‘Veep,’ ‘Lemonade’ Top Peabody 30 Entertainment List

The Peabody 30 recognized seven entertainment programs in its 2017 awards. HBO’s Veep and Lemonade visual album made the list.

The George Foster Peabody Awards (the Peabody Awards) announced today the entertainment recipients of the annual Peabody 30 awards. HBO’s Veep and Lemonade made the list as did FX’s Atlanta and Better Things. The Peabody 30 recognize “stories that feature a powerhouse lineup of female characters and dramas that break the mold of typical television fare.” The Peabody Awards hail from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

Atlanta’s recognition comes as the series ramps up its 2017 Emmy campaign. FX’s freshman entry received critical raves and inclusion on many guild lists last winter. Better Things surprised with its entry on the list, giving the presumed forgotten comedy a slight boost. Producer Louis C.K. also received notice for his experimental drama Horace and Pete.

Here are the official entertainment entries on the Peabody 30 with justification provided by the Peabody Awards. Documentary winners were previously announced. Winners in other categories will be announced on April 25.

Atlanta

Donald Glover’s enchanting series on the struggles of two young black men trying to make it in Atlanta’s rap scene blends vibrant character study and rich socio-political commentary in delivering a detailed and textured exploration of a Southern city.

Better Things

Co-created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K., the result of this searingly funny and beautiful show is an at-times raw examination of the vicissitudes of working motherhood, crackling with feminist verve and energy, that consistently cuts new ground.

Happy Valley

A fresh take on the British crime drama that deals boldly and unflinchingly with the darkest human behavior while keeping its heart and even a tart sense of humor. Series creator Sally Wainwright has given us perhaps the greatest female lead on television today in Catherine Cawood, played by Sarah Lancashire in a stunning performance.

Horace and Pete

A true original that melds contemporary politics and serialized storytelling with a throwback approach, Horace and Pete is a truly independent and groundbreaking demonstration of how quality television is expertly done in the new media environment, all the while building upon decades of artistry and craft.

Lemonade

Lemonade draws from the prolific literary, musical, cinematic, and aesthetic sensibilities of black cultural producers to create a rich tapestry of poetic innovation. The audacity of its reach and fierceness of its vision challenges our cultural imagination, while crafting a stunning and sublime masterpiece about the lives of women of color and the bonds of friendship seldom seen or heard in American popular culture.

National Treasure

A dark and timely examination of sexual abuse at the hands of privileged celebrity, National Treasure is an engrossing series that explores the loyalty of family and friends during crisis, the impact of sexual abuse on victims, and the legal system itself. As in real life, there’s no neat ending in this dramatic rendering of one man’s choices and the collateral damage he creates.

Veep

A rare show blessed with a perfectly cast ensemble, including the comedic genius of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep is a workplace comedy that not only captures the zeitgeist of the current bizarre political moment but transcends its own form to deliver a sobering message, with sharp dialogue, street savvy—and lots of laughs.