Winners of the 2024 Sentinel Awards include ‘Hacks’ and ‘Abbott Elementary’
Hollywood, Health & Society, a program of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, revealed the winners of this year’s Sentinel Awards on Wednesday, in anticipation of the upcoming celebratory ceremony on Oct. 24.
HH&S has been honoring outstanding TV storylines with the Sentinel Awards for nearly 25 years, acknowledging those that effectively educate audiences on important topics like climate change, racism, abortion, and addiction.
The ceremony, set to take place at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, will be emceed by comedian and Saturday Night Live alum Laraine Newman, with presenters including Sarayu Blue from Expats, Matt Shively, and Selenis Leyva from Lopez vs Lopez, and Yeardley Smith from The Simpsons.
“Television has the ability to shape audience perceptions and influence their perspectives on the world. While entertainment is important, it should never sacrifice accuracy, especially when tackling significant issues – a principle exemplified by Norman Lear’s legacy. Thoughtful and responsible storytelling can educate, inspire, and spark meaningful conversations, essential for societal progress,” stated Kate Folb, program director for Hollywood, Health & Society.
A complete list of this year’s award winners is provided below.
The Culture of Health:
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), spanning 20 seasons – Shonda Rhimes (creator, executive producer) and Meg Marinis (executive producer/showrunner, writer)