“Insecure,” “Black and Missing,” and more are being recognized for their use of “powerful and innovative storytelling to advance social change.” As Deadline reports, Issa Rae’s seminal comedy about Black female friendship and the docuseries investigating racism in missing persons cases have both made the 15th Television Academy Honors list, a collection of “some of the most significant and impactful television of 2021.”
“Insecure” aired its series finale in December. The conclusion of the Emmy- and Peabody-winning comedy saw besties Issa (Rae) and Molly (Yvonne Orji) making professional and personal strides and vowing to always be there for one another. From directors Geeta Gandbhir, Samantha Knowles, Nadia Hallgren, and Yoruba Richen, “Black and Missing” follows sisters-in-law Derrica and Natalie Wilson, activists working to draw attention to the racial disparity in the resources and press attention missing persons cases receive, and founders of the Black and Missing Foundation. The docuseries previously took home an Independent Spirit Award and an Image Award.
Padma Lakshmi’s “Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition,” opioid crisis miniseries “Dopesick,” and Indigenous teen ensemble dramedy “Reservation Dogs” also made the Television Academy Honors list, as did “It’s a Sin,” a drama set in London during the early days of the AIDS pandemic, and nature doc “The Year Earth Changed.”
“Now more than ever, television informs and galvanizes audiences around the world,” Television Academy Chairman and CEO Frank Scherma said. “These seven remarkable programs have enlightened viewers and advocated for some of the most significant issues facing our global community. We are pleased to honor these extraordinary programs and producers who are committed to influencing social change.”
The Television Honors selection committee is also giving special recognition to “Maid,” Molly Smith Metzler’s Netflix limited series about a struggling single mother and abuse survivor; the Janet Tobias-co-directed National Geographic doc “Fauci”; and the History Channel doc “Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre.” “Each will each receive a certificate acknowledging their thoughtful, pro-social content,” Deadline notes.
Synopses for the seven Television Honors selections are below, courtesy of Deadline.
Black and Missing (HBO/HBO Max)
HBO Documentary Films presents in association with SO’B Productions
From multiple Emmy winner Geeta Gandbhir and award-winning documentarian, journalist, author and activist Soledad O’Brien, this compelling documentary follows sisters-in-law and Black and Missing Foundation founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson as they fight an uphill battle to bring awareness to the Black missing persons cases that are marginalized by law enforcement and national media.
Dopesick (Hulu)
Starring Michael Keaton, this limited series examines how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history. The series takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Purdue Pharma to a distressed Virginia mining community to the hallways of the DEA. The unsparing yet deeply human portraits of the various families affected by OxyContin addiction and their intersecting stories hold up a mirror to this American tragedy.
Insecure (HBO/HBO Max)
HBO in association with Hoorae Productions, Penny for Your Thoughts Entertainment and 3 Arts Entertainment
Starring Issa Rae, the fifth and final season of this relevant series follows characters who highlight the authentic, lived experiences of Black women with a desire to build opportunities for the Black community as they evaluate their relationships, both new and old, and figure out who and what comes with them in this next phase of their lives.
It’s a Sin (HBO/HBO Max)
HBO Max presents a Red Production Company production in association with Channel 4 Television
Spanning a decade, this series follows five young friends navigating the early days of the AIDS crisis in 1980s London. In writing this series, Russell T Davies hoped to show not just the pain and loss that plagued a generation, but also the lives lived. Where there’s long been much misplaced shame and stigma, there was much joy, strength and love.
Reservation Dogs (FX Networks)
FX Productions
From co-creators and executive producers Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, this half-hour comedy follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who steal, rob and save in order to get to the exotic, mysterious and faraway land of California. Filmed on location in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, the series is a breakthrough in Indigenous representation on television both in front of and behind the camera. Every writer, director and series regular on the show is Indigenous. This first-of-its-kind creative team tells a story that resonates with them and their lived experiences and invites audiences into a surprisingly familiar and funny world.
Taste the Nation: Holiday Edition (Hulu)
Hulu, Part 2 Pictures, Delicious Entertainment
Award-winning host, executive producer and cookbook author Padma Lakshmi takes audiences on a journey across America exploring the rich and diverse food culture of various immigrant groups, seeking out the people who have so heavily shaped what American food is today. The program looks at how immigrant traditions have stood the test of time despite ongoing threats, challenging political climates, and cultural misappropriation.
The Year Earth Changed (Apple TV+)
BBC Studios Natural History Unit in association with Apple
Showcasing footage from around the world after an unprecedented year, this timely documentary special takes a fresh new approach to the global lockdown and the uplifting stories that have come out of it. From hearing birdsong in deserted cities and seeing whales in Glacier Bay to meeting capybara in suburbs across South America, people worldwide have had the chance to engage with nature like never before. Viewers will witness how the smallest changes in human behavior—reducing cruise ship traffic, closing beaches a few days a year, identifying more harmonious ways for humans and wildlife to coexist—can have a profound impact on nature. The documentary, narrated by David Attenborough, is a love letter to planet Earth, highlighting the ways nature’s resiliency and ability to bounce back can give us hope for the future.
