"Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" helped the broadcast networks roar back in this year's Television Critics Awards, the same way they soared last season in ratings and viewer buzz.
Saturday's ceremony at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, site of the Golden Globes, saw ABC's "Lost" voted both outstanding new program and outstanding drama by the 200-member group of print and online TV writers. Another ABC newcomer, "Housewives," took program of the year, considered the TCA's highest honor.
Repeating as top comedy was Fox's second-year critical fave "Arrested Development." Fox star Hugh Laurie won for individual drama achievement as the obstinate diagnostic genius on the new medical show "House." NBC, showered in previous years with TCA honors for the likes of "Frasier" and "The West Wing," won no awards. Neither did top-rated CBS.
Cable took a back seat, too, in an unpredictable awards show that has in recent years honored everything from news coverage on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" to Ian McShane's starring villainy on HBO's "Deadwood." In 2004, cable tallied seven of the TCA's nine awards for current programming. This year's three cable wins came only in individual comedy achievement, for Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show"; in children's programming, for "Degrassi: The Next Generation" on digital channel The N; and in movies/miniseries/specials, for BBC America's finale special of the original British version of "The Office," remade here by NBC.
PBS' "Frontline" documentary series won in the news and information category. Honored with the Heritage Award for sustained and influential work was ABC's "Nightline." Bob Newhart accepted the 21st annual award for career achievement, joining previous honorees such as Sid Caesar, Bill Cosby, Fred Rogers, Norman Lear and Ted Turner.
