Television Humanitarian Awards Honor Billy Porter, Amy Poehler and More

In its sixth year and first-ever virtual format, the Television Humanitarian Awards, presented by The Creative Coalition, honored television industry figures and 2020 Emmy Award nominees who engage in advocacy work. Streaming exclusively on Variety’s Facebook and YouTube accounts, the event included dinner deliveries, VIP breakout rooms and an award ceremony. 

Following an introduction from Variety senior culture & events editor Marc Malkin, Natasha Lyonne presented the first humanitarian award to Uzo Aduba, her co-star in “Orange Is the New Black,” who she said embodies The Creative Coalition’s mission of affecting social change. 

Aduba joined Heifer International, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger, as an ambassador to Africa. As part of her advocacy, she connected with grassroots organizers in Abuja, Nigeria, to increase accessibility to clean drinking water during World Water Day in 2019. In accepting her award, Aduba called on viewers to support the organization and the communities that are facing income insecurity as a result of the pandemic.

Television, film and Broadway star Phylicia Rashad was honored for her commitment to diversifying American history as the co-chair of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.

“Feeling like I grew up knee-deep in history, the importance, the value and the necessity of this great work has never been lost to me,” Rashad said. “Historic preservation honors the past, yes, but it also gives context to the way we live today.”

Following Rashad’s speech, Jason Isaacs spoke about arts preservation and funding, The Creative Coalition’s mission. A banner asking for donations to the organization was displayed throughout the event. 

Kermit the Frog, interrupted by his doppelganger Constantine, presented a humanitarian award to Ricky Gervais, their co-star in “Muppets Most Wanted,” for his work in promoting animal welfare. 

“I’ve always loved animals, so it’s an absolute privilege to be able to use my platform to shout for them, as they don’t have a voice — Muppets don’t count,” Gervais said. “To me, all animals are unconditionally beautiful and perfect, so it’s depressing that one species in particular seems hellbent on destroying all the others.” 

Alan Cumming, a previous honoree, presented actor Sienna Miller with her award. Miller served as an ambassador for the International Medical Corps, a global nonprofit organization that provides emergency medical services and health care resources for more than 10 years.

“I know we all feel this huge responsibility to give back and make a difference … and I commend my colleagues tonight for their dedication and for resolutely holding to the belief that even during these troubling times, that we can and we will improve the lives of others,” Miller said.

During the middle segment of the event, pharmaceutical company and sponsor Novo Nordisk showcased a PSA on obesity. More than 40% of Americans are obese, which is the primary risk factor for contracting a severe case of COVID-19 for people under 60.

Renee Rawls, a Novo Nordisk patient who lives with obesity, introduced a roundtable with the cast and producers of “New Amsterdam.” The honorees discussed the necessity of uplifting stories of public relevance through the show, such as obesity, discrimination and mental health.

“It’s not enough for us to highlight an issue, which is important, but we want to offer something, we want to bring something to the table on the issue that’s not just awareness,” the show’s creator, David Schulner, said. “Part of what the show does best is … we want to actually show a solution to a problem.”

“Insecure” star and creator Issa Rae introduced the following recipient of the award, her co-star Yvonne Orji, who serves as an ambassador to the Innocence Project, which works to overturn wrongful convictions. 

Recalling when she heard of Orji’s nomination, she said “What took y’all so long? Because Yvonne is one of the most dedicated, considerate, caring, passionate, most hardworking people I know … When I think about this particular time — this particularly devastating, hopeless time — a time where so many Black people feel frustrated and neglected by a system stacked against us, I find comfort that Yvonne is consistently using her voice to speak out on our behalf.”