ABC’s comedy series Abbott Elementary was the big winner at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards ceremony Saturday night as the civil rights organization honored excellence in television, music, film and sports.
In the television category, Abbott Elementary won an industry-high six awards, including outstanding comedy series, as well as best actress in a comedy series for series star/creator Quinta Brunson. Abbott Elementary stars Tyler James Williams and Janelle James also swept the best supporting comedy actor and actress categories, respectively.
Starz’s P-Valley won the statuette for outstanding drama series as well an outstanding actor in a drama series award for series star Nicco Annan.
Other shows winning multiple NAACP Image Awards include Peacock’s The Best Man: Final Chapters, which took home the outstanding television movie, limited–series or dramatic special award, as well as Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and Disney Channel’s Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.
Other NAACP Image Award winners include Angela Bassett, who won the Entertainer of the Year Award, as well as awards for outstanding actress in a drama series for her starring role in 9-1-1 and outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture for her appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Will Smith won Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his role as a runaway slave in Apple TV's Emancipation. It was Smith’s first award since he infamously slapped Chris Rock on stage during last year’s Academy Awards ceremony.
Queen Latifah hosted Saturday’s live awards ceremony, which was simulcast on CBS, BET, BET Her, VH1 and Paramount Network. The live event – the first in-person NAACP Image Awards show in three years – was preceded by four days of virtual awards presentations.
The full list of NAACP Image Awards winners in the television category appears below:
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood (CBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Outstanding Drama Series
P-Valley (Starz)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Nicco Annan – P-Valley (Starz)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (FOX)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Cliff "Method Man" Smith – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Loretta Devine – P-Valley (Starz)
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Morris Chestnut – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Niecy Nash-Betts – Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix)
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)
Outstanding Talk Series
Sherri (Syndicated)
Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Amazon Studios)
Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Children’s Program
Tab Time (YouTube Originals)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)
Ja'Siah Young – Raising Dion (Netflix)
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Jennifer Hudson – The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Tabitha Brown – Tab Time (YouTube Originals)
Outstanding Guest Performance
Glynn Turman – Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Outstanding Animated Series
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney Plus)
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
Kyla Pratt – The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney Plus)
Outstanding Short Form Series - Comedy or Drama
Between The Scenes - The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Short Form Series - Reality/Nonfiction
Daring Simone Biles (Snap)
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Keith David – From Scratch (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Nia Long – The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Brittani Nichols – Abbott Elementary – "Student Transfer" (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Marissa Jo Cerar – Women of the Movement – "Episode 101" (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Scott Mescudi (Story By), Ian Edelman, Maurice Williams – Entergalactic (Netflix)
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Angela Barnes – Atlanta – "The Homeliest Little Horse" (FX)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Giancarlo Esposito – Better Call Saul – "Axe and Grind" (AMC)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Anton Cropper – Fantasy Football (Paramount Plus)
