Misha Green’s ‘Lovecraft Country,’ Robin Thede’s ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ top Black Reel Television Awards winners

Erik Anderson August 20, 2021

HBO’s Lovecraft County, the supernatural horror miniseries that spotlighted the horror of racism in the 1950s, lapped the field at the 5th Annual Black Reel Awards for Television, winning six categories including Outstanding Drama Series, as well as acting wins for Jonathan Majors (Outstanding Actor), Jurnee Smollett (Outstanding Actor), Michael K. Williams (Outstanding Supporting Actor) and Courtney B. Vance (Outstanding Guest Actor). Showrunner and creator Misha Green won Outstanding Directing for the episode “Jig-a-Bobo.” The Emmy-nominated hit show was canceled by HBO in July.

“We salute all of this year’s winners, but the fact that each of this year’s winning shows were led by showrunners is to be commended,” said Black Reel Awards CEO and Founder, Tim Gordon. “It is refreshing to see them assert their art and considerable sensibilities to a bevy of stories that continue to enhance the power of cinema.”

On the comedy side, awards went to Anthony Anderson in black-ish for Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series and Robin Thede as Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series for A Black Lady Sketch Show, which also won Outstanding Comedy Series. The Woke series Black People for Rent, the story of a Black cartoonist on the verge of mainstream success who must navigate an unexpected event changes, won two awards: Outstanding Directing (Maurice Marable) and Outstanding Writing for Rochee Jeffrey. Kenan Thompson (Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy) and Dave Chappelle (Outstanding Guest Actor, Comedy) also won for Saturday Night Live.

Other dual show winners included Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series, which honored John Boyega for Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series for Red, White and Blue, and McQueen for Outstanding Directing, TV Movie/Limited Series for Lover’s Rock.

With 13 wins, HBO dominated this year’s field of winners. NBC came in a distant second with four wins and the rest of the winners were divided among a slew of other networks and streaming services.

Black Reel Awards annually recognize the excellence of African Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the African diaspora, in the global film industry.

Here is the complete list of winners and nominees.

COMEDY CATEGORIES

Outstanding Comedy Series
(awarded to the showrunner)

“A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)
Robin Thede, showrunner
“black-ish” (ABC)
Courtney Lily, showrunner
“That Damn Michael Che” (HBO Max)
Michael Che, showrunner
“grown-ish” (Freeform)
Julie Bean, showrunner
“Run the World” (Starz)
Yvette Lee Bowser, showrunner

Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson | “black-ish” (ABC)
Asante Blackk | “Social Distance” (Netflix)
Michael Che | “That Damn Michael Che” (HBO Max)
Trevor Jackson | “grown-ish” (Freeform)
Lamorne Morris | “Woke” (HULU)

Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series

Renée Elise Goldsberry | “Girls5eva” (Peacock)
Tracee Ellis Ross | “black-ish” (ABC)
Yara Shahidi | “grown-ish” (Freeform)
Robin Thede | “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)
Bresha Webb | “Run the World” (Starz)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series

Deon Cole | “black-ish” (ABC)
David Alan Grier | “Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!” (Netflix)
Laurence Fishburne | “black-ish” (ABC)
Justice Smith | “Genera+ion” (HBO Max)
Kenan Thompson | “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series

Naomi Ackie | “Master of None” (Netflix)
Ashley Nicole Black | “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)
Gabrielle Dennis | “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)
Jenifer Lewis | “black-ish” (ABC)
Wanda Sykes | “The Upshaws” (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing, Comedy Series

“Black People for Rent” (Woke) – HULU
Maurice Marable, director
“But the Tilapias Are Fine Though, Right?” (A Black Lady Sketch Show) – HBO
Lacey Duke & Brittany Scott Smith, directors
“My Dinner With Andre Junior” (black-ish) – ABC
Princess Monique, director
“Our Wedding Dre” (black-ish) – ABC
Eric Dean Seaton, director
“Separ8 Ways” (Girls5eva) – Peacock
Chioke Nassor, director

Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series

“Black People for Rent” (Woke) – HULU
Rochee Jeffrey, writer
“But the Tilapias Are Fine Though, Right?” (A Black Lady Sketch Show) – HBO
Lauren Ashley Smith, Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Akilah Green, Shenovia Large, Rae Sanni, Kristin Layne Tucker, Holly Walker, Kindsey Young, Charla Lauriston, writers
“Carma” (Girls5eva) – Peacock
Anna Drezen & Azie Dungey, writers
“Missions & Ambitions” (black-ish) – ABC
Isaiah Lester & Melanie Boysaw, writers
“Policin” (That Damn Michael Che) – HBO Max
Michael Che, Gary Richardson, Rosebud Baker, Reggie Conquest, Godfrey Danchimah Jr., Calise Hawkins, Kevin Iso, Sam Jay, Matt Richards, Cipha Sounds & Wil Sylvince, writers

Outstanding Guest Actor, Comedy Series

Dave Chappelle | “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Samuel L. Jackson | “Staged” (BBC One)
Daniel Kaluuya | “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Rege-Jean Page | “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Marcus Scribner | “grown-ish” (Freeform)

Outstanding Guest Actress, Comedy Series

Erika Alexander | “Run the World” (Starz)
Regina King | “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Debbi Morgan | “Bigger” (BET+)
Maya Rudolph | “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Vanessa L. Williams | “Girls5eva” (Peacock)

Drama Categories

Outstanding Drama Series
(awarded to the showrunner)

“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (Disney+)
Malcolm Spellman, showrunner
“Lupin” (Netflix)
George Kay, showrunner
“Lovecraft Country” (HBO)
Misha Green, showrunner
“Queen Sugar” (OWN)
Anthony Sparks, showrunner
“Snowfall” (FX)
Dave Andron, showrunner

Outstanding Actor, Drama Series

Damson Idris | “Snowfall” (FX)
Anthony Mackie | “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (Disney+)
Jonathan Majors | “Lovecraft Country” (HBO)
Rege-Jean Page | “Bridgerton” (Netflix)
Billy Porter | “Pose” (FX)

Outstanding Actress, Drama Series

Brandee Evans | “P-Valley” (Starz)
Dawn-Lyen Gardner | “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
Queen Latifah | “The Equalizer” (CBS)
Simone Missick | “All Rise” (CBS)
Jurnee Smollett | “Lovecraft Country” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito | “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
Giancarlo Esposito | “The Mandalorian” (Disney+)
Niles Fitch | “This Is Us” (NBC)
Amin Joseph | “Snowfall” (FX)
Michael K. Williams | “Lovecraft Country” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series

Adjoa Andoh | “Bridgerton” (Netflix)
Aunjanue Ellis | “Lovecraft Country” (HBO)
Michael Hyatt | “Snowfall” (FX)
Wunmi Mosaku | “Lovecraft Country” (HBO)
Susan Kelechi Watson | “This Is Us” (NBC)

Outstanding Directing, Drama Series

“Birth Mother” (This Is Us) – NBC
Kay Oyegun, director
“Chapter 15: The Believer” (The Mandalorian) – Disney+
Rick Famuyiwa, director
“Jig-a-Bobo” (Lovecraft Country) – HBO
Misha Green, director
“Sleeping Dogs” (Snowfall) – FX
Carl Seaton, director
“The Trunk” (Pose) – FX
Tina Mabry, director

Outstanding Writing, Drama Series

“Birth Mother” (This Is Us) – NBC
Kay Oyegun & Eboni Freeman, writers
“Chapter 15: The Believer” (The Mandalorian) – Disney+
Rick Famuyiwa, writer
“Jig-a-Bobo” (Lovecraft Country) – HBO
Misha Green, writer
“New World Order” (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) – Disney+
Malcolm Spellman, writer
“Sleeping Dogs” (Snowfall) – FX
Justin Hillian, writer

Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito | “The Boys” (Amazon Prime Video)
Carl Lumbly | “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (Disney+)
Larenz Tate | “Power Book II: Ghost” (Starz)
Carl Weathers | “The Mandalorian” (Disney+)
Courtney B. Vance | “Lovecraft Country” (HBO)

Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series

Gail Bean | “Snowfall” (FX)
Rosario Dawson | “The Mandalorian” (Disney+)
Florence Kasumba | “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (Disney+)
Sophie Okonedo | “Ratched” (Netflix)
Phylicia Rashad | “This Is Us” (NBC)

TV Movie / Limited Series Categories

Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series
(awarded to the showrunner for limited series & producers for TV movies)

Hamilton (Disney+)
Lin-Manuel Miranda, producer
Thomas Kali, producer
Jeffrey Seller, producer
“I May Destroy You” (HBO)
Michaela Coel, Showrunner
“Small Axe” (Amazon Prime Video)
Steve McQueen, showrunner
Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Prime Video)
Jonathan T. Baker, producer
Eugene Ashe, producer
Nnamdi Asomugha, producer
“The Underground Railroad” (Amazon Prime Video)
Barry Jenkins, showrunner

Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series

Nnamdi Asomugha | Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Prime Video)
Mamoudou Athie | Black Box (Amazon Prime Video)
Dule Hill | Psych 2: Lassie Came Home (Peacock)
Leslie Odom Jr. | Hamilton (Disney+)
Chris Rock | “Fargo” (FX)

Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series

Nicole Beharie | “Monsterland” (HULU)
Michaela Coel | “I May Destroy You” (HBO)
Cynthia Erivo | “Genius: Aretha Franklin” (National Geographic)
Thuso Mbedu | “The Underground Railroad” (Amazon Prime Video)
Tessa Thompson | Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series

John Boyega | “Small Axe: Red, White & Blue” (Amazon Prime Video)
Daveed Diggs | Hamilton (Disney+)
Paapa Essiedu | “I May Destroy You” (HBO)
William Jackson Harper | “The Underground Railroad” (Amazon Prime Video)
Courtney B. Vance | “Genius: Aretha Franklin” (National Geographic)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series

Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn | “Small Axe: Lovers Rock” (Amazon Prime Video)
Renée Elise Goldsberry | Hamilton (Disney+)
Weruche Opia | “I May Destroy You” (HBO)
Teyonah Parris | “WandaVision” (Disney+)
Letitia Wright | “Small Axe: Mangrove” (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Directing, TV Movie/Limited Series

“Ego Death” (I May Destroy You) – HBO
Michaela Coel & Sam Miller, directors
“Lovers Rock” (Small Axe) – Amazon Prime Video
Steve McQueen, director
“Mangrove” (Small Axe) – Amazon Prime Video
Steve McQueen, director
Sylvie’s Love – Amazon Prime Video
Eugene Ashe, director
“The Underground Railroad” – Amazon Prime Video
Barry Jenkins, director

Outstanding Writing, TV Movie/Limited Series

“Chapter 1: Georgia” (The Underground Railroad) – Amazon Prime Video
Barry Jenkins, writer
“Ego Death” (I May Destroy You) – HBO
Michaela Coel, writer
“…It Just Came Up” (I May Destroy You) – HBO
Michaela Coel, writer
“Lovers Rock” (Small Axe) – Amazon Prime Video
Steve McQueen & Courttia Newland, writers
Sylvie’s Love – Amazon Prime Video
Eugene Ashe, writer

TV Documentaries/Specials & Music

Outstanding Television Documentary or Special

Black Is King (Disney+)
Beyonce Knowles-Carter, Kwasi Fordjour, Emmanuel Adjei, Blitz Bazawule, Ibra Ake, Jenn Nkiru, Jake Nava, Pierre Debusschere, Dikayl Rimmasch & Dafe Oboro, directors
“First Ladies: Michelle Obama” (CNN)
Liz Mermin, director
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion” (HBO Max)
Marcus Raboy, director
“High on the Hog: How African-American Cuisine Transformed America” (Netflix)
Stephen Satterfield, director
Tina (HBO)
Daniel Lindsay & T.J. Martin, directors

Outstanding Music

Black Is King (Disney+)
James William Blades, composer
Hamilton (Disney+)
Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer
“Lovecraft Country” (HBO)
Laura Karpman & Raphael Saadiq, composers
Liza Richardson, music supervisor
“Pose” (FX)
Mac Quayle, composer
Amanda Krieg Thomas, Alexis Martin Woodall & Ryan Murphy, music supervisors
Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Prime Video)
Fabrice Lecomte, composer

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Erik Anderson

Erik Anderson is the founder/owner and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch and has always loved all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards since he was in single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself in film school and the film forums of GoldDerby, and then migrated over to the former Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), before breaking off to create AwardsWatch in 2013.

He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.