TCA Lauds ‘Mad Men,’ ‘The Wire’

AMC Series Continues To Draw Critical Acclaim

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 7/21/2008 1:36:00 PM

AMC's Mad Men continues to be beloved by the critics, taking home the best new show, best drama and program of the year awards from the Television Critics Association.

Also, HBO's The Wire, which received little recognition from Emmy voters during its run on the pay service, was honored with the group's Heritage Award, bestowed on a program which is deemed to have had a long-lasting impact on society. The award puts the Baltimore-based corruption drama in the same class with The Sopranos, which won the award last year.

The Tom Hanks-produced mini-series John Adams was also a multiple winner, voted as the best movie or mini-series of the past year. Its star, Paul Giamatti (pictured), who was nominated last week for an Emmy Award, was honored as the outstanding drama performer. NBC's Tina Fey, star and creator of 30 Rock, was honored as the best comedy performer and her show was named best comedy. Her former boss, Lorne Michaels, was honored by the group with the career achievement award.

PBS received two awards: The War: A film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick was named the best news and information special, and Wordgirl was voted the best children's program.

The awards were voted by the 200 U.S. and Canadian television writers and columnists who make up the membership of the Television Critics Association.