Inaugural AHS Awards Winners
A Hot Set has determined the winners of its inaugural A Hot Set Awards (AHSA). The nominees were revealed on Friday, January 13, 2023. The virtual ceremony honors the best of media in film, television, and new media. Nominees were whittled down to 5 for each category, and the polls were voted on and tallied by A Hot Set journalists and editors. The biggest winners were the performers from the productions of Everything Everywhere All at Once and Abbott Elementary.
Alongside the 25 different accolades for media, the AHS Awards also feature two Lifetime Achievement Awards which will be awarded to actress Michelle Yeoh and screenwriter Shonda Rimes. Both awards are in honor of two POC individuals whose careers helped pave the way for the future of the film and entertainment industries: Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa; and African American actress and singer Ethel Waters.
Special Note: All winners involve people of color or partnered with a person of color.
Best Film: Everything Everywhere All at Once
In the sci-fi adventure Everything Everywhere All at Once, actress Michelle Yeoh plays Evelyn Wang, an elderly Chinese immigrant who must save reality by traveling to alternate universes and connecting with the lives she may have led. The film contains brilliant performances from Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis who appear in supporting roles. The film is regarded by experts to be a combined genre with elements of surreal comedy, science fiction, fantasy, martial arts films, and animation.
Everything Everywhere All at Once has won numerous accolades and nominations, including nominations for eleven Academy Awards, ten British Academy Film Awards, fourteen Critics' Choice Movie Awards (winning five), and six Golden Globe Awards. The National Board of Review and the American Film Institute also ranked the movie one of the best 10 films of 2022. It is widely regarded as the front-runner to win the Best Picture Oscar at the 94th Academy Awards.
Best Foreign Film: RRR
RRR is an Indian Telugu-language action-drama film directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad. It was produced by D. V. V. Danayya of DVV Entertainment. It centers around fictional versions of two Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.), their friendship, their journey away from home, and their fight against the British Raj in the 1920s.
Rajamouli's directing, scripting, and performances in RRR won praise from audiences worldwide (particularly Rama Rao and Charan). The movie was only the second non-English movie to ever make it onto the National Board of Review's list of the top ten movies of the year. Among other achievements, RRR became the first Telugu film and the third Indian film to be nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes. It also won Best Original Song for "Naatu Naatu," becoming the first Asian nominee to do so. The song even became the first Indian song to receive an Oscar nomination when it was nominated for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards.
Best Documentary: The Territory
Alex Pritz directed the worldwide co-produced documentary The Territory in 2022. It centers on Bitaté, a young Indigenous leader from the Amazonian Uru-eu-wau-wau tribe. The teenage leader and his tutor fight back in defense of the land and their uncontacted community living deep within the forest when a network of Brazilian farmers and settlers take a protected region of the Amazon rainforest. The documentary, which was shot on site in Brazil between 2018 and 2020, draws on first-hand, primary source material, including video directly created by the Uru-eu-wau-wau. Under his production company Protozoa Pictures, Darren Aronofsky works as a producer.
On January 22, 2022, the documentary had its global premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Soon after, National Geographic Documentary Films bought the rights to distribute the film, and on August 19, 2022, was shown in the U.S. Film critics gave The Territory favorable reviews. The Territory, according to many reviewers, is a documentary that emphasizes advocacy rather than taking the usual detached documentary approach. Since its debut, it has received multiple honors, including recognition at festivals including the International Wildlife Film Festival, the Seattle International Film Festival, and the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival.
Best Comedy Special: Atsuko Okatsuka: The Intruder
In her first HBO stand-up comedy special, Asian American comedian and actress Atsuko Okatsuka brings her brand of ingenious, offbeat storytelling to the Elsewhere stage in Brooklyn, New York where she dishes on the futile act of impressing teenagers, attending a Magic Mike Live show with her grandmother, and the alarming reactions that she and her husband had to the unwanted presence of an intruder. Atsuko Okatsuka: The Intruder is written, performed, and executive produced by Atsuko Okatsuka; directed by comedian Tig Notaro, co-executive produced by Michelle Caputo, Shannon Hartman, Josh Lieberman, and Katie O’Brien.
Okatsuka's adept writing abilities enhance her work with the public. With plenty of detours into topics like pandemic hobbies, the mall as an egalitarian utopia, etc., the program is deftly built around the tale of the intruder entering Okatsuka’s and her husband's home. Her levity shows even when she discusses more somber subjects like her mother's schizophrenia and living in the country illegally. Jokes by Okatsuka reveal her lively nature and unpredictability of creation. The fact that The Intruder never feels crowded despite having back-to-back gags is a testament to Okatsuka's creative skills and performance manner.
Best Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once
American film filmmakers and screenwriters Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively referred to as the Daniels, began their careers as music video directors before branching out into the film industry. The pair finished shooting Swiss Army Man in 2016, which starred Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe. The movie was well-received and won the Directing Award at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. People who have collaborated with the Daniels have continually lauded them for their innovative project techniques and commitment to working at all production levels.
Their latest project is the science-fiction film Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). The film became movie distributor A24's highest-grossing film of all time, and the Daniels were nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. They continued to wrack up awards for their writing and directing skills within Everything Everywhere All at Once, making appearances at ceremonies like the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Saturn Awards, Hollywood Critics Association Awards, and many more. The multiverse film was developed within an unbelievably short time frame of roughly 30 days. Despite the short timeframe, veteran actresses Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis praised the Daniels on their writing and directing skills and boasted an incredibly quick turnaround for a film so complex as Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Best Actor (Tie): Daniel Kaluuya, Nope, & Will Smith, Emancipation
Will Smith (Emancipation) and Daniel Kaluuya (Nope) tied for Best Actor at the inaugural AHS Awards. As a result, the award will be given to both actors. In Nope, the proprietor of a nearby theme park seeks to make money from an enigmatic, otherworldly being that Kaluuya's character and his sister (Keke Palmer) uncover in the skies above their California horse ranch. Kaluuya has received numerous nominations for awards from organizations like the People's Choice Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, the Black Reel Awards, etc. in addition to garnering accolades for his performance from critics and the film's director Jordan Peele.
In the film Emancipation, Will Smith plays Peter, an escaped slave who endures a perilous journey to avoid plantation owners and reach his family through the marshes of 1860s Louisiana. Smith is lauded for his imaginative interpretation and dedication to staying in character given the scant details that are known about the real man's life narrative. Smith is frequently regarded by Emancipation's director Antoine Fuqua and other crew members as a passionate performer who gives his all to the role. Smith’s performance has secured a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture at the NAACP Image Awards.
Best Actress: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh has been chosen as the recipient of AHS’s Best Actress Award for her portrayal of Evelyn Wang in the sci-fi film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Despite the praise for the film, it has not overshadowed the talent of Michelle Yeoh which magnified her success. Many critics consider Yeoh’s performance made the film a box-office hit, complimenting her ability to shift demeanors and personalities through different portrayals of her character Evelyn. Her performance was so impressive, many are calling Everything Everywhere All at Once Yeoh’s career best.
Throughout the year 2022, Yeoh received honors for her talent and contributions to the film industry. The first of these was the Kirk Douglas Award given to her at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and the second was the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award given to her at the Toronto International Film Festival Tribute Awards. Many industry insiders believe that Yeoh is a strong candidate for the Best Actress Oscar because of her acting prowess and recent rise to fame. Yeoh is the second Asian-American lead Oscar nomination in the past 95 years, and if successful, Yeoh would become the first actress of Asian ancestry to ever win Best Actress at the Academy Awards.
Best Supporting Actor: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Ke Huy Quan, also known as Jonathan Ke Quan, is a Vietnamese American actor. Due to a lack of opportunities, Quan stopped acting after 1992. However, in the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once, he made a comeback as Waymond Wang, the gullible husband of Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), who aids her in navigating the multiverse. Quan's work in the movie was praised and honored, winning him a Golden Globe Award and a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards.
As previously mentioned, Ke Huy Quan experienced a career resurgence when he starred in Everything Everywhere All at Once. The film presented a huge opportunity for Quan’s career to change as he took a break from the spotlight after feeling Asian actors were not represented in quality roles. He has since stated in numerous interviews that he feels the climate has changed, as evident in the international success of Everything Everywhere All at Once. In addition to playing a mild-mannered Waymond, Quan also portrays a more action-hero version of the character from another dimension who takes over Waymond's body and a third, very suave take on the character in a dimension where Evelyn is a movie star. Like Yeoh, Quan was praised for his ability to switch between different portrayals of his character fluidly.
Best Supporting Actress: Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
African American actress Angela Bassett, known for her work in both film and television, will receive AHS’s Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as Queen Mother Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Bassett reprises her character in this Marvel sequel which follows Ramonda and Shuri (Letitia Wright) who fight to protect their nation of Wakanda from intervening world powers and a new threat under the seas in the wake of King T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) death.
Bassett’s latest performance won a Golden Globe Award and has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. These accolades set Bassett to make history as the first actor to win a major individual acting award for a film based on Marvel Comics, and the first person in a Marvel Studios movie to be nominated for an Academy Award in any acting category. Critics praise Bassett for effectively portraying Ramonda’s complex layer of emotions with a gripping performance that commands the screen. Like everyone else on set, Bassett dedicated her performance to the late Chadwick Boseman, stating on numerous occasions how the Black Panther franchise was a stark change to how Black women are written in films.
Best TV Series-Drama: Bel-Air
Bel-Air is an American drama television series developed by Morgan Cooper, Malcolm Spellman, TJ Brady, and Rasheed Newson. It is based on Cooper's short fan film of the same name and is a reimagining of the well-known sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Jordan L. Jones, and Simone Joy Jones are among its prominent cast members. The show centers on street-smart kid Will Smith (Jabari Banks), whose life is drastically changed when he leaves the streets of West Philadelphia to live with his relatives in Bel-Air, one of LA's wealthiest suburbs. The program is renowned for exploring racial tension, cultural shock, and black excellence.
Many critics see Bel-Air as a replacement for its predecessor's high spirits with a dour tone and an uneasy mix of realism with signs of a fresh new spin. On May 2, 2022, Peacock announced that Bel-Air was the most-streamed original series on the streaming service which reached 8 million accounts. In 2022, the show received the Black Reel Award’s Outstanding Drama Series honor and is nominated for three categories in the NAACP Image Awards.
Best TV Actor-Drama: Jabari Banks, Bel-Air
Jabari Banks is an American actor who portrays Will Smith in Peacock's modern-day reinterpretation, Bel-Air. Like his predecessor, Banks hails from West Philadelphia. Banks graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2020, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater. Bel-Air is his first on-screen appearance, and actor Will Smith himself chose Banks to star as the lead in the show. In addition to Banks, Bel-Air stars Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jordan L. Jones, and Simone Joy Jones.
As a longtime fan of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Jabari Banks has made efforts to pay proper homage to the show within Bel-Air. Banks has stated in numerous interviews that he not only wishes to match his predecessor but exceed expectations placed upon him as a young, upcoming actor with big shoes to fill. Fans of the show, both new and old, are drawn into the retelling of the classic sitcom that addresses serious issues like racism and poverty, while also integrating and adapting the story into modern-day life.
Best TV Actress-Drama: Zendaya Coleman, Euphoria
The TV drama Euphoria, an American adaption of the Israeli program of the same name, centers on the tumultuous life of 17-year-old heroin user Rue Bennett (Zendaya Coleman), who recently completed rehab but has no intention of maintaining sobriety. Jules, a transgender teen trying to find her place in the world, Nate, a jock with anger issues who hides sexual insecurities, Chris, a football star who finds the transition from high school to college more difficult than expected, Cassie, whose sexual past still haunts her, and Kat, a body-conscious teen discovering her sexuality, are other characters in Rue's life. The series confronts the youthful milieu of drug-enhanced parties and anxiety-ridden day-to-day existence with empathy and candor as the classmates strive to make sense of their futures.
Zendaya Coleman is being recognized for her gripping performance on Euphoria. Her portrayal as Rue Bennett made her the youngest recipient of two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Many critics and fans are drawn in by the uniquely challenging and illuminating series. As a consensus, most viewers see the complicated show as being held together by a powerfully understated performance from Zendaya. While the other cast members do receive praise for their performances, Zendaya is consistently the focus of discussion for Euphoria because of her dedication to her portrayal and the handling of the subject matter.
Best TV Series-Comedy: Abbott Elementary
Quinta Brunson wrote and produced the American mockumentary sitcom television series Abbott Elementary for ABC. In the imaginary, largely Black Philadelphia school of Abbott Elementary, Brunson plays Janine Teagues, a supportive second-grade teacher. Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and William Stanford Davis make up the ensemble cast. The mockumentary follows a group of committed instructors who, despite the obstacles in their way, are committed to assisting their students in achieving success in life.
Since season 1, Abbott Elementary has held high approval ratings among well-known film critics like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. The show has earned top marks among fans and industry experts for its empathetic yet hilarious critique of the U.S. education system. Another reason for the popularity of Abbott Elementary is how it tackles uncomfortable topics like generational gaps, loneliness, and other basic truths in life that some adults choose to ignore in favor of pretending like everything is fine. Approval ratings have gone up after season 2, with the show now being greenlit for a third season. Abbott Elementary has won over 25 accolades and continues to accumulate awards and nominations in various festivals and ceremonies.
Best TV Actor-Comedy: Donald Glover, Atlanta
Donald Glover is the creator of the American comedy-drama television program Atlanta. The show features artist Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), a college dropout, and a music manager named Earnest "Earn" Marks (Glover), as they navigate Atlanta's hip-hop culture. Earnest spends a lot of time with his best friend Vanessa Keefer (Zazie Beetz), who is also the mother of his daughter, when he isn't busy overseeing Alfred's professional life. The show has drawn attention for placing less of a focus on multi-episode plot arcs and adopting an episodic storytelling approach that Glover has compared to short stories.
Many television critics have praised Atlanta and agree that the show is an ambitious and original TV production that fully captures Donald Glover's quirky sense of humor and makes several perceptive insights. Glover's characterization of Earnest as having a haughty, borderline-delusional attitude successfully conveys how racial fear and legitimate skepticism about the business have influenced his artistic sensibilities. Atlanta has received multiple nominations and accolades over the course of its four seasons, and in 2022, Rolling Stone ranked it as the ninth-best TV program ever.
Best TV Actress-Comedy: Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Quinta Brunson, an African American writer, producer, actress, and comedian, has received several accolades for playing Janine Teagues in the popular ABC comedy series Abbott Elementary. As the show's creator, executive producer, writer, and star, Brunson has established a recognizable identity. Janine is portrayed by Brunson as having an idealistic and frantic attitude in trying to change the lives of her students. Brunson and the rest of the actors play a variety of jobs, from schoolteacher to janitor to electrician, thanks to the premise of the school's persistent financial problems and a narcissistic principal.
With her wide smile and contagious optimism for every student, Brunson’s Janine is a beautiful example of the kind of teacher everyone wishes they had. The painfully accurate stories of what teachers go through in underprivileged communities, and Janine's irrational determination to handle everything herself provide most of the humor. Abbott Elementary routinely receives praise from viewers and critics for its sympathetic tone, despite its criticism of the failing educational system. Every joke in Brunson's sharp rapport jumps off the screen and sometimes lands mercilessly.
Best TV Series-Soap/Telenovela: The River (South Africa)
The River is a South African telenovela that was created by Gwydion Beynon and Phathu Makwarela. It is an M-Net original production made by Tshedza Pictures for the general entertainment subscription channel 1Magic on DStv, and it can be viewed online on Showmax, a video-on-demand service owned by Naspers. The program chronicles the tale of the owner of the Khanyisa Diamonds mine and the lengths she will go to in order to keep her wealthy lifestyle and protect her family. The mining industry in South Africa serves as the setting for the Pretoria-based drama series.
Fans of the telenovela find the story compelling and can relate to the lives and emotions of at least one of the characters. The River captures the essence of the real South African experience, combining it with fantasies from a fictional world. While giving the viewer the high drama they expect from a telenovela, The River also somewhat has a tastefully comedic side to it, which is refreshing to see. Praises abound for the cast, particularly actress Sindi Dlathu, who plays Lindiwe Dlamini, in how her portrayal is complex and unpredictable. The River has amassed international acclaim through numerous awards and nominations from the South African Film and Television Awards and the International Emmy Awards.
Best TV Series-Docuseries: We Need to Talk About Bill Cosby
In his documentary We Need to Talk About Bill Cosby, comic-director W. Kamau Bell examines Bill Cosby's life and career while evaluating his deeds against his undeniable influence. He does this by speaking with journalists, comedians, cultural pundits, and women who have interacted with him. The four-part documentary traces Bill Cosby's transformation from "America's Dad" to a convicted sexual predator. On January 22, 2022, the series made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, and on January 30, 2022, Showtime began airing it.
The Cosby crisis was masterfully unraveled by W. Kamau Bell by allowing the discourse to be uncomfortable, which led to a thorough analysis of the disgraced entertainer and the culture that supported him. Bell does not use the "fall from grace" model. Instead of tracing the subject's ascent to prominence before exposing the truth hidden behind their public persona, Bell makes it very evident how terrible Bill Cosby was from the start. Bell underlines to audiences that Cosby wasn't a superstar and then a criminal; he was always both at the same time. Bell also discusses related issues including the Me-Too Movement, the industry's moral authority and responsibility, and why the Black community defends Black men from charges so fervently.
Best TV Series-Docusoap: Bling Empire
The American reality television program Bling Empire premiered on Netflix on January 15, 2021. The Los Angeles-based socialites who are referred to as "real-life Crazy Rich Asians" in the series are rich, materialistic East and Southeast Asian Americans. The docusoap is the first reality television program in the United States with a majority of its cast members being of East and Southeast Asian heritage. Kevin Taejin Kreider, a South Korean male model who serves as the series narrator, Kane Lim, a Singaporean investor and developer in real estate, Christine Chiu, a philanthropist, and others make up the primary characters.
Viewers and critics seem to have a consensus that Bling Empire is another depiction of lavish wealth, but the focus on an Asian American cast gives this reality program an intriguing layer of cultural celebration. Fans see past the obscene extravagance that it portrayed, arguing the cast has compelling characters, some of whom were exploring their identity. Overall, many find the series a refreshing shift from the typical all-White cast of socialites commonly found in the United States.
Best TV Series-News Program: Breaking Points
Former hosts of the political newspaper The Hill’s opinion web series (The Hill's Rising, or simply Rising) Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti continue sharing their original and anti-establishment political opinions in their new streaming series Breaking Points. Breaking Points airs every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday on YouTube and features takes from progressive and modern Republican points of view. The subject matter of the series involves political news and current events, in-studio interviews with politicians, campaign staff and surrogates, political advisors and strategists, and members of the news media.
Breaking Points' opposition to corporate media outlets like CNN and Fox is well-liked among viewers. Many of them consider these brands to be journalistic failures. One populist right anchor and one populist left anchor, who express viewpoints from both ends of the political spectrum, make up the series' intriguing formula. Fans also value the neutrality and comedy of Ball's and Enjeti's perspectives. According to detractors, Breaking Points is a useful resource for knowing both sides of the political spectrum apart from what your political heritage forces upon you.
Best TV News Anchor: Saagar Enjeti and Krystal Ball, Breaking Points
Breaking Points hosts Saagar Enjeto and Krystal Ball are recognized as the Best TV News Anchor(s) at the AHS Awards. To present viewers with both sides of the political ideology within the United States, Enjeto acts as the populist right side of the political spectrum as a counterweight to Ball's populist left. American political commentator and media host Krystal Marie Ball, before joining Breaking Points, was a political candidate and co-host of The Hill's Rising alongside Saagar Enjeti. Breaking Points features commentary and analysis of political news and current events, in-studio interviews, and occasional live-analysis segments.
Each host highlights an important topic during a segment of the show, followed by an open debate. Many fans enjoy participating in the open live discussion with Enjeto and Ball which is made available to premium subscribers. The show's populist criticism of mainstream media is well-received by Breaking Points viewers. By dispelling the idea that the hosts' coverage was influenced by the money they received from advertisements, the show has also gained the support of critics of mainstream media. This has also given the hosts more editorial control over their content.
Best TV Series-Talk Show: Ziwe
African American comedian Ziwe Fumudoh is the host and executive producer of the American late-night talk show program Ziwe, which is situated in New York City. A second season of the show, which had its premiere on Showtime on May 9, 2021, has been ordered. The program combines musical numbers, interviews, and comedy to examine how uncomfortable Americans are with racial, political, and other cultural concerns.
Fans of Ziwe Fumudoh approach this show with her web series in mind, but as a talk show host on a TV show, these fans feel that Ziwe delivers a brand of satire that has intelligence. Many view the show as quick-witted with a constant underlying sarcastic comedy. Ziwe has a modern comedic stance that deals with racism, feminism, politics, and other hot-button topics. The show even seems to poke fun at the format of interviews, specifically the out-of-context ways some parts of the entertainment industry twist words.
Best TV Talk Show Host: Ziwe Fumudoh, Ziwe
African American comedian and writer Ziwerekoru "Ziwe" Fumudoh is well-recognized for her sarcastic commentary on current events, racial tensions, and adolescence. At the beginning of her career, Ziwe founded the YouTube comedy program Baited with Ziwe in 2017 and its later Instagram Live version. She also co-hosted the Crooked Media podcast Hysteria in 2018 and worked as a writer for Desus & Mero from 2018 to 2020. The Showtime variety series Ziwe, which debuted in May 2021, currently stars Ziwe and is executive produced by her. Ziwe interviews people and does sketches that poke fun at how uncomfortable Americans are with racial, political, and other social concerns.
Fans see the show as nuanced and embrace satire. Viewers also appreciate how Ziwe constantly has her finger on the cultural pulse of America, delivering clever quips and holding back no punches. The show seems to follow Ziwe’s approach to cut the monologue out entirely to get focused on the straight talking. The longer Ziwe goes on, the more opportunity viewers will have to tune into its frequency. Out of character, Ziwe can be strikingly earnest.
Best TV Series-Game/Competitive: Family Feud
The American television game show Family Feud first aired in 1976. This midday game show, which pits five members of one family against five members of another, is currently hosted by Steve Harvey. The objective of each team is to predict the answers to audience survey questions. The first player to answer the question is from each team, and the winner gets to pass or play. In a bonus round, the winning family has the opportunity to increase their winnings.
Since Steve Harvey became the host in 2010, Family Feud has continued to rise in popularity and his presence, according to industry experts, has brought in more viewership from Black and colored communities. The entertainment aspect has kept audiences excited for new episodes. The comedic talent of Harvey and the ridiculous answers given by the contestants are the highlights of the game show. The popularity of Family Feud has led it to become a worldwide franchise, with over 50 adaptations outside the United States.
Best Host for Game/Competitive Series: Steve Harvey, Family Feud
Broderick Stephen Harvey Sr., better known as Steve Harvey, is a television host, producer, actor, and comedian from the United States. Harvey's career began with stand-up comedy in the early 1980s. Harvey has been the host of both Family Feud and Celebrity Family Feud since 2010. Harvey established Steve Harvey Global, an entertainment corporation that houses his production company East 112 as well as several other ventures. He has seven Daytime Emmy Awards, two Marconi Awards, and 14 NAACP Image Award nominations in various categories.
Fans and critics agree that Steve Harvey has brought a more honest, edgier tone to the show since it first aired in 1976. He is especially famous for shamelessly and hilariously calling out contestants for their ill-informed answers, which has led to countless video compilations on social media platforms like YouTube. After the comedian took over for John O’Hurley in 2010, the move proved successful enough for the stand-up vet to beat out every host before him. Family Feud has never had more viewers than it does today thanks to Steve Harvey bringing in more demographics into the show’s viewership with his unique brand of humor.
Best Social Media Content Creator: Steven He
Chinese Irish comedic sketch writer and performer Steven He O'Byrne, also known as Steven He, has more than 13 million followers across three platforms. He is well-known for his parodies of Asian parenting and the "EMOTIONAL DAMAGE" meme. Steven earned a BA in Acting and Global Theatre from Regent's University in London, England, as well as a degree in acting from the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City, New York.
Steven mainly uploads sketches on both his YouTube and TikTok channels. He also uploads reaction videos about memes and subreddits on his channels. Steven He's comedic videos have several characters, all of whom are acted by himself, with the most frequently occurring characters being Steven and Steven’s father: an Asian dad who sees his son as a "failure" and attempts to encourage him to become anything besides an actor. His acting degree is often used as the subject of jokes in his videos. Outside of his comedy sketches, Steven is a professionally trained actor who has appeared in the TV series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, the short film A Father's Son (2022), and the sci-fi film Dinosaur World (2020).
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Alongside the accolades for media, the AHS Awards also feature two Lifetime Achievement Awards which will be awarded to actress Michelle Yeoh and screenwriter Shonda Rimes. Both awards are in honor of two POC individuals whose careers helped pave the way for the future of the film and entertainment industries: Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa; and African American actress and singer Ethel Waters. Yeoh and Rimes are the first inductees for these honors. Both the awards and their namesakes have tribute articles.
Akira Kurosawa Lifetime Achievement Award (Film): Michelle Yeoh (Read full tribute)
Ethel Waters Lifetime Achievement Award (TV): Shonda Rimes (Read full tribute)