Hosted by “Saturday Night Live” alum Laraine Newman, the Sentinel Awards celebrated nuanced and diverse storytelling in television. “Tonight, we’ve done it all — economic disparities, addiction, smoking, mental health — takes me back to the SNL writing room,” Newman said.
Presented by Hollywood, Health and Society (HSS), a program of the Norman Lear Center, 12 shows were honored at the Writers Guild Theater on October 24. The organization is named in recognition of television writer and producer Norman Lear, who championed authentic storylines and characters.
Lyn Lear, Norman’s wife, commented publicly on her husband’s death for the first time last December. Lyn encouraged storytellers to keep her husband’s legacy alive through media. Lyn also announced the upcoming release of her new book, which details her relationship with Norman and his philosophies on life.
“Norman wasn’t big on goodbyes. He looked to the future, and these last months have been filled with family and projects that he loved and supported. I’ve decided to write a memoir about our life together,” Lyn said. “Norman, thank you for creating this wonderful organization. We all miss you, and we love you.”
Joining the ceremony via pre-recorded video, Jimmy Kimmel spoke of his admiration of Lear and the loss he has felt since Lear’s death.
“I’ve met presidents, vice presidents, movie stars, sports legends, the biggest celebrities in show business and even regular business, but only one giant: Norman Lear,” Kimmel said. “Norman lived 101 years, and somehow he still died too young.”
Echoing Norman’s legacy, the theme of the night was succinctly put by the Norman Lear Center’s Director Martin Kaplan: “Stories matter.” The show honored topics such as caregiving (“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans,” “Expats”), smoking/vaping (“Abbott Elementary”), culture of health (“Grey’s Anatomy”), racism (“The Big Cigar”), mental health (“Gen V”), abortion (“The Morning Show”), climate consciousness (“Hacks”), addiction (“Lopez vs. Lopez”) and economic disparities (“The Simpsons”).
Each honoree went through three rounds of judging, according to Kate Folb, the Director of HSS. HSS provides screenwriters with experts on topics in medical and science fields pro bono, to ensure scripts are accurate.
Paying tribute to these services, “Grey’s Anatomy” showrunner Meg Marinis said, “Over the past 20 years, we’ve educated, we’ve broken down stereotypes and we’ve comforted, and we’ve done it accurately and responsibly, which would be impossible without our partners at HHS.”
The Sentinel Award-winning shows, while each tackling different topics, are united by their critical coverage of hot-button issues. Michael Ellenberg, executive producer of “The Morning Show” spoke about the behind-the-scenes creative process of translating real-life conversations into the fictional realm of television.
“Every season, ‘The Morning Show’ writers’ room begins by taking a look at what’s happening in the culture and trying to anticipate the conversation we’ll all be having a year and a half later,” said Ellenberg. “The writers’ room, by design, is a bit of a zeitgeist weathervane.”
The ability to accurately predict the discussions of the day is what gives these shows the unique power to illuminate important social and political issues, combat misinformation and ignite change.
“I hope stories like these tonight help us understand the societal consequences of how we live, reminding us to reflect on our own impact and the inevitable end we all face,” said Jon Robin Baitz, the writer and showrunner of “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.” “It’s a reminder to be mindful of the way our actions, both personal and collective, ripple out into the world.”
Echoing the inspirational words of Baitz and other Sentinel recipients, Newman ended the show with a poignant emphasis on the current political climate: “And let’s keep trying to improve the world. Here’s one great way: vote.”