Abbott Elementary, The Morning Show, Grey’s Anatomy, The Diplomat and Brilliant Minds are among the television shows being honored at the 2026 Norman Lear Awards.
On Wednesday, Hollywood, Health & Society, a program at USC Annenberg’s Norman Lear Center, announced this year’s winning shows, which are being recognized for making “a difference with storylines that inform audiences on topics including healthcare, racism, cancer, reproductive rights, mental health and climate change,” according to a press release.
Abbott Elementary‘s “Aide” episode during season five is being honored for its exploration of mental health, as is the 9-1-1 “Fighting Back” episode in season nine. Beyond the Gates is being awarded for its multi-episode storyline on racial healthcare disparities/breast cancer; Brilliant Minds‘ “The Fire Fighter” episode during season two is being recognized for its exploration of advances in health/clinical trials; Grey’s Anatomy is being honored for a multi-episode storyline on racial healthcare disparities/prostate cancer; The Morning Show‘s fourth season is being awarded for its approach to climate change/environmental health; Ted‘s “Roe v. Weed” episode in season two is being reognized for its exploration of abortion/reproductive rights; The Boroughs‘ “Welcome to the Boroughs” episode during season one is being honored for its approach to sleeping disorders; and The Diplomat’s “Schrodinger’s Wife” episode during season three is being awards for its exploration of nuclear threats/national security.
“In an age where accuracy often gets twisted or even buried for convenience, television has shown how entertainment doesn’t have to come at the expense of the truth,” Kate Folb, program director for Hollywood, Health & Society, said in a statement.
The 26th annual Norman Lear Awards, formerly the Sentinel Awards, will be handed out during a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills. Jay Pharoah (Ride Along, The Blackening, White Famous) has been tapped to host the event.
“I’m excited to celebrate the legacy of Norman Lear and the power of television at Hollywood, Health & Society’s 26th annual awards,” Pharoah said. “This year’s outstanding honorees show how TV storytelling can both inspire and entertain with meaning and impact.”
Lear Center founding director Marty Kaplan, who holds Annenberg’s Norman Lear chair in entertainment, media and society, added, “Year after year, these awards demonstrate that shows that matter to viewers’ lives can also win ratings and make money.”
The awards ceremony will be co-written by Ann Slichter and Shelly Goldstein, returning for the sixth year.
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