Television · 2020
Streaming Surges in a Year of Lockdowns
As global lockdowns kept audiences confined to their homes, 2020 transformed television into a vital cultural lifeline and shared escape. Streaming services surged to unprecedented heights with viral docuseries, heartwarming comedies, and acclaimed international dramas.
- Netflix | True Crime Docuseries
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness
Premiering during the early weeks of global pandemic lockdowns, this wild docuseries about eccentric big cat owners became an instant cultural phenomenon.
- Netflix | Drama Limited Series
The Queen's Gambit
Anya Taylor-Joy starred as chess prodigy Beth Harmon in a stylish miniseries that set streaming viewership records and sparked a global revival of interest in chess.
- Apple TV+ | Comedy Series Premiere
Ted Lasso
Jason Sudeikis debuted as a relentlessly optimistic American football coach hired to manage a struggling British soccer team, delivering an unexpectedly heartwarming hit.
- ESPN / Netflix | Sports Docuseries
The Last Dance
This ten-part documentary chronicle of Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls captivated sports-starved audiences with rare archival footage and candid interviews.
- CBC / Pop TV | Comedy Finale
Schitt's Creek Series Finale
The beloved Canadian comedy concluded its six-season run with an emotional wedding before making history by sweeping all nine major comedy categories at the Emmy Awards.
- BBC Three / Hulu | Irish Drama
Normal People
Adapted from Sally Rooney's bestselling novel, this intimate Irish romance propelled Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal to stardom while breaking streaming records across Europe.
- BBC One / HBO | Drama Series
I May Destroy You
Michaela Coel created and starred in a groundbreaking British drama examining consent, trauma, and recovery in contemporary London, earning universal critical acclaim.
- NBC | Pandemic Scripted Special
A Parks and Recreation Special
The cast reunited virtually for a special scripted episode filmed from their homes, raising millions for charity while pioneering social-distancing TV production methods.
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