Hollywood, Health & Society at the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center announced its winners tonight at the 2023 Sentinel Awards at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. The night was hosted by Emmy-winning producer, comedian, actor, and writer Larry Wilmore (Insecure, Black-ish, The Bernie Mac Show) who introduced 11 powerful storylines and the creative teams behind them.
The Sentinel Awards presented by Hollywood, Health & Society for more than 20 years, honor some of the past year’s best TV entertainment that informs and impacts audiences on a wide range of health and social topics including systemic racism, A.I., the climate crisis, diplomacy, reproductive health, mental health, economic disparities, and more. This year’s ceremony introduced a brand new trophy modeled after Hollywood, Health & Society’s emblem; it honors the power of the pen, inspired by the talented and brave storytellers that create television that makes a difference.
Stars including Emmy-nominated actor and producer Kathryn Hahn, Emmy-winning producer/choreographer and actor Debbie Allen, Grammy-winning performer and actor Ben Harper, actor Adam Brody, comedian and actor Frankie Quiñones, and actors Logan Marmino, Jake McDorman, Michael McKean, Elizabeth Tulloch, and Barrett Doss took to the stage as presenters for the night.
2023 Sentinel Award Winners:
Depiction of Abortion:
Julie Wong, Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – “When I Get to the Border”
Depiction of A.I.:
Tara Hernandez & Damon Lindelof, Mrs. Davis (Peacock) – “The Final Intercut: So I’m Your Horse”
Depiction of Breast Cancer:
Brent Fletcher & Todd Helbing, Superman & Lois (The CW) – multi-episode storyline (4 episodes)
Depiction of Disabilities:
Matt Fleckenstein, Zach Anner, & Gillian Grassie, Best Foot Forward (AppleTV+) – “Halloween”
Depiction of Climate Change:
Scott Z. Burns, Extrapolations (AppleTV+) – ‘2046: Whale Fall”
Depiction of Diplomacy:
Debora Cahn & Anna Hagen, The Diplomat (Netflix) – “Some Lusty Tornado”
Depiction of Economic Disparities:
Chris Estrada, Matt Ingebretson, Pat Bishop & Jake Weisman, This Fool (Hulu) – “Los Botes”
Depiction of End of Life:
Liz Tigelaar, Tiny Beautiful Things (Hulu) – “The Nose”
Depiction of Maternal Health:
Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Fleishman is in Trouble (FX on Hulu) – “Me-Time”
Depiction of Mental Health:
Adam Kay, This is Going to Hurt (AMC+) “Episode 6” – BBC
Depiction of Systemic Racism:
Zoanne Clack & Zaiver Sinnett, Station 19 (ABC) – “We Build Then We Break”
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About Hollywood, Health & Society (HH&S)
HH&S provides entertainment industry professionals with accurate and timely information for storylines dealing with health, safety and security through consultations and briefings with experts. Based at the Norman Lear Center, HH&S is a free resource for writers, producers and others in search of credible information. Past and present support for HH&S has come from funders that include the CDC, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The SCAN Foundation, the California Health Care Foundation, the John Pritzker Family Fund, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For more information about resources for writers, go to www.HollywoodHealthandSociety.org
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