Norman Lear Awards Are Serving Up a Star-Studded Feast — And Trust Me, ‘Shrinking’ and ‘Dying for Sex’ Are Just the Juicy Starters!
Added on September 4, 2025 inTV News Cards
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Ever wonder if the stars are nudging TV writers to tackle the big stuff—like healthcare crises, climate change, and breast cancer—with a bit more cosmic flair? Well, this October, the rewritten Norman Lear Awards—now proudly bearing the legendary producer’s name—are spotlighting shows that do just that. From the Emmy-nominated grit of The Pitt (talk about drama in healthcare!) to the heart-tugging caregiving of Shrinking, these series don’t just entertain; they educate and inspire. Maybe Mercury in retrograde pushed some writers to dig a little deeper, or perhaps Venus aligned just right to celebrate stories that matter. Either way, these awards don’t just pat the back of the creative crowd—they honor shows that could change how we see the world. So before you Netflix binge your next escapade, think: is this just a hit show… or a show that hits home? LEARN MORE
The Norman Lear Awards for TV That Makes a Difference, formerly the Sentinel Awards, will honor The Pitt, Dying for Sex, Shrinking and other series for their powerful storytelling this October.
The additional series being recognized for their depictions of meaningful issues like racism, cancer and climate change are Chicago Med, Grey’s Anatomy, Matlock and Paradise.
The Pitt will receive the Culture of Health Award for its first season. Chicago Med is being recognized for its exploration of racial disparities in health care in its “Trust Fall” episode. Dying for Sex will be honored for its approach to breast cancer in the episode titled, “It’s Not That Serious.” Grey’s Anatomy will be recognized for its exploration of advances in medicine/clinical trials with its “Ridin’ Solo” episode. Matlock’s look at addiction and recovery in the “Claws” episode is being awarded, as is how Paradise tackled climate change in “The Day.” And Shrinking‘s second-season “Last Thanksgiving” episode will be recognized for how it explored caregiving.
The honors, presented by the Hollywood, Health & Society program at USC Annenberg’s Norman Lear Center, are being renamed in honor of the late, trailblazing writer and producer behind All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude and One Day at a Time.
“Norman would be thrilled that this award carries his name,” said producer Lyn Lear, his wife of 37 years, in a statement. “He loved what HH&S does, as do I, and he loved celebrating the creative community’s passion for making a difference.”
The Lear Center founding director and Lear chair in entertainment, media and society at Annenberg, Marty Kaplan, added, “Writers and actors love being on a hit show. These awards remind us they also love being on a show that matters.”
As for The Pitt, the awards said in Thursday’s announcement that the Emmy-nominated medical drama provides “an unflinching look at the embattled healthcare system coping with staff shortages and deep cuts.”
“We were delighted to connect the writers of The Pitt with experts on a range of topics,” HH&S director, Kate Folb, said in a statement. “It’s what we can do for any show.”
Scripted shows from network, cable and streaming services were reviewed by awards judges twice: for accuracy of information and then for entertainment value and potential benefit to the viewing audience.
The 2025 Norman Lear Awards for TV That Makes a Difference will be presented at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills on Monday, Oct. 27.
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