Peabody Award winners sounded the alarm on the threats to democratic norms, criminal justice reform and forward progress in diversity and inclusion goals as the 85th annual kudos were handed out Sunday in Beverly Hills.
Meanwhile, “Saturday Night Live” chief Lorne Michaels spoke from the heart as he accepted the Peabody’s Institutional Award for his enduring NBC sketch comedy series. It’s the sixth Peabody in total collected by the storied late-night show that bowed in 1975.
Referring to the “SNL50” specials that aired in February, Michaels said, “All those people coming back from the first season on, all being in one room performing and applauding was one of the most moving experiences of my life.”
Michaels, 80, also made what seemed to be an oblique nod to the endless churn of speculation about the long-term plan for the show.
“I’m not planning a sixtieth,” he said after referencing “SNL50.” “Getting to do what I get to do is sort of everything that makes me happy. Also makes me angry,” he said.
Michaels closed with a shout-out to the Peabody Awards, which are administered by the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
“When you come to the Peabodys, unlike other award shows, you know you’re in the right room. It’s really an honor to be here, so thank you,” he said.
There were also numerous calls for support of public media and opposition to Trump administration efforts to gut federal funding for PBS, NPR and other public media and arts program. The larger subject of the administration’s effort to slash federal spending in general was also decried by numerous winners as a violation of cherished democratic norms.
Dave Biscobing, chief investigative reporter for the ABC affiliate in Phoenix, was hailed for his years-long dedication to producing a 32-part series that uncovered systemic police brutality and racism in local policing. Just a few days ago, Trump’s Justice Department has “retracted” an earlier report that documented Biscobing’s work.
(Dave Biscobing, investigative reporter in Phoenix, was recognized for his 32-part series “Policing Phoenix”)
Alberto Rodriguez
“They can retract the report, they can erase their words but they’ll never erase what we did,” Biscobing told the crowd. “Not as long as all of us are here. Not as long as there are people like us to tell stories that matter.”
Matthew Hashiguchi, the journalist behind the in-depth report “The Only Doctor” for the Reel South public media station, referenced the growing crisis in rural health care as he took in the kudo for his deep-dive report on the woman is the only physician around in a wide swath of rural Georgia’s Clay County.
Dr. Karen Kinsell was on hand with Hashiguichi and received the first standing ovation of the night. Hashiguchi emphasized that she has no choice but to treat anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay.
“If Medicaid is cut, we’re going to need more people like her,” he warned.
The power of TV to affect change around the world was also highlighted with the kudo presented to “Mr. Bates Vs. the Post Office.”
The British narrative drama was an expose of the scandal that engulfed the nation’s Post Office system in the early aughts, and law enforcement’s ruthless pursuit of everyday people despite evidence of their innocence. Public reaction to “Mr. Bates” was so strong that there were retroactive efforts to bring justice to those wrongly accused even years later.
“Such is the power of television. Such is the power of a nation brought to rage by such a naked abuse of power,” said “Mr. Bates” producer Patrick Spence, who accepted with James Strong. “May that be an inspiration to all of us.”
Roy Wood Jr., an alum of “The Daily Show” who now co-hosts CNN’s comedy series “Have I Got News for You,” served as emcee for the night at the Beverly Wilshire hotel. Wood in his opening remarks went straight to the heart of the enormous challenges facing news and entertainment.
Wood praised the journalists and artists from around the world who produced this year’s honorees. “You do one of the boldest things you can do in these times — that’s straight-up tell the truth,” Wood said.
“I ain’t gotta do anything but plug Jake Tapper’s book every Saturday. I work for CNN now,” Wood told the crowd. “That’s why I quit ‘The Daily Show’ — I couldn’t stand the stress.”
Wood saluted “Saturday Night LIve” for its milestone 50th season and Peabody recognition. He put the show’s status as a cultural institution in sharp perspective.
” ‘SNL’ survived DVRs, the streaming wars, the crack epidemic and Y2K,” Wood said. ” ‘SNL’ even survived Elon Musk hosting.”
Among other highlights from the night:
“Surviving Nova,” a study of the music festival in Israel that was a scene of horrific mass slayings as part of the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack by Hamas that sparked the war in Gaza. The Vice News documentary was a “carefuly sourced, deeply human account grounded in first-hand testimony and video evidence,” said writer/director/producer Gilad Thaler. “What emerged was a first draft of history.”
‘Surviving Nova’ executive producers Falguni Lakhani Adams and Subrata De flank writer-director Gilad Thaler at the 85th Annual Peabody Awards
Alberto Rodriguez
Thaler thanked the families and survivors who shared their stories with his team. He also called out “the first responders who had the courage to demand accountability from their government.”
Another searing portrait of the devastating war was recognized, Al Jazeera’s “The Night Won’t End,” producer/director/writer Kavitha Chekuru. The film follows three families in Gaza as they endure regular Israeli military bombing campaigns. Chekuru had a blunt message for the journalists and documentarians in the audience.
“Our news industry has been far too silent. That silence is complicity — something the people of Gaza cannot afford for one more minute,” Chekuru said.
NBC News veteran Andrea Mitchell received the Peabody career achievement honor, which was presented by her NBC News colleague Jacob Soboroff.
“This award means the world to me, not just what it says about my work but for what it represents about the importance of journalism today,” she said.
Mitchell urged the next generation of journalists to be “fearless.”
“It’s no exaggeration to say that strong journalism is critical to the very survival of our democracy,” she said.
Scripted series recognized this year included FX’s “Say Nothing” and “Shogun,” Peacock’s “We Are Lady Parts,” Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” and “Ripley” and HBO’s “Fantasmas.”
Joshua Zetumer, creator and executive producer of “Say Nothing,” a story of family riven during the Irish Troubles, said the themes of that 1970s and ’80s period drama are relevant amid today’s political environment.
“When bad things happen — and believe me they’re happening right now — the most dangerous thing we can do is stay silent,” Zetumer said.
(Pictured top: Actor Jon Hamm presents ‘SNL’ creator/executive producer Lorne Michaels with the Peabody’s Institutional Award as Amy Poehler looks on)
