The Television Critics Association honored Twin Peaks during their 40th Annual Television Critics Awards on July 12, 2024. Mark Frost accepted the award on behalf of the entire cast and crew. Here’s a look at what happened during this special event.
WHAT IS THE TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION?
The Television Critics Association (TCA) is a nonprofit organization representing more than 230 professional journalists who cover television for publications across the United States and Canada. The members reach tens of millions of consumers each week and are experts within the industry, representing their employers as moderators, panelists, radio/TV guests and more. The prestigious organization honors outstanding achievements in television and enduring contributions to the medium’s heritage through the TCA Awards each year.
WHEN WAS THE 40TH ANNUAL TCS AWARDS HELD?
On June 10, 2024, the TCA announced nominees for the organization’s landmark 40th Annual TCA Awards for the 2023-2024 Television season. Nominations were made based on programming available on broadcast, cable, and streaming outlets. Winners were announced at an exclusive ceremony held in-person at The Langham Huntington in Pasadena, California. on Friday, July 12.
The TCA presented awards in 12 distinct categories, highlighting outstanding achievements in Drama; Comedy; Miniseries; News and Information; Reality; Variety, Sketch or Talk Shows, and more, headlined by the organization’s coveted Program of the Year Award (which was presented to Shōgun).
WHAT IS THE TCA HERITAGE AWARD?
In 2002, the TCA began honoring the iconic figures in television with its Heritage Award. Starting with “The Simpsons,” the list is quite impressive. In 2024, David Lynch and Mark Frost’s wonderful and strange “Twin Peaks” joined the list!
MARK FROST ACCEPTS TCA HERITAGE AWARD FOR TWIN PEAKS
Mark Frost accepted the Heritage Award on July 12. Cameras were not allowed in the ballroom so the TCA provided this after-ceremony shot of Frost holding the award.
Here is a closer look at the award.
The TCA shared the image of Mark on their Instagram account.
The Official TCA Twitter account also shared the image with a nice nod to Special Agent Dale Cooper’s famous line about “damn fine coffee.”
Mark shared the news on his Twitter account on July 13, 2024 saying, “Happy to say I was honored to pick up this award of behalf of our global TP community last night. Thanks to all you beautiful Peakies for living the dream and keeping it real!!!”
Several television critics who attended the event shared their thoughts following the ceremony. Mark Frost and Twin Peaks were a highlight of the night.
Emily Longeretta, Senior Features Editor, TV for Variety, said Frost received the “only standing ovation of the night.”
Marissa Roffman shared part of Frost’s remarks noting that “good storyteller don’t run out of stories … the only run out of time.”
Hanh Nguyen (Hanhonymous), Senior Editor at Culture, remembered Mark saying, “Don’t let anyone tell you what you’re making is content.”
Two more attendees shared their excitement at seeing Frost.
“I can’t begin to tell you how encouraging this is,” said Frost upon accepting the award. His remarks made an impression on Meghan O’Keefe, Senior Critic at Decider, who attached the Agent Cooper thumbs up animated GIF to her tweet.
Carly Lane-Perry, was happy to see Mark Frost posing for photos with Program of the Year winners from Shōgun, Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai.
TWIN PEAKS AT TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION
This is the first time Twin Peaks was celebrated by the TCA.
On January 6, 1990, the Television Critics Association held their winter 1990 press tour at the former Registry Hotel (now Hilton Universal) in Universal City, California. The ABC Television day was held on that Saturday where critics were shown the Twin Peaks pilot episode. You can read a more in-depth story about events from that day in this article.
Later, Twin Peaks was honored as Program of the Year during the TCA Awards held on Friday, July 20, 1990.
At that event, Mark Frost also accepted the award on behalf of the entire Twin Peaks team. The critics joked that the organization would not give him the award until he revealed Laura Palmer’s killer. He went on to say, “I can reveal to you here tonight that Bart Simpson killed Laura Palmer.”
Twin Peaks is part of an incredible list of programs since 1984-1985 season, including some of my favorites (Mad Men and Battlestar Galactic – So say we all!)
Congratulations to the entire Twin Peaks cast and crew. What you created 35 years ago still continues making an impact on lives of people around the world today.
