‘Hacks,’ ‘Abbott Elementary,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Among 2024 Sentinel Award Winners

The 2024 Sentinel Awards has unveiled its winners ahead of next week’s ceremony, when awards will be handed out at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills to honor TV series including Grey’s Anatomy, The Morning Show, Abbott Elementary and Hacks.

Presented by Hollywood, Health & Society at the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, the Sentinel Awards recognize writers for meaningful and accurate portrayals onscreen on such timely topics as abortion, systemic racism, climate change and mental health. Laraine Newman is set to host the upcoming October 24 ceremony.

HH&S has presented the Sentinel Awards for nearly 25 years, aiming to recognize some of the past year’s best TV that “responsibly informs audiences on critical topics.”

“Television has the power to affect audiences’ perceptions and influence how they view and engage with the world. While entertainment is vital, it should never compromise accuracy, especially when addressing important topics — a hallmark of Norman Lear’s legacy, Kate Folb, program director for Hollywood, Health & Society said in a statement. “Thoughtful and responsible storytelling can educate, inspire and drive meaningful conversations, something critical to the evolution of our society.”

Below is the full list of winners:

The Culture of Health: 

Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Body of work for 20 Seasons — Shonda Rhimes (Creator, Executive Producer), Meg Marinis (Executive Producer/Showrunner, Writer)

Depiction of Abortion: 

The Morning Show (Apple TV+), “The Kármán Line” – Charlotte Stoudt (Executive Producer/Showrunner, Writer)

Depiction of Addiction:

Lopez vs Lopez (NBC), “Lopez vs Sobriety” & “Lopez vs George” – Debby Wolfe (Creator, Executive Producer/Showrunner, Writer), George Lopez (Creator, Executive Producer), Mayan Lopez (Creator, Producer), Dan Signer (Writer)

Depiction of Caregiving: 

Expats (Prime Video), “Central” – Lulu Wang (Creator, Showrunner, Director, Writer)

Depiction of End of Life:

Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (FX), “Beautiful Babe” – Jon Robin Baitz (Executive Producer, Writer, Developed by)

Depiction of Mental Health: 

Gen V (Prime Video), “#ThinkBrink” – Michele Fazekas(Executive Producer/ Showrunner), Erica Rosbe (Executive Producer, Writer)  

Depiction of Smoking and Vaping: 

Abbott Elementary (ABC), “Smoking” – Quinta Brunson(Creator, Executive Producer/Showrunner), Jordan Temple (Co-Executive Producer, Writer) 

Depiction of Racism:

The Big Cigar (Apple TV+), “Panther/Producer” – Jim Hecht(Executive Producer, Writer, Developed By), Janine Sherman Barrois (Executive Producer/Showrunner) 

Depiction of Racism in Healthcare:

Dark Winds (AMC), Multi-episode Storyline – Graham Roland (Creator, Executive Producer, Writer), John Wirth (Executive Producer/Showrunner, Writer)

Depiction of Climate Consciousness: 

Hacks (Max), “One Day” – Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky (Creators, Executive Producers, Showrunners), Carol Leifer (Co-executive Producer, Writer), Carolyn Lipka (Writer)

Depiction of Economic Disparity

The Simpsons (Fox), “Night of the Living Wage” – Matt Selman (Executive Producer/Showrunner), Cesar Mazariegos (Writer, Supervising Producer)