"Louie," "Homeland" and "Game of Thrones" were among the big winners at Saturday's Television Critics Awards.
FX's "Louie," which on Saturday was renewed for a fourth season, picked up two awards: It was named best comedy and its star, Louis C.K., took home the award for best comedy actor. The night's other dual winner, Showtime's "Homeland," received the Outstanding New Program award, and star Claire Danes also won the Individual Achievement in Drama award.
"Breaking Bad" was named Drama of the Year (a distinction also bestowed on the AMC show in 2010), and the overall Program of the Year Award went to HBO's "Game of Thrones."
After "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan gave a heartfelt speech about how much the support of critics meant to those making the show, he asked actor Aaron Paul to bestow one of his trademark phrases on the crowd. He obliged with a Jesse Pinkman-esque "Yo, bitch!"
"Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston served as host for the non-televised event, which was held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills and attended by the casts and producers of the winning programs.
Other winners include Masterpiece's "Downton Abbey" as best miniseries, Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" for best reality show and CBS' "60 Minutes" for outstanding news program. ABC Family's "Switched at Birth" was named outstanding youth program.
Late-night host David Letterman was awarded a Career Achievement Award and "Cheers" was honored with the Heritage Award.
Louis C.K., who is based in New York, could not attend the awards (he was picking up his daughter from sleepaway camp, and taped his acceptance speeches in a local TV station in Albany). In his taped acceptance, Letterman said he wished he could be in Los Angeles, but, he noted in his trademark deadpan, "this is the night I eat glass."
The Television Critics Association is an organization of more than 200 critics and journalist from the United States and Canada. Saturday marked the 28th anniversary of the TCA Awards.
"The past year in television offered a wide variety of standout programming. Viewers were treated to shows that were fearless, thought-provoking and original,” TCA president Candace Havens said in a statement. “Whether it was the hard-hitting drama of 'Homeland,' the elegance of 'Downton Abbey,' the brash honesty of 'Louie' or any of our other winners — truly, there was something for everyone."
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