The Third Annual AHS Awards Recipients
A Hot Set has announced the winners for its third annual AHS Awards. The nominees, who were announced back in February, had been selected by A Hot Set staff to celebrate notable achievements for people of color across film, television, and new media.
The standout film winner was the action thriller Monkey Man, it having won Dev Patel both Best Actor and Best Director. In the scripted television categories, the mockumentary Abbott Elementary won all three comedy categories. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Smith won Best TV Actor and Best TV Series in the drama categories. For the unscripted categories, 60 Minutes dominated, winning both news-related awards, alongside game show Family Feud and competitive series RuPaul’s Drag Race, which repeated their wins from the previous year.
The AHS Awards also honor the legacy of entertainer’s actor Samuel L. Jackson and comedian/actor George Lopez with tributes to their storied careers.
Film
Best Film: Challengers
The latest film from Luca Guadagnino made waves upon its release, for its complex and tumultuous exploration of a love triangle between three professional tennis players, with Zendaya, fresh off the back of her role in Dune: Part Two, playing the ultra-competitive Tashi, alongside The Crown’s Josh O’ Connor and West Side Story’s Mike Faist as the two friends who end up fighting both for her, and for the match. The three leads are utterly engrossing throughout the film, as the audience follow the twists and turns of their romantic entanglement, which builds to a masterful finish in which each actor is able to express a huge amount without almost any dialogue.
Just as impressive is the direction, as well as the masterful, heart-thumping soundtrack, which drew widespread praise and was touted for an Oscar win, though ultimately was not nominated. Whilst much of the media attention for the film had focused on its steamier scenes, as well as its star power, the film is ultimately a rich and layered narrative that is able to derive as much suspense over the course of a tennis match as could be found in any action film. Though neglected at the Oscars, the film, which grossed $96 million worldwide, easily earns its place as the standout of the year.
Best Foreign Film: Emilia Perez
The hit musical from Jacques Audiard, about a gangster who transitions to a woman in order to try and disappear, proved to be a hit with audiences. Starring Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon, and Selena Gomez, it won widespread praise for its direction, music, and performances.
The film gained widespread praise for its zany, out-there style, attracting huge audiences for its originality and inventiveness, as it boldly switches in tone along with the lead character transitioning to their new self, with particular praise going to Saldana’s performance, as well as to the films use of music.
Best Animated Film: The Wild Robot
This latest film from Dreamworks, which stars Lupita Nyong'o in the leading role, is an animated feature directed by Chris Sanders and received widespread critical acclaim upon release for its story of a robot that is abandoned on a Pacific island, where the local animals at first greet it with suspicion. The robot, voiced by Nyong’o, thinks purely in terms of its programming, but, despite this, comes to care for a baby gooseling that it chances upon and becomes responsible for.
This storyline taps into a relatively simple but successful formula that harkens back to films such as E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, or, most obviously, Wall-E, in its portrayal of an outsider that finds a new role for itself in this strange environment. Nyong’o has received praise for her voice work and appears alongside a stacked cast that includes the likes of Pedro Pascal, Stephanie Hsu, Bill Nighy, and Matt Berry. Whilst the film has been described as one of DreamWorks’ more earnestly heartfelt efforts of recent years.
Best Documentary: Daughters
This eye-opening film from Natalie Rae and Angela Patton highlights the issues faced by those behind bars and the impact it has on their families, through a tender and intimate focus on a ‘Daddy Daughter Dance’ program held at a prison in Washington D.C. This program, which allows prisoners with young daughters to work their children in an amateur dance show, is unique following a decade in which many US prisons have increasingly clamped down upon face-to-face visits with inmates.
The film goes into detail showing how this impacted the children of the prisoners involved, with a focus on how girls of different ages have responded to the loss of their fathers in their ways – from simple affection and a search for pride on the part of one younger girl, to brewing resentments and depression from some older girls and teens. The film has been praised for exploring the wider impact incarceration has beyond simply those behind bars and helping to humanise individuals who have largely been written off by society.
Best Standup Comedy Special: Katt Williams: Woke Foke
This stand-up special was comedian Katt Williams’s third gig with Netflix, but garnered widespread attention for being filmed live from Los Angeles, along with several other events that formed part of the platform's regular Netflix Is A Joke Festival. Williams, who already had built up a reputation for his bold and outspoken commentary, had previously attracted headlines for his criticism of many of his peers within the comedy and entertainment industries. Expectations, therefore, were high for this hour-long event that promised Williams to be at his most provocative, as well as being entirely live, in a move that remains a rare one for the streaming giant.
Whilst ultimately critics appeared to be mixed on the performance, at least in contrast to some of William’s previous shows, Woke Foke became Netflix’s most watched comedy special of the year, drawing in over 13 million viewers As promised, much of the best material in the comedians set saw him commentating on a range of controversial issues from celebrities and their image, to the Biden administration, and the use of the drug Ozempic. Most notably, the gig saw tackling the question of reparations for African Americans, a high-profile issue that drew widespread media attention.
Best Short Film: Cancer Before Cancer
The Award for this went to the short film Cancer for Cancer, released by the Peruvian Cancer Foundation, and which is available to watch on A Hot Set. The short film was produced as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the lack of access to healthcare that many ordinary Peruvians face when afflicted by cancer.
Lasting at just over three minutes in length, as it details the arduous journey made by a mother and her sick daughter to seek treatment, the film is noteworthy not only for showing the physical effects of the illness and the difficulties of the journey but also for highlighting the emotional toll that this has on the mother, as she tries to get her daughter to the city. Startling in its simplicity, the film at first does not make clear what the issue at stake is, and instead simply shows the journey involved. Only at the end does it provide statistics on how much poverty affects cancer survival rates, as well as inviting viewers to give generously.
Best Screenplay: Sean Wang, Didi
This coming-of-age comedy drama film has seen the award for screenwriting go to Taiwanese American Sean Wang, who also directed and produced the film, in what is his directorial debut. Focusing on the consequences of the use of social media on young people of color, the film shows how it provides an escape for its teenage character, whilst at the same time emphasising issues around racism and how this can tie into feelings of personal inadequacy.
A semi-autobiographical story taken from Wang’s own experiences, the film has drawn praise for how it highlights the perils of growing up online, something which is likely to be explored more in coming years as the first of the internet generations grow up and begin to tell their own stories about their experiences.
Best Director (Tie): John M. Chu, Wicked, & Dev Patel, Monkey Man
The contest for Best Director has this year emerged as a tie, with awards ultimately going to John M. Chu for Wicked and Dev Patel for Monkey Man.
Wicked, which was recently released to huge success and stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, is based on the first half of the stage musical from Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which retells the story of The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the Wicked Witch. Already one of the most successful musicals of recent years, the film was credited for offering a sumptuous and technically brilliant piece of spectacle and music that allows audiences to escape into the magical world it portrays while simultaneously using the underlying narrative of Erivo being ostracized for her green skin to comment on real-world issues around bullying, othering, and racism. The film cleverly inverts the original tale, humanizing the Wicked Witch while portraying the Good Witch as a vain, popular figure, captured perfectly by Grande, at least at first. With the land of Oz reimagined as a college campus, the two characters are shown as roommates who at first clash before growing closer as the story progresses.
John M. Chu, who was previously best known for Crazy Rich Asians and various other musicals, was chosen to take over direction of Wicked after Stephen Daldry stepped back due to scheduling conflicts. The film has undoubtedly been among the most successful films released over the last year, surpassing 2008’s Mamma Mia to become the most successful musical film adaptation of all time, grossing $748.6 million worldwide. The film tied with The Brutalist at the Oscars for the second-largest number of nominations, with costume designer Paul Tazewell becoming the first African American to win in this category.
Monkey Man, an action thriller released earlier in the year, similarly won high praise for lead actor Dev Patel in what has also been his directorial debut. The film, in which Patel’s character, Kid, is an underground fighter who dons a gorilla mask as part of entering the ring, evokes the Hindu monkey deity Hanuman. Fueled by rage, he seeks revenge for the brutal slaying of his mother, going after numerous corrupt figures involved in the criminal underworld as well as within Indian nationalist politics. Throughout, Patel crafts some jaw-dropping action sequences, gradually revealing the central character's motivations as it progresses.
The result is a film that, while appearing to have a typical action plot, stands out for its rapid, immersive shots and for its reworking of this kind of narrative for an Indian setting. Patel has spoken at length about his frustration about the lack of representation for Indians within these kinds of films and his hopes of addressing this. "I was sick and tired of seeing the same faces and the same franchises rehashed," Patel told the BBC. "This is original, this is our culture, this is vibrant, and I hope people go out and watch it and support it.”
Best Actor: Dev Patel, Monkey Man
Monkey Man also earns Patel the win for Best Actor, with particular praise for the film going to the role he has in it, as the bare-knuckle fighter, Kid. Having started out in the likes of Skins and Slumdog Millionaire, Patel has perfected an underdog streak that helps to elevate his performance here beyond typical action film fare. Critics have spoken about a performance that speaks to the character's background of growing up amidst poverty and tragedy, keeping the audience on his side even when he commits wrong acts. Patel has spoken about how, when crafting the role, he aimed to decisively break from the kind of soft-spoken comedy roles that he had been best known for in the past, bringing a real sense of fury and rage to his revenge narrative.
Critics have applauded how Patel goes all in with the role, masterfully performing the more violent and physical action scenes with a frantic intensity, with the actor reportedly even going so far as to break his hand during the filming for one fight scene. Whilst on the face of it his background and his slimmer build make him an unconventional action star, the fury and intensity that he expresses throughout more than sells it. It is a performance that stands out as a real departure for the actor and which feels truly visceral throughout.
Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Wicked also wins again, both Best Actress, with particular praise for going to Cynthia Erivo in her role as the misunderstood Elphaba. With the stage musical already being incredibly well-known and beloved, all eyes were on Erivo to see if she would pull it off and do the role justice. Erivo has talked in interviews about the pressure she felt under to deliver a ‘perfect performance’. It’s a role that she succeeds in, however, having won plaudits both for her acting and for her vocal performance.
Critics have praised the subtlety and nuance Erivo brings to the role, which helps to keep the film emotionally grounded amidst its flamboyant fantasy setting, Erivo proving able to evoke sympathy from the audience through just a look. Many critics have argued that Erivo’s casting helps give much greater depth and relatability to the character, who is excluded due to their skin color, with many commenting that her performance helped them to feel more connected to the character than they had in previous versions of the play. Particular praise also went to Erivo’s interactions with Ariana Grande, around which much of the film's marketing hinged, as well as how Erivo can combine her acting abilities with her masterful singing performance, something that was crucial in any Wicked adaptation. Erivo is easily able to sell the emotions of the character through her delivery, which helps all of her songs–seven in total–to land as they should.
Scripted Tv
Best TV Series – Drama: Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Though a remake of the hit 2005 comedy spy film, the recent TV adaptation of Mr & Mrs. Smith has proved incredibly successful at crafting its own identity and becoming one of the most impressive TV hits of the year. Created by Francesca Sloane and actor Donald Glover, who also stars in the lead role, Mr. & Mrs. Smith cleverly reverses the set-up for the original film – instead of a married couple discovering they are secretly rival agents, here the show sets up the dynamic of their being two strangers who then agree to pose as a married couple.
This makes for an incredibly intriguing setup for the premise, as we see their relationship developing into something genuine alongside the Mission: Impossible-style tasks to which they are assigned. Described by one critic as like a marriage story disguised as a spy thriller, the series stands out as one of the more refreshingly original to come out this year, balancing its witty tone with some genuinely heartfelt character drama, as well as some phenomenal performances from its two leads.
Best TV Actor – Drama: Donald Glover, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Particular praise has gone to Mr. & Mrs. Smith for the chemistry between its two leads, with creator Donald Glover as ‘John Smith’, and Maya Erskine as ‘Jane Smith’ being the standouts of the series as we follow the growing relationship between them. Glover, who previously won the AHS Awards category for Best TV Actor in Comedy during its inaugural year for his role in Atlanta, has shown experience with being able to handle both comedy and drama, skills he brings to the fore here.
Voters have praised the charm he can bring to the role, effectively selling the gradual development of the relationship that he builds with Erskin’s Jane, whilst more than proving up to the task of playing the cool and collected spy. But, as an actor who’s previously worked most in comedy, it’s the more serious side of the character that is perhaps most noteworthy here, as he crafts an intimate and realistic image of a relationship alongside the espionage.
Best TV Actress – Drama: Anna Sawai, Shogun
One of the biggest shows of the year was the FX series Shogun, based on the novels set in feudal Japan. Amongst its stellar cast, the one to receive perhaps the greatest amount of praise was Anna Sawai, who plays the translator Toda Mariko, and who became an overnight sensation for her role in the series. Sawai has received universal acclaim for her layered and multi-dimensional performance.
Starting as a court translator, who graciously guides the Englishman John Blackthorne through the complexities of the period, the series gradually probes away at the layers of her performance, as she attempts to navigate between her duties in this honor-bound world, with her desires. Sawai has been praised for the subtlety and intensity of her performance, getting across huge amounts on screen without speaking a word. Praised in particular for her part in the penultimate episode, Sawai has been described as an icon for women, as she is seen to work within the bounds of her gender at the time.
Best TV Series – Comedy: Abbott Elementary
ABC’s Abbott Elementary celebrates its second win by the AHS awards for Best Comedy Series it having also won this category two years prior, as well as having received nominations for each of the years AHS Awards has been running. The mockumentary series about an underfunded, predominantly black Philadelphia Elementary School has continued to go from strength to strength, consistently drawing praise from critics for how it has delivered its The Office-style brand of behind-the-scenes comedy whilst also shining a light on issues prevalent within the US education system.
Season 3, which aired at the beginning of 2024, sought to take its characters to new places, whilst continuing to eschew many of the rules that previous sitcoms have played by. The will-they-wont-they romance that had been brewing in previous seasons between the two leads is allowed to sit on the back burner whilst the series also takes the risk of switching up its format, after Quinta Brunson’s Janine steps away from her work at the school, allowing for a change in pace that would often prove disruptive for many sitcoms, but which works here. The season was also notable for continuing to face up to issues such as teacher burnout and has continued to gain recognition in its most recent season through crossovers with FX’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
Best TV Actor – Comedy: Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Another win goes to Abbott Elementary for the performance of Tyler James Williams in the role of substitute teacher Gregory. Having started as the biggest name on the series, Williams has received praise as the awkward but well-meaning Gregory for imbuing his character with a real sense of likability beyond his buttoned-up exterior. Williams has talked about how much he appreciated his character arc throughout season 3, specifically mentioning how the choice to hold off on the budding relationship between his character and Janine has allowed for a more nuanced take on this than would often be found in other sitcoms.
Williams has proved a master at playing up the character's awkward side for comedy, as in scenes where he tries unsuccessfully to flex in front of their nonsense principal. These kinds of scenes have made the character a fan favourite. At the same time, the season allowed for Williams to stretch himself in the role, with new dimensions being shown to the character as the season explores more of the character’s life outside its school setting, revealing more of his jealous side, as well as his opening up to other characters more. “We're trying to texturize these characters a bit more and show they're not just their profession," Williams stated in an interview ahead of the season's release. His work on season 3 also has led to his directing in the more recent season, marking his first experience behind the camera.
Best TV Actress – Comedy: Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Being the creator and showrunner of Abbott Elementary as well as playing the lead role, Quinta Brunson has put her passions into the series from the start, it being inspired by her mother, who had herself worked as a teacher for 40 years, as well as other teachers who made an impact on her. After winning in the same category for the inaugural AHS Awards, this year marks her second win, in recognition for the new territory she went to in her role over season 3 as Janine, the determinedly sunny and optimistic teacher at Abbott Elementary.
As in previous seasons, her attempts to navigate the problems faced there drive much of the comedy in the show, Brunson imbuing the part with genuine warmth and likability. Her departure from the school throughout the first few episodes of the season allowed Brunson to take the character to new places, however, and to provide a different dynamic. Meanwhile, the season’s initial decision to steer away from the will-they-won’t-they romance flowering between herself and William’s character showed a willingness not simply to fall into standard sitcom cliches, but instead to let with these relationships evolve in a more naturalistic, nuanced way that placed her character first, helping them and the series to stand out next to shows of a similar style.
Best TV Series – Soap/Telenovela: EastEnders
Having been nominated across all three AHS Awards, UK soap EastEnders receives its first solo win this time around, after previously tying with Days of our Lives & General Hospital in last year's entry. Having first aired in 1985, EastEnders is one of the most popular and long-running soap operas made in the UK. Set in the East End of London, the series has been widely praised for its focus on issues facing ordinary working people and for its platforming of diverse and upcoming talent. The series has been noted for placing particular emphasis on issues facing people of color in the UK, with storylines that have sought to address issues around racism and diversity.
One such plotline that caught the nation’s attention earlier in the year was that set around the multiracial Knight family, where it was discovered that one member of the family had been involved in racist hooliganism in decades prior. As well as exploring issues around racially aggravated violence, this storyline was noteworthy for also diving into other, more common questions surrounding biracial identity, with a particular point of contention between two sisters being that one can ‘pass’ as white, whereas the other doesn’t. Similar themes were also touched upon in the interracial relationships between the Fox and Panesar families, most notably with the storyline around a secret affair between Suki Panesar and her lesbian lover Eve, which provokes violence from convict husband, Nish. The storyline drew praise from LGBTQI+ groups for highlighting sapphic relationships amongst older people.
Unscripted TV
Best Docuseries: In The Arena: Serena Williams
Coming as a follow-up to 2021’s Man in the Arena: Tom Brady, this eight-part documentary from ESPN+ charts the career of the world-famous tennis star, Serena Williams. Spanning 23 years, the series tracks her performances from as a teenager emerging from the shadow of elder sister Venus, through to her decision to retire shortly after the birth of her daughter. The series has received particular praise for how it has drawn attention to the racist abuse she experienced, as well as her hopes to inspire young black women. Directed by Gotham Chopra, with interviews from some of Williams’s friends and colleagues, the series has been praised for giving an unparalleled look into the life of the tennis championship star.
In interviews, Williams has discussed how, due to the demands of her sporting lifestyle, she has rarely felt able to stop and be more open about her own life and direction. The interviews given by her throughout this series allows her to tell her story in her way, giving a much closer insight into not just her career, but also to the person behind the games, showcasing her family life, her sacrifices, and the work she has done to influence black female athletes and others.
Best Docusoap: Love Is Blind
This marks the second nomination and the second win in the AHS awards for the Netflix hit Love Is Blind, which won for the same category in last year’s Awards ceremony. The series aired two separate seasons over the course of 2024, each of which was followed by a special Reunion episode. The premise sees various singles from amongst a diverse range of contestants gradually getting acquainted and becoming engaged before ever actually meeting in person. Created by Chris Coelen in 2020, the series has enjoyed huge levels of success for how it has played on popular reality series dynamics, exploring how far its relationships have depended upon physical attraction. The series has consistently been among Netflix’s biggest hits throughout the course of its run and has spawned numerous spin-offs specific to different countries.
The season airing in 2024 continued to ramp up the drama between contestants, showcasing a range of messy fights and breakups throughout their runtime. The series also received particular praise for the much greater emphasis on diversity than over previous seasons, with not only a much greater number of men and women of color or interracial couples, but also couples showcasing a much greater diversity in body types and shapes. Critics have widely praised this, applauding it for providing audiences with couples who look and act like us, and therefore giving audiences much more reason to be invested.
Best News Program: 60 Minutes
Having aired continuously since 1968, the weekly CBS news program 60 Minutes has long been one of the most well-known and well-regarded news programs out there, both in the US and internationally. 2024 was notable for marking 50 consecutive years of the series remaining the top-rated news program across America. The longest continuously running program of any genre on American prime time, the series made headlines itself during its coverage of the 2024 election, after President Trump declined to take part in the debates that have become a tradition during every presidential election.
The weekly news magazine appears to have retained its place as one of America’s most trusted news programs in the country, ranking as the second-highest-rated program on CBS over the past year, emphasizing the importance of its balanced, incisive commentary, which has helped it to maintain its sense of trustworthiness amidst increasing political division, as well as its bold journalism, with particular attention over 2024 given to its coverage of events in the Middle East as well as throughout the presidential election.
Best News Anchor: Sharyn Alfonsi, Anderson Cooper, Norah O’Donnell, Scott Pelley, Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim, and Bill Whitaker, 60 Minutes
Along with the award for best overall news program, 60 Minutes has also received a win in recognition for its team of full-time presenters, who have been praised in their roles as correspondents for the program over their time on the program. Whilst 60 Minutes does not always have its hosts sharing screen time, its team has received praise for its serious journalism, and its ability work together to get stories across. Each member has been selected for their extensive record and experience in coverage of the news.
Whittaker, who hosted a high-profile interview with Kamala Harris, has placed the audiences trust in 60 Minutes down to its lack of frills, and its emphasis on hard reporting. Stahl, meanwhile, who has been prominent recently for her coverage of events in Israel and who recently also accepted a First Amendment Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association, has stated that the program is fighting for its life, and that she remains “proud of 60 Minutes, that we are standing up and fighting for what is right.” Alfonsi has also received accolades for her coverage of warzones and of the Parkland High School shooting.
Best Talk Show: The Jennifer Hudson Show
The daytime talk show from actress and musician Jennifer Hudson, which has aired as the spiritual successor to The Ellen DeGeneres Show, has gone from strength to strength, being renewed for its third season last fall. 2024 has been the most successful year yet for the series, pulling in around 17.2 million viewers over 2024, as well as 10 to 100 million views on TikTok and Instagram for its ‘Spirit Tunnel’ segments.
Particularly popular over the past year has been its range of high-profile guests, including Common, Paris Hilton, and Snoop Dogg, as well as its spotlight series, which has aimed to promote up-and-coming performers from among the public, including children. While critical reception has sometimes been mixed, Hudson has proved popular for her warmth and likability. She has stated that a key theme for season three has been joy, prioritizing uplifting content that champions community heroes, and that resonates with viewers.
Best Talk Show Host: Shannon Sharpe, Club Shay Shay
Following on from the win for Asian Boss last year, this award for the video & audio podcast Club Shay Shay marks the second win in a row in this category for a non-linear independent creator, rather than a linear television series. Set up and hosted by sports analyst and former NFL player Shannon Sharpe, his long-form interviews quickly became an internet sensation.
Sharpe has attracted a range of high-profile guests over 2024, including the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Mo'Nique, and even, at the height of the election, Kamala Harris. Most popular, however, has been his interview with Katt Williams, which lasted nearly three hours and which attracted widespread media attention, due in part to Williams’ comments about corruption and deviancy within the entertainment industry, following disgraced figures like P. Diddy and Harvey Weinstein. Williams called out numerous entertainment professionals within comedy, stating that he went into the interview to “kill careers.” The episode attracted as many as 46 million views in just 10 days and became one of the most viral moments of the year, reportedly earning Sharpe as much as he had made at the NFL in a year.
Best Game Show: Family Feud
Long-running game show Family Feud has continued with its winning streak, having now won the Award for Best Game Show for three years running. Having aired since 1976, the series, which pits different families against each other in guessing answers to survey questions, has long been a hit.
Ratings have increased significantly in recent years, with it now being among the top three most popular syndicated television shows in the country, as well as among the highest-rated programs on daytime television. A key reason for its maintaining this level of popularity has been its host, Steve Harvey, whose takeover of the show coincided with its surge in the ratings. Additionally, the series is one with a simple formula that it has perfected in the years since, spawning numerous regional adaptations made for different countries as well as a celebrity version and board game, interactive, and video game versions.
Best Game Show Host: Steve Harvey, Family Feud
Also winning three times in a row is Family Feud’s host, Steve Harvey. Previously a stand-up comedian and actor, Harvey has largely been credited with the series' renewed success, it having seen an upsurge in the ratings after he started as host in 2010. His comic style and delivery have proved a hit with audiences, helping the series to reach a level of popularity it had not received before, as well as generating spin-offs such as Celebrity Family Feud and Family Feud Africa, which Harvey also hosts.
Harvey has credited his continued success to the freedom he has been given as host, with the show in recent years becoming far more about the interplay between contestant and host than about the questions and answers given. Harvey has claimed that this is something that has less appeal in the era of mass information and, with there not being as many comedies in primetime television today, this place has essentially been taken by game shows.
Best Competitive Series: RuPaul’s Drag Race
The hit Netflix series RuPaul’s Drag Race, in which contestants compete to become America’s next drag superstar, was a sensation upon release. A celebration of drag culture, as well as if female and black empowerment, it nevertheless became a huge mainstream success, turning contestants like Jinx Monsoon and Trixie Mattel into stars. Having been on the air since 2009, some critics had argued that the series has suffered from overexposure, with some arguing it had lost its subversive edge, and contributed to the increased capitalisation of Pride and Drag. Nevertheless, the series has remained popular, with two separate seasons released throughout 2024, the first of which introduced a new LaLaPaRuZa Lip-Sync Smackdown competition for eliminated queens, along with guest judges such as Charlize Theron and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Best Competitive Series Host/Judges: RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race
RuPaul Charles, the host of RuPaul’s Drag Race, has also won the title of Best Series Host for the second time running, having previously won in last year’s AHS Awards. Having been the producer and host on RuPaul’s Drag Race since 2008, RuPaul’s charismatic, larger-than-life personality has been key to making the series the hit that it is, injecting all his appearances with the same high-energy and witty barbs that he has become known for, maintaining this even whilst having spoken out about being far more introverted and serious in real-life. The most commercially successful drag queen in America, he has continued to build on his winning streak over the past year, adding new categories to the original Drag Race, as well as launching a new series, RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars, which brought together contestants from the various spin offs from across the world.
Media
Best Video Game: Black Myth: Wukong
The debut winner for the video game category is Black Myth: Wukong, a fantasy role-playing action game from Game Science, which is based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West. The game is rooted in Chinese mythology, in which users play as the Destined One, a monkey warrior on a quest to find the legendary relics of Wukong. Since it was released over the summer of 2024, it has been notable for becoming one of the fastest-selling titles of all time, making it the first Chinese video game to reach this level of international success.
Selling 20 million units within the first month of its release, far exceeding initial expectations of around 3 to 5 million. The most wish-listed game on Steam in the months preceding, Black Myth: Wukong, reached over 2.2 million concurrent players on its first day of release, making it the highest single-player game by concurrent players on Steam to date.
Best Social Media Content Creator: Khabane “Khaby” Lame
Through his short comedy videos, Khaby Lame has become one of fastest fastest-growing stars on the platform. Known for parodying so-called ‘life hacks,’ sending up some of their more stupid iterations through just a deadpan look at the camera. 2024 saw Lame become the single biggest profile on all of TikTok, gaining over 162 million followers and earning $16.5 million.
Key to this growth in his popularity has been his everyman image, as well as his use of his unique silent comedic style, which has been compared to the likes of Mr. Bean for how it has allowed him to transcend language barriers and become a hit across the world. This was a comparison Lame himself played up in November with a video of himself confronting the original Mr. Bean (through edits alongside archival footage), which reached 9.2 million views.
Lifetime Achievement Awards
The AHS Awards also wishes to congratulate the actors Samuel L. Jackson and George Lopez, each of whom takes home one of the annual Lifetime Achievement Awards. These awards are named after two individuals who helped to pave the way for people of color in the film and television industry: the noted Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa and the African American actress and singer Ethel Waters. World-famous film star Samuel L. Jackson will be the third recipient of the Akira Kurosawa Lifetime Achievement Award in Film, while the long-standing television actor George Lopez has received the Ethel Waters Lifetime Achievement Award for Television.
Akira Kurosawa Film Award: Samuel L. Jackson (Read full tribute)
Ethel Waters TV Award: George Lopez (Read full tribute)
