TCA Rescinds Bill Cosby Career Achievement Award

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

The Television Critics Association moved Tuesday to rescind its Career Achievement Award given to comedian Bill Cosby  as the entertainer is sentenced to three to 10 years on a sexual assault conviction.

The TCA said the organization voted “overwhelmingly” to repeal the award given to Cosby in 2002 for his achievements in television. The move comes as a judge on Tuesday sentenced The Cosby Show star to three to 10 years in state prison for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand.

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The move marks the first time the TCA has ever rescinded an award. "Since the inaugural TCA Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to Grant Tinker in 1985, this is the first time there has been a groundswell to vacate an honor,” said TCA President and The Hollywood Reporter Television Critic Daniel Fienberg in a statement. “It was essential that the entire membership have the opportunity to vote and the results were decisive."

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R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.