Hollywood, Health and Society at the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center toasted its 2023 Sentinel Awards winners on Wednesday at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, where Lear’s life took center stage after his passing was announced earlier in the day at the age of 101.
Lear’s wife Lyn sent a statement to be read aloud to Sentinel attendees at the beginning of the show by founding director of the Norman Lear Center Marty Kaplan, as she wrote, “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 have want us to laugh.”
Larry Wilmore served as host of the evening, introducing 11 powerful storylines and the creative teams behind them, as he joked, “Well you got to say this about Norman — the man knew how to make an exit. He knew his audience and wanted us to make sure we were all listening.”
“A giant has left us and we’re going to do him proud,” Wilmore continued. “This evening meant a lot to Norman because he believed television can reflect our best. That’s why the Sentinel Awards were created — to honor television’s best and brightest writing.”
The event recognizes TV writers and showrunners for their meaningful and accurate portrayals of timely and important topics including abortion, systemic racism, climate change and mental health. Among the show’s winners were writers Damon Lindelof and Tara Hernandez (Mrs. Davis), Taffy Brodesser-Akner (Fleishman Is in Trouble), Zoanne Clack and Zaiver Sinnett (Station 19), and Liz Tigelaar (Tiny Beautiful Things).
Kathryn Hahn, Debbie Allen, Ben Harper, Adam Brody, Frankie Quiñones, Logan Marmino, Jake McDorman, Michael McKean, Elizabeth Tulloch, and Barrett Doss served as presenters for the evening. Hollywood, Health & Society has presented the Sentinel Awards for more than 20 years, and provides entertainment professionals with accurate and timely information for storylines dealing with health, safety and security through consultations and briefings with experts.
Full list of winners is below.
Depiction of Abortion: Julie Wong, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – “When I Get to the Border”
Depiction of A.I.: Tara Hernandez & Damon Lindelof, Mrs. Davis (Peacock) – “The Final Intercut: So I’m Your Horse”
Depiction of Breast Cancer: Brent Fletcher and Todd Helbing, Superman & Lois (The CW) – multi-episode storyline (four episodes)
Depiction of Disabilities: Matt Fleckenstein, Zach Anner, and Gillian Grassie, Best Foot Forward (AppleTV+) – “Halloween”
Depiction of Climate Change: Scott Z. Burns, Extrapolations (AppleTV+) – “2046: Whale Fall”
Depiction of Diplomacy: Debora Cahn and Anna Haden, The Diplomat (Netflix) – “Some Lusty Tornado”
Depiction of Economic Disparities: Chris Estrada, Matt Ingebretson, Pat Bishop, Jake Weisman, This Fool (Hulu) – “Los Botes”
Depiction of End of Life: Liz Tigelaar, Tiny Beautiful Things (Hulu) – “The Nose”
Depiction of Maternal Health: Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Fleishman is in Trouble (FX on Hulu) – “Me-Time”
Depiction of Mental Health: Adam Kay, This is Going to Hurt (AMC+) “Episode 6” – BBC
Depiction of Systemic Racism: Zoanne Clack and Zaiver Sinnett, Station 19 (ABC) – “We Build Then We Break”
