Amy Schumer was queen of the 31st TV Critics Association Awards Saturday night in Beverly Hills, winning both outstanding individual achievement in comedy and outstanding overall achievement in comedy, given to her Comedy Central show “Inside Amy Schumer.”
But she was a no-show at the low-key annual event, literally phoning in her acceptance speech, saying “Critics! A lot of people hate you guys.”
Star power for the night came almost exclusively from Jon Hamm, who won individual achievement for drama for “Mad Men,” the much awarded show that received no other accolades Saturday, where Fox’s “Empire” won program of the year, “The Americans” won best drama (in a year when they were not nominated for an Emmy).
“Breaking Bad” spinoff “Better Call Saul” won outstanding new program and a comedy show, HBO’s “Last Night with John Oliver” won “outstanding achievement in news and information.” Oliver, in a lengthier filmed acceptance from New York, where he said he was preparing for Sunday’s show, assured members of the mistake they were making — unless they were doing it sarcastically.
It wasn’t the first time critics voted a comedy show to win for “News and Information” (though the previous winner, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” did not win).
HBO’s other win, for the documentary series “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” won for best miniseries (in a category co-awarded by yours truly).
In other awards, the film directing competition “The Chair” won best reality show, ABC Family’s “The Fosters” won for the second year running as best in youth programming, and director James L. Brooks (“The Simpsons,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Taxi”) won for career achievement. Homer Simpson was part of the kudos for the long running TV figure.
Finally, “The Late Show with David Letterman” won Heritage Award in a year that saw the retirement of the host after 33 years. Not only did he not even send in a tape, CBS provided one he did from a few years back when he also did not attend (“I checked my schedule and todas the day I eat glass,” he said). A producer Barbara Gaines, stepped in for him.
Another late night host, James Corden, performed his comedy to kick off the evening at the Beverly Hilton, skewering critics for the water jugs at the table and their lack of social skills. They could take it.