*Emmy-winning actor Sterling K. Brown has another trophy for “Paradise,” repeating as best actor as the Hulu thriller helped lead the winners at the African American Film Critics Association‘s eighth annual AAFCA TV Honors.
Brown’s victory accompanied a best drama win for the second season of “Paradise,” which beat HBO Max medical drama “The Pitt.” Jurnee Smollett won best actress for her performance in Apple TV’s “Smoke,” while “Shrinking” claimed best comedy.
The results, reported by Variety, spread the night’s recognition across broadcast, cable and streaming projects, with “Abbott Elementary,” “Spider-Noir,” “Fallout” and “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette” among the other winners.
‘Paradise’ Gives Sterling K. Brown Another Best Actor Win
Brown’s repeat victory was one of the biggest individual achievements on the winners list. “Paradise” also landed at No. 1 on AAFCA’s Top 10 Television Programs of the year, ahead of “The Pitt,” “Shrinking,” “The Madison” and “Abbott Elementary.”
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The comedy race delivered a split decision of sorts. Apple TV’s “Shrinking” won best comedy over ABC’s “Abbott Elementary,” but “Abbott” didn’t leave empty-handed: the series collected honors for best writing and best ensemble.
One of the more unexpected directing results came from Anthony Hemingway, who won best directing in comedy for Hulu’s “All’s Fair.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Murphy’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette,” centered on the couple’s relationship and deaths, won best limited series. Crystle Roberson Dorsey also earned best directing in drama for the production. AAFCA does not present a separate limited-series directing category.
Jurnee Smollett, Erika Alexander and Lamorne Morris Score Wins
The acting categories brought recognition to several familiar faces.
Smollett earned best actress for “Smoke,” while Erika Alexander won supporting actress for NBC’s “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.” Lamorne Morris took supporting actor for the MGM+ superhero series “Spider-Noir.”
“Fallout” actor Aaron Moten received the best breakout performance honor for the Prime Video drama’s second season.
Composer Kris Bowers was recognized for best music for “Spider-Noir,” giving the series another major honor. Netflix documentary “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” was named best documentary.
AAFCA Adds Reality TV And Podcast Categories
This year’s honors also expanded with two new categories: best reality series and best podcast.
OWN’s “Love & Marriage: Huntsville” became AAFCA’s inaugural reality-series winner. “All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson” claimed the organization’s first podcast honor.
The additions widened an already broad slate of awards spanning drama, comedy, limited series, directing, acting, writing, music and documentary programming.
AAFCA President and Co-Founder Gil Robertson framed the winners as examples of television’s ability to do more than simply entertain.
“The best television doesn’t simply entertain; it forces us to talk to one another and look closely at the world outside our own living rooms,” Robertson said.
He added that this year’s honorees represent “the incredible depth and creative ambition driving our industry forward,” praising artists telling culturally rich stories and helping communities be “seen, heard, and remembered.”
Tracy Morgan Among AAFCA’s Special Honorees
AAFCA previously announced five special achievement recipients. Tracy Morgan received the Flip Wilson Award, while Kathryn Busby was selected for the TV Vanguard Award.
Celeste Hughey received the Impact Award, Lamar Chase earned the Horizon Award and Felicia Pride was named the recipient of the Salute to Excellence Award.
The winners were selected by AAFCA’s membership and honored at an invitation-only celebration Saturday, Aug. 8, at City Club Los Angeles in downtown Los Angeles.
Beyond the individual categories, AAFCA’s Top 10 list offered another snapshot of the television landscape recognized by the organization. Following “Paradise,” “The Pitt” and “Shrinking,” the list included “The Madison,” “Abbott Elementary,” “The Chi,” “Matlock,” “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins,” “Beef” and “The ‘Burbs.”
The Full 2026 AAFCA TV Honors Winners
Best Drama — “Paradise”
Best Comedy — “Shrinking”
Best Limited Series — “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette”
Best Actor — Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise”
Best Actress — Jurnee Smollett, “Smoke”
Supporting Actress — Erika Alexander, “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins”
Supporting Actor — Lamorne Morris, “Spider-Noir”
Ensemble — “Abbott Elementary”
Directing (Drama) — Crystle Roberson Dorsey, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette”
Directing (Comedy) — Anthony Hemingway, “All’s Fair”
Documentary — “Sean Combs: The Reckoning”
Writing — “Abbott Elementary”
Music — Kris Bowers, “Spider-Noir”
Breakout Performance — Aaron Moten, “Fallout”
Reality Series — “Love & Marriage: Huntsville”
Podcast — “All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson”
With “Paradise” taking both the organization’s top drama honor and its No. 1 spot among the year’s programs, Brown’s repeat best actor victory adds another distinction to a series that emerged as AAFCA’s most prominently recognized television title of 2026.
The 2026 AAFCA TV Awards took place on Saturday (08-08-26) at The City Club in downtown Los Angeles. Since 2003, AAFCA – founded by Gil Robertson – has grown into the world’s largest collective of Black film critics while celebrating excellence in film and television.
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