The Critics Fete Their Faves

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.

"It's a great time to be in broadcast television -- it's like being in vaudeville in the '60s!" raved "30 Rock" creator/writer/executive producer/star Tina Fey as she picked up one of her show's two Television Critics Association Awards at the group's annual trophy show on Saturday.

The ratings-starved NBC comedy series swept the TCA Awards' comedy derbies -- okay, there were just two: best comedy and best "individual achievement" in comedy (which went to Fey herself, who called "30 Rock" "the highest-rated cable show on broadcast TV").

Fey was the only one from the series on hand to pick up the best-comedy award because, she noted, NBC is broke. (Actually, another "30 Rock" executive producer, Lorne Michaels, was there, but he was saving himself for a Loretta Young entrance at the very end of the ceremony, when he stood up to accept his lifetime achievement award.)

It was a magical night, according to the post-ceremony blog musings of some critics. Everything seemed to go right. The word "television" was even spelled correctly on the association's official program for the festivities, which has not always been the case.

And big names turned out -- Fey and His Royal Highness Tom Hanks, Michaels, most of the cast of "Mad Men," and "The Wire" creator David Simon -- even though the event was not televised, and even though they had to endure fawning TCA members who wanted to take cellphone pictures of them and buttonhole some of the actors to say what upcoming film roles they should pursue.

Fey, who gave the evening some of its more memorable lines, was resplendent in a turquoise home-ec project with a full skirt and gimongous bow across the chest, and gold pumps. On the other hand, at least she had bothered to dress up as befits the biggest night of Thank God We're Working TV Press Tour 2008.

Offsetting Fey's Disney Channel fairy princess look, most of the cast of HBO's now-defunct "The Wire," along with Simon, were decked out in full grunge mode, which lent some much-needed grit to the Beverly Hills Hotel ballroom where the awards show was taking place.

The dramatic effect was somewhat spoiled, however, when Simon clutched the trophy to his wrinkled shirt and noted that, though the final season of the best show nobody watched was devoted to the hypocrisy of the newspaper industry and the uselessness of prizes and trophies, he now realized he had been completely wrong about all of that.

Ironically, "The Wire" was given the TCA Heritage Award, which is reserved every year for a show that, over the course of its long run on TV, has had a profound impact on the country's culture. Given that nobody watched the show -- seriously, almost nobody -- and that (Simon told critics) HBO nearly canceled it several times because of the ratings, it's hard to see how the show, however terrific, had a profound effect on the culture. It did, however, have a profound effect on TV critics and their editors, who spent the better part of the show's final season in a state of high knicker-knottedness over its demise.

Also decked out: everyone there representing AMC's sumptuous drama series "Mad Men," in gorgeous suits and cocktail dresses, some of which looked suspiciously as if they'd been plucked from the show's wardrobe closet, though actress January Jones's gold-lamé Grecian mini-tunic was something straight out of "Spartacus." The television critics showered "Mad Men," Matt Weiner's homage to Madison Avenue in the '60s, with trophies for outstanding new program, outstanding achievement in drama and program of the year.

Accepting one of those awards, actor John Slattery said, "I would like to say how glad I am that the show's message of drinking and smoking and whoring has resonated with the TCA" -- launching the show's campaign to win next year's Heritage Award.

Speaking of smoking, Paul Giamatti wanted critics to know he'd just given up smoking after taking it up again (after 10 smoke-free years) while shooting the HBO docudrama "John Adams" in Virginia and Hungary.

For playing the country's second president in the sprawling miniseries, Giamatti had been awarded the prize for best individual achievement in a drama. "John Adams" was named the year's best movie, miniseries or special. Hanks, whose Playtone production company was behind the ambitious project, accepted, and also thanked Fey -- who, no doubt overwhelmed by his presence, had earlier reminded critics that Hanks once starred in "Bosom Buddies." This from the woman who wrote "Baby Mama." PBS's "The War" was named best news/info program, but Ken Burns couldn't make it to accept the trophy. Public TV's "WordGirl" was named best children's program, beating out the hilariously nominated "Hannah Montana" and "High School Musical 2," which, let's face it, should have won this year's Heritage Award.

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NBC's late-night comedy show "Saturday Night Live" will be back early this fall -- Sept. 13 -- to capitalize on the presidential race, extending its traditional 20-episode season to -- wait for it -- 22 whole new episodes!

As previously announced, the show's "Weekend Update" franchise will also play on three Thursdays in prime time starting Oct. 9. And a "Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash 2008" will air in prime time Monday, Nov. 3, the night before the election.