Heated Rivalry, the envelope-pushing TV series about gay hockey players that had a broader cultural reach than anyone could have predicted, was nominated Thursday (April 9) for a Peabody Award. Other nominees included Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Pitt, Dying for Sex, FOREVER and programs about influential musicians Sly Stone and Fela Kuti: the documentary Sly Lives! (a.k.a. The Burden of Black Genius) and the podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man.
Kuti, a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical and outlaw, is widely regarded as the father of Afrobeats. The musician, who died in 1997 at age 58, received a posthumous lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy earlier this year. Stone, who led Sly & the Family Stone to three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Everyday People,” “Thank U Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin” and “Family Affair,” received that same honor in 2017.
Heated Rivalry won outstanding new TV series at the GLAAD Media Awards on March 5 in Los Angeles.
Jimmy Kimmel Live! was suspended for a week last September following a controversial remark by Jimmy Kimmel about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, but it survived that near-death experience. Kimmel’s progam has received 14 consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for outstanding talk series (or in a predecessor category, outstanding variety series), but it has yet to win.
The Peabody Awards board of jurors announced the nominees in the arts, children’s/youth, entertainment, and interactive & immersive categories. The nominees were chosen by a unanimous vote of 28 jurors from more than 1,000 entries from television, podcasts/radio and the web.
“These nominees showcase the power of storytelling at its most urgent and expansive, where art, entertainment, and innovation collide with the defining issues of our time,” Jeffrey Jones, executive director of Peabody, said in a statement. “From identity and mental health to political extremism, systemic inequality, and the search for belonging, this work reflects exactly what the Peabody Awards stand for: stories that challenge, illuminate, and push culture forward.”
The winners of the 86th annual Peabody Awards will be announced April 23, and then celebrated on May 31 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Actress and podcast host Amy Poehler will receive the Peabody Career Achievement Award; director, producer and screenwriter Sterlin Harjo will receive the Peabody Trailblazer Award; Multiple Oscar- and Emmy-winning creator James L. Brooks will be honored with the Peabody Industry Icon Award; and historic programmer PBS KIDS will receive the Peabody Institutional Award.
Here are the honorees of greatest interest to the music community, with capsule descriptions provided by the Peabodys. The first two are in the Arts category, the last five in Entertainment.
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Sly Lives! (a.k.a. The Burden of Black Genius) (Hulu, Onyx Collective)
This documentary explores the life and legacy of Sly Stone and his groundbreaking band, Sly & the Family Stone, while delving into the broader themes of the pressures and complexities faced by Black artists navigating success. Through interviews with other influential artists, the film highlights the emotional and societal burdens that accompany their achievements, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in celebrating their contributions to music and culture.
MRC, Network Entertainment Inc., Two One Five Entertainment Inc., RadicalMedia, Stardust Films LLC, ID8 Multimedia, Inc., and Sony Music Entertainment
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Fela Kuti: Fear No Man
“Fela Kuti: Fear No Man” is a podcast series hosted by Jad Abumrad that explores the life and impact of Fela Kuti through innovative sound design and more than 200 interviews, highlighting the musician’s role in shaping post-colonial Nigeria and the African independence movement. The series intricately weaves personal stories with broader cultural and political narratives, demonstrating the power of art and activism, and has already garnered significant acclaim, making its way into educational curricula.
Audible, Higher Ground, Western Sound and Talkhouse
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Heated Rivalry (HBO Max)
“Heated Rivalry” follows hockey stars Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) as their secret romance evolves amidst their fierce rivalry in professional hockey, exploring themes of ambition, love, and self-discovery over eight years. As they chase glory on the ice, they grapple with their undeniable feelings for each other, questioning whether they can balance their competitive careers with a powerful, yet vulnerable, love.
Accent Aigu Entertainment in association with Bell Media’s Crave
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Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
For more than 23 years, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has used humor and satire to critique powerful figures and reflect American culture, embracing the responsibility of comedy to reveal truths amid political volatility. The show faced unprecedented challenges as President Trump’s second administration came to power, culminating in a brief suspension by ABC (at the behest of the FCC) that sparked a bipartisan defense of free expression on the airwaves, ultimately reinforcing the importance of satire as a vital form of democratic speech.
20th Television in association with KIMMELOT
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The Pitt (HBO Max)
“The Pitt” explores the immense challenges faced by emergency room physicians and nurses in a crumbling American healthcare system. Through gripping narratives, the series highlights issues such as mental health struggles, violence against healthcare workers, and the impact of rising healthcare costs, revealing the dedication of frontline workers as they face down a crisis exacerbated by chronic underfunding and societal neglect.
HBO Max in association with John Wells Productions, R. Scott Gemmill Productions, and Warner Bros. Television
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Dying for Sex (FX / Hulu)
This series, based on a true story, explores the life of Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams), a woman living with terminal cancer who navigates her illness and childhood trauma, blending comedy and profound honesty in a way that challenges traditional narratives around death and sexuality. The creators aimed to portray authentically the complexities of living with cancer by consulting experts and individuals with similar experiences, ultimately depicting a life filled with both struggle and healing, while emphasizing the importance of embracing life’s realities rather than conforming to societal expectations.
20th Television
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FOREVER (Netflix)
Netflix’s “FOREVER,” adapted from Judy Blume’s novel, reimagines first love through the lens of Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha (Lovie Simone)—two Black high school athletes in 2018 Los Angeles, exploring the pressures of ambition and mental health. The series poignantly addresses the complexities of teenage struggles, particularly through Justin’s undiagnosed ADHD and Keisha’s experience of trauma, emphasizing the importance of unconditional support and the intersection of mental health with race and class in today’s world.
A Netflix Series
