Comedian Jay Pharoah turned the week’s anxieties into punch lines on Sunday as host of the 2026 Norman Lear Awards, which honor television series that responsibly inform and educate audiences about critical health, safety and security issues.
The awards, named for the pioneering television writer and producer, were held at the Writers Guild Theater. The honored shows were the dramas “The Morning Show,” “The Diplomat” and “Beyond the Gates”; the medical dramas “Brilliant Minds,” “9-1-1” and “Grey’s Anatomy”; and the comedies “The Boroughs,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Ted” and “Scrubs.”
Pharoah, a former “Saturday Night Live” cast member known for his sharp celebrity impressions, opened the show by cataloging the week’s horrors, with jokes about the coming midterm elections and artificial intelligence.
“It’s great to celebrate tonight ’cause we’re facing three things this week that unite us in pure terror: Halloween, the Day of the Dead and Election Day,” he said. “The only thing scarier than Election Day is A.I. . . . A.I. doesn’t create. It takes our work and screws with it.”
He later turned to “Abbott Elementary” and its creator, Quinta Brunson, whose show was among the night’s winners. “Could A.I. ever replace Quinta? No way,” he said. “Queen, you’ve created a show that has everything. Well, except one thing . . . Jay Pharoah.”
Representing the honored shows were:
“Scrubs,” recognized for its depiction of health care access. Amy Pocha and Seth Cohen appeared for the show.Healthcare Access. .
“Abbott Elementary,” recognized for its depiction of mental health.
“Beyond the Gates,” recognized for its portrayal of health care disparities, including a multiepisode breast cancer story line. Clifton Davis appeared for the show.
“Brilliant Minds,” recognized for its depiction of advances in health. Teddy Sears and Tamberla Perry appeared for the show.
“The Boroughs,” recognized for its depiction of sleep disorders. Carlos Miranda appeared for the show.
“9-1-1,” recognized for its depiction of mental health. Marsha Warfield appeared for the show.
“Ted,” recognized for its depiction of abortion. Adrienne Barbeau presented.
“The Diplomat,” recognized for its depiction of diplomacy and national security. Miguel Sandoval appeared for the show.
“Grey’s Anatomy,” recognized for its portrayal of health care disparities, including a multiepisode prostate cancer story line. James Pickens Jr. appeared for the show.
