program of the year: “Succession,” HBO and Max.
— Drama: “Succession.”
— Comedy: “The Bear,” Hulu (produced by FX).
— Individual in drama: Rhea Seehorn, “Better Call Saul,” AMC and AMC+.
— Individual in comedy: Natasha Lyonne, “Poker Face,” Peacock.
— New show: “The Bear.”
— Movie, mini-series or special: “BEEF,” Netflix.
— Variety, talk or sketch: “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson,” Netflix. (It also won last year.)
— News and information: “The U.S. and the Holocaust,” PBS (a Ken Burns series).
— Reality: “Jury Duty,” Amazon Freefee. (It was a hybrid show in which one “juror” was unaware the others were actors.)
— Family show: “Ms. Marvel,” Disney+.
— Children’s show: “Bluey,” Disney+.
— Career achievement: Mel Brooks.
— Heritage Award: “The Carol Burnett Show,” CBS.