TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES
WINNERS OF 19TH ANNUAL AWARDS
JULY 19, 2003, HOLLYWOOD, CA The nation’s TV critics reached for the
breadth and depth of programming this year, handing out 11 awards to 8
different cable and broadcast networks at the 19th annual Television Critics
Association Awards.
In a ceremony guest-hosted by comedienne Wanda Sykes at the Hollywood
Renaissance Hotel, Comedy Central, NBC and PBS nabbed two trophies each
while FOX, HBO, and the SciFi Channel each received one.
Comedy Central¹s satirical yet informative news series “The Daily Show with
Jon Stewart” won for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy and Individual
Achievement in Comedy for host Jon Stewart.
NBC¹s complex ensemble drama, “Boomtown,” was recognized for Outstanding New
Program and Outstanding Achievement in Drama.
Edie Falco received the drama performance plaudit for her powerful role as
the wife in a crumbling marriage on HBO¹s “The Sopranos.” Critics chose
Fox¹s pop culture phenomenon “American Idol” as Program of the Year.
PBS¹s “Frontline” secured its sixth TCA award for Outstanding Achievement in
News & Information, while its long-running “Reading Rainbow” snagged a
first-ever TCA honor for Outstanding Achievement in Children¹s Programming.
Under unusual circumstances, the WB and UPN shared kudos when “Buffy the
Vampire Slayer,” which aired on both networks, received the Heritage award.
The award recognizes distinguished programming whose influence has had an
impact on society beyond the bounds of TV.
Other nods went to Carl Reiner, recipient of this year’s Career Achievement
Award, and to the Sci Fi Channel¹s mini-series “Taken,” executive produced
by Steven Spielberg.
Among those on hand to accept were Edie Falco (“The Sopranos”), Jon Stewart
(“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”), Ryan Seacrest and Paula Abdul
(“American Idol”), and LeVar Burton (“Reading Rainbow”).
The 2003 TCA Award recipients are as follows:
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“American Idol” (Fox)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
“Boomtown” (NBC)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” (Comedy Central)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Jon Stewart (“The Daily Show”)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Edie Falco (“The Sopranos”)
OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM
“Boomtown” (NBC)
HERITAGE AWARD
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (WB/UPN)
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
Carl Reiner
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS & INFORMATION
“Frontline” (PBS)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN¹S PROGRAMMING
“Reading Rainbow” (PBS)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINI-SERIES & SPECIALS
“Taken” (Sci Fi)
The TCA Awards were held for the first time at the Renaissance Hollywood
Hotel at Hollywood and Highland.
Founded in 1978, the Television Critics Association is composed of more than
200 reporters and columnists in print media from the USA and Canada.
To download photos of the event go to www.wireimage.com. Log in username is
“tcaawards” and password is “photos”. After logging in, click on “My
Account” in the upper right hand corner of the screen to view link to photos
and download instructions.