2024 TV Scholar Awards

My totally biased recognitions for outstanding shows and performances in 2024.

For the last four years, I’ve put together these recognitions as a way to cement the end of the year and highlight shows and performances that moved me. I’ve been reading my journal entries from the last year and…oh honey. It’s been a rough one. So much has happened both intimately and on a world scale. I feel like my love for television as an art form really got tested. DEI positions were axed at networks, the industry faced record-breaking contraction, queer shows got cancelled left and right, AI creeped its way in, TV critics and reporters got laid off or left the field, industry creatives signed letters and spoke out supporting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. Many of us had to muster whatever power we could to compartmentalize all the livestreamed death and destruction to be able to stay present in our every day lives while still bearing witness. It’s felt odd to be writing about TV, of all things, during so much catastrophe. My optometrist recently told me I have meibomian gland disorder, chronic dry and red eyes likely related to my relentless screen use. I know how much my screen time outside of watching TV has increased this year — the scrolling, oh the scrolling.

I may be wrestling with all kinds of existential doubt (I mean, if you’re a consistent reader of this newsletter, you’ll know this is just par for the course for me), but scenes from this year’s shows are permanently etched into my brain cells. My Brilliant Friend, are you kidding me? Of course it’s getting its flowers here. Cristin Milioti sinking her teeth into The Penguin. Everything in every episode of Somebody Somewhere. The stunning fifth episode of Expats. Justice for Girls5eva! Trying to pick between Anna Sawai and Marisa Abela’s performances as lead actors in a drama was torturous. It’s all a reminder, for me at least, that television still holds so much transportive, emotional value. (Good) TV is still that girl and it continues to impact me on a soul level. TV is carrying me through. Thank you, as always, for following along. I have lots of goodies planned for this newsletter in 2025. Let me know what you think of this year’s wins in the comments!

(Eligibility: Dec 1, 2023 to Dec 1, 2024)

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TV Scholar Queer Representation Award
Big Boys
Fantasmas
Girls5eva
Hacks
Heartstopper
Interview with the Vampire
Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show
We Are Lady Parts

***WINNER: Fantasmas

Best Ensemble
Abbott Elementary
The Diplomat
Industry
My Brilliant Friend
Pachinko
Say Nothing
Shōgun
We Are Lady Parts

***WINNER: Industry

Best Drama
Evil
Industry
Interview with the Vampire
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
My Brilliant Friend
Pachinko
Shōgun
Slow Horses

***WINNER: My Brilliant Friend

Best Lead Acting in a Drama
Alba Rohrwacher, My Brilliant Friend
Anna Sawai, Shōgun
Hiroyuki Sanada, Shōgun
Jacob Anderson, Interview with the Vampire
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Ken Leung, Industry
Marisa Abela, Industry
Maya Erskine, Mr. & Mrs. Smith

***WINNER: Marisa Abela, Industry

Best Supporting Acting in a Drama
Andrea Martin, Evil
Carmen Maura, Land of Women
Cristin Milioti, The Penguin
Eric Bogosian, Interview with the Vampire
Irene Maiorino, My Brilliant Friend
Nizhonniya Austin, The Curse
Sagar Radia, Industry
Ruth Negga, Presumed Innocent

***WINNER: Cristin Milioti, The Penguin

Best Guest Acting in a Drama 
Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Annarita Vitolo, My Brilliant Friend
CCH Pounder, 3 Body Problem
Eve Best, House of the Dragon
Laura Benanti, Elsbeth
Parker Posey, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Sarita Choudhury, Fallout
Yuko Miyamoto, Shogun

***WINNER: Annarita Vitolo, My Brilliant Friend

Best Comedy
Abbott Elementary
Colin from Accounts
Diarra from Detroit
Fantasmas
Girls5eva
Hacks
Somebody Somewhere
We Are Lady Parts

***WINNER: Somebody Somewhere

Best Lead Acting in a Comedy
Anjana Vasan, We Are Lady Parts
Bridget Everett, Somebody Somewhere
Jean Smart, Hacks 
Julio Torres, Fantasmas
Lizzie Davidson, Such Brave Girls
Natasha Rothwell, How to Die Alone
Nicola Coughlan, Big Mood
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Girls5Eva

***WINNER: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Girls5Eva

Best Supporting Acting in a Comedy
Delroy Lindo, UnPrisoned
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks 
Judy Ongg, Sunny
Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear
Lydia West, Big Mood
MJ Rodriguez, Loot
Rebecca Wisocky, Ghosts
Sarah Kameela Impey, We Are Lady Parts 

***WINNER: Liza Colón-Zayas, The Bear

Best Guest Acting in a Comedy
Ana Gasteyer, Loot
Alexa Demie, Fantasmas
Christina Hendricks, Hacks
Eva Longoria, Only Murders in the Building
Kaitlin Olson, Hacks
Larry Owen, Abbott Elementary
Molly Shannon, Only Murders in the Building
Phylicia Rashad, Diarra from Detroit

***WINNER: Kaitlin Olson, Hacks

Best Limited Series
A Murder at the End of the World
Baby Reindeer
Expats
Fargo
Ripley
Say Nothing
The Sympathizer
True Detective: Night Country

***WINNER: Baby Reindeer

Best Lead Acting in a Limited Series
Ambika Mod, One Day
Hoa Xuande, The Sympathizer
Jodie Foster, True Detective: Night Country
Julianne Moore, Mary & George
Juno Temple, Fargo
Lola Petticrew, Say Nothing
Naomi Watts, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Sofía Vergara, Griselda

***WINNER: Hoa Xuande, The Sympathizer

Best Supporting Acting in a Limited Series
Archie Panjabi, Under the Bridge
Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer
Kali Reis, True Detective: Night Country
Lily Gladstone, Under the Bridge
Luke Kirby, Dr. Death
Maxine Peake, Say Nothing
Nava Mau, Baby Reindeer
Sarayu Blue, Expats

***WINNER: Sarayu Blue, Expats