2023 Television Academy Honorees

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks & mo - Peacock / a24 / netflix

The Television Academy is recognizing several television series for its 2023’s accolades which honor remarkable television programs and producers “who have harnessed the extraordinary power of storytelling to fuel social change.” The honorees consist of two documentary specials, one documentary/nonfiction series, two scripted series, and one reality series. These selected productions delve into neurodiversity, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, equal rights for women, the experience of immigrants and refugees, racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism.

"These exceptional programs and producers have used television to adeptly address some of the most significant and challenging issues facing communities across the globe," said Television Academy chairman and CEO Frank Scherma of the series. Scherma praised these six programs for using their platform to encourage change. Bryan Leder, Governor of the peer group of professional representatives, chaired this year's selection committee, with Kim Taylor-Coleman, C.S.A., Governor of the casting director peer group, serving as vice chair. "This year's honorees reflect intersectionality of topics with unique perspectives that are accessible to all," Leder said.

The honorees will be celebrated at a ceremony on May 31, 2023. The documentary series Profiled: The Black Man (Discovery+) will also receive special recognition at the ceremony.

See below for more information on this year’s POC recipients.

• 37 Words (ESPN Films; Industrial Media; Trilogy Films)

  • This documentary series chronicles the inspiring tale of Title IX, a federal civil rights law that resulted in the prohibition of sex discrimination in educational programs and activities. 37 Words focuses on the hard-fought campaign of many people who experienced injustices to fight for equal rights in education and athletics. 37 Words refers to the number of words within Title IX that charted a spectacular transformation and inspiration in American culture and the lives of women.

• As We See It (True Jack Productions; Yes Studios; Universal Television; Amazon Studios)

  • As We See It is an American comedy-drama streaming television series developed by Jason Katims, based on Dana Idisis and Yuval Shafferman's Israeli series On the Spectrum. The show follows roommates Jack, Harrison, and Violet, all of whom are on the autistic spectrum and are in their twenties, as they hunt for work, find friends, and fall in love. On their paths toward independence and acceptance, these roommates face obstacles and celebrate achievements with the help of their families, aids, and occasionally each other.

• Mo (A24)

  • Mo is an American comedy-drama streaming television series that aired on Netflix on August 24, 2022. Mo Amer plays the title character in the series. The show is partially based on Amer's own experiences as a Palestinian refugee in Houston, Texas. The series follows Palestinian refugee Mo Najjar as he adjusts to life alongside two cultures and three languages while staying one step away from getting asylum and becoming a citizen of the United States. Mo has received recognition from both fans and reviewers for beautifully expressing the reality of immigrants and refugees through U.S. institutional systems.

• The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (A Peacock Original, SO’B Productions)

  • The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks is a feature documentary that dives into the historic work of civil rights hero Rosa Parks and her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The documentary explores the tale of Parks' six decades of intensive organizing, radical politics, and lifelong dedication to activism through interviews with individuals who knew her, dramatic archival material, and her own words. The documentary tries to dispel perceptions of Parks as an unintentional civil rights activist.

• We’re Here (HBO Max)

  • We're Here is an Emmy Award-winning series that follows legendary drag queens Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, and Shangela as they travel around the United States in search of small-town inhabitants willing to venture outside their comfort zone and participate in one-night-only drag shows. The queens recruit a broad range of residents to share their stories, raise awareness, and promote acceptance in their communities at a time when many are facing rising hostility and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation laws in places such as Florida, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, among others.