The Second Annual AHS Awards Nominations

From top left to right: coleman domingo, lily gladstone, olivia cheng, adam Waheed, and Inaki Godoy - Matt Winkelmeyer / Araya Doheny / Stringer / MICHAEL TRAN / Gregg DeGuire / Alexandre Schneider

The second annual A Hot Set Awards (AHS Awards) returns to highlight the best of people of color in film, television, and new media. Nominees are selected by A Hot Set staff and divided into 28 categories (10 film, 17 television, and one new media). Actors Denzel Washington and George Takei will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Roundup

Past Lives led the film categories with six nominations, followed shortly by Joy Ride with four nominations, and The Color Purple with three nominations. Celine Song’s directorial debut with Past Lives presents the evolving relationship of two childhood friends over 24 years. After one emigrates out of Korea in their youth, they reunite as adults in New York City, contemplating their feelings while growing apart. In contrast, Joy Ride is an absurd comedy centering on a group of friends whose trip to Asia goes awry, leading to an emotional journey of friendship and hilarious antics. Based on the novel of the same name, The Color Purple is a coming-of-age musical about an African American woman trying to survive the rural South during the early 1900s. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse and The Boy and the Heron are frontrunners for the title of Best Animated Film, with Across The Spider-Verse earning an additional Best Director nomination and Ghibli’s newest film earning a Best Foreign Film nomination. Across The Spider-Verse is the long-awaited sequel to Into The Spider-Verse, following Miles Morales as he ventures into the multiverse, facing new villains and other Spider-Men. Influential director Hayao Miyazaki returns with his first feature film in over 10 years. After the death of his mother, Mahito struggles in his new environment until he meets a talking heron who introduces Mahito to a mystical world inside an abandoned tower.

Reservation Dogs’ newest season earned them the most television nominations alongside Abbot Elementary and Netflix’s Beef with three nominations each. After its cancellation in 2020, Warrior racked up three nominations this year, the most for a television drama. Reservation Dogs showcases the lives of four indigenous teens as they commit petty theft to raise enough money to escape their reservation. Abbot Elementary is a mockumentary sitcom focusing on a group of elementary teachers as they battle the education system to make their underfunded school a better place for their students. Netflix’s Beef stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as their characters begin a prolonged feud after a petty road rage incident. Picked up by Max (formerly HBO Max) in 2021 and based on the writings of Bruce Lee, Warrior continues the story of Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy turned hitman for one of Chinatown’s most powerful crime organizations in the late 1870s.

Ahsoka, Gen V, The Last of Us, and One Piece were each nominated twice for TV dramas. Ashoka, more commonly known as Star Wars: Ahsoka, is a spin-off of The Mandalorian, taking place after 1983’s Return of the Jedi. The series is a continuation of the animated series Star Wars Rebels, following Ahsoka as she investigates a galactic threat after the collapse of the Empire. A spin-off of Amazon Prime’s hit series The Boys, Gen V showcases the lives of young superheroes attending the Godolkin University School of Crime Fighting as they compete to join The Seven, the world’s most elite superhero team. Adapted from Naughty Dog’s critically acclaimed 2013 video game of the same name, The Last of Us is set 20 years after a mass fungal infection wiped out most of human civilization. The story follows a smuggler hired to escort an immune teenager through the post-apocalyptic United States in an attempt to find a vaccine. Lastly, Netflix’s One Piece is adapted from the critically acclaimed manga series of the same name. It centers on Luffy, an eccentric pirate, and his crew of bandits as they traverse the seas in search of a treasure to become the next pirate king.

The Unscripted TV categories remain competitive and boast an impressive lineup, with various nominations in TV talk shows, news, competitive series, and game shows. Asian Boss received two nominations and is the only talk show not from a major television network, tying with The Jennifer Hudson Show and The Oprah Conversation. This YouTube giant features a special series featuring its founder Stephen Park who engages in long-form interviews with guests across a variety of sectors. EGOT recipient Jennifer Hudson’s daytime talk show features music, interviews, and viral videos. In contrast, Oprah’s newest talk show centers around human struggle and serious conversations. NBC Nightly News, PBS NewsHour, Good Morning America, and 60 Minutes tie with two nominations each for best news. Alongside these media giants is Breaking Point, a YouTube news channel that returns to our list for the second year in a row. With two nominations each, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Masterchef, America's Got Talent, and RuPaul’s Drag Race compete for Best Competitive Series. Masterchef pits amateur chefs against one another in a series of cooking challenges to earn the title of MasterChef. RuPaul’s Drag Race puts drag queens through challenges to win a cash prize and the lucrative title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar.” Lastly, Family Feud, Password, and Let’s Make a Deal dominate the Best Game Show category with two nominations each. Keke Palmer hosts Password, a show where two contestants, alongside a celebrity partner, compete in a word association game for a cash prize.

Our final category focuses on new media and the best social media content creators of 2023. We welcome Mark Edward Fischbach (Markiplier), Jeremy Wang (Disguised Toast), Khabane “Khaby” Lame, Adam Waheed, and Aketch Joy Winnie as our nominees for Best Social Media Content Creators. Mark Fishbach, also known as Markiplier, is a gaming YouTuber and influencer with over 36 million subscribers on YouTube alone. He has amassed a cult following that spreads beyond YouTube and into traditional media, with his feature directorial debut Iron Lung releasing soon. Jeremy Wang, otherwise known as Disguised Toast, is a live streamer and member of OfflineTV, a collective of content creators living in Los Angeles, California. He is an active participant in the professional esports scene, even creating his own professional Valorant team including an all-female roster that competes in the female Valorant pro circuit. Khabane Lame is the most followed user on TikTok, with over 140 million followers, and boasts over 80 million followers on Instagram. Listed in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List, Lame has achieved worldwide fame, even appearing in the Italian dub of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and serving as a judge on Italia’s Got Talent.

Adam Waheed is a social media influencer, content creator, and comedian who has amassed more than 30 million followers between YouTube and TikTok. Known for his comedic videos, is becoming a prominent figure in the digital comedic space. Lastly, Sketch Joy Winnie is a social media influencer and model with over 300k YouTube subscribers, modeling for top brands like Gucci, Marc Jacobs, and Rag and Bone. She began her career as a teacher with a degree in English and aspirations to model. After diligent effort, her breakthrough occurred in 2018 and she continues to educate about the world, the fashion industry, and health habits on her YouTube page. The top two nominations for New Media go to Giggle and Jubilee. With over 800k subscribers, Giggle is an Asian-centered YouTube channel that creates comedic content about Asian culture and aesthetics. Jubilee is a YouTube Media channel that hosts a series of videos such as Odd Man Out and Middle Ground. Odd Man Out places seven strangers with the same interest or identity in a room, but one of them is lying; the group’s job is to weed out the mole and win a cash prize. Middle Ground brings together people with opposing viewpoints to discuss an often-controversial topic. Usually, this series tackles real-world issues such as police brutality, war, LGBTQ+ rights, and science, providing insight into differing ideologies and how individuals perceive the world.

AHS’ Akira Kurosawa and Ethel Waters Lifetime Achievement Awards nominate two POCs within the film and television industry for their work and influence in front of and behind the camera. Previous honorees include Michelle Yeoh for her work and influence in world cinema and Shonda Rhimes for her record-breaking work in television. This year, the A Hot Set staff is proud to present Denzel Washington (Film) and George Takei (Television) as the second recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award. With a career spanning over four decades, Denzel Washington has been recognized as Hollywood’s premier actor, receiving various accolades including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, and a Tony. He began his career in theater and gained prominence in the NBC medical drama St. Elsewhere, earning widespread recognition and an Academy Award for Glory (1989). He continues to receive critical acclaim for films like The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) and produces numerous box office hits. After living in U.S. internment camps during World War II, George Takei pursued acting in college where he gained widespread recognition as Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek franchise. As an openly gay actor, he is a prominent LGBTQ rights activist, having worked with the Japanese American National Museum and been awarded numerous accolades for his human rights work.

Overall, Disney obtained 22 nominations, the highest for a production house. NBC Universal received the most nominees for a TV Channel while Netflix received the most nominees for a streaming platform, with 10 and 20 respectively.

Winners will be announced in February 2024 via the A Hot Set platform.

Special Note: Categories with more than five nominations are a result of a tie during the prenomination process.

FILM

Donyale Luna: Supermodel - HBO

Best Animated Film

• The Boy and the Heron

• Elemental

• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• Wish

Best Documentary

• Aka Mr. Chow

• American Symphony

• Donyale Luna: Supermodel

• Freestyle 101: Hip Hop History

• Kokomo City

• Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues

• Milli Vanilli

• Samuel L. Jackson: Did I Stutter?

Best Standup Comedy Special

• Chris Rock: Selective Outrage

• Jimmy O Yang: Guess How Much?

• Kevin Hart: Reality Check

• Tom Segura: Sledge Hammer

• Wanda Sykes: I'm An Entertainer

Best Short Film

• Carne de Dios

• I’m Not An Activist

• Moshari

• O Black Hole!

• Shut Up and Paint

Best Leading Actress

• Halle Bailey, The Little Mermaid

• Fantasia Barrino, The Color Purple

• Sherry Cola, Shortcomings

• Ayo Edebiri, Bottoms

• Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon

• Greta Lee, Past Lives

• Sandra Oh, Quiz Lady

• Ashley Park, Joy Ride

• Zoe Saldaña, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

• Teyana Taylor, A Thousand and One

• Rachel Zegler, Hunger Games

Best Film

• American Fiction

• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

• John Wick: Chapter 4

• Joy Ride

• Past Lives

Best Foreign Film

• Blanquita (Chile)

• The Boy and the Heron (Japan)

• Friday Night Plan (India)

• Godzilla Minus One (Japan)

• Hard Days (Japan)

• Rohan at the Louvre (Japan)

Best Screenplay

• Alejandra Marquez Abella, A Million Miles Away

• Zach Baylin & Keeman Coogler, Creed III

• Julian Breece & Dustin Lance Black, Rustin

• Linda Yvette Chavez & Lewis Colick, Flamin’ Hot

• Cherry Cheveoravadumrong & Teresa Hsiao, Joy Ride

• Marcus Gardley, The Color Purple

• John Hoberg, Brenda Hsueh, & Kate Likkel, Elemental

• Celine Song, Past Lives

• Warwick Thornton, The New Boy

• Adrian Tomine, Shortcomings

Best Leading Actor

• Mahershala Ali, Leave the World Behind

• Coleman Domingo, Rustin

• Benicio del Toro, Reptile

• Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

• Teo Yoo, Past Lives

Best Director

• Blitz Bazawule, The Color Purple

• Beyonce Knowles, Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce

• Adele Lim, Joy Ride

• Kemp Powers, JD Santos, & JK Thompson, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

• Celine Song, Past Lives

Television - Scripted

Balvinder Sopal, Aaron Thiara, Shiv Jalota, Juhaim Rasul Choudhury, and Navin Chowdhry - Eastenders / BBC

Best TV Series - Comedy

• Abbot Elementary

• The Bear

• Beef

• Reservation Dogs

• Sex Education

Best Actor - Comedy     

• Lionel Boyce, The Bear

• Ncuti Gatwa, Sex Education

• Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary

• D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Reservation Dogs

• Steven Yeun, Beef

Best Actress - Comedy

• Paulina Alexis, Reservation Dogs

• Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

• Ayo Edebiri, The Bear

• Devery Jacobs, Reservation Dogs

• Jasmine Cephas Jones, Blindspotting

• Robin Thede, A Black Lady Sketch Show

• Ali Wong, Beef

Best TV Series - Drama

• Ahsoka

• Gen V

• The Last of Us

• One Piece

• Warrior

Best Actor - Drama

• Jabari Banks, Bel-Air

• Idris Elba, Hijack

• Andrew Koji, Warrior

• Iñaki Godoy, One Piece

• Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us

• Lakeith Stanfield, The Changeling

Best Actress - Drama

• India Amarteifio, Queen Charlotte

• Angela Bassett, 9-1-1

• Olivia Cheng, Warrior

• Tawny Cypress, Yellowjackets

• Rosario Dawson, Ahsoka

• Dianne Doan, Warrior

• Dana “Queen Latifah” Owens, The Equalizer

• Jaz Sinclair, Gen V

• Sofía Vergara, Griselda

Best TV series - Soap or telenovela

(Domestic or International)

• The Bold and the Beautiful (United States)

• Days of Our Lives (United States)

• EastEnders (United Kingdom)

• General Hospital (United States)

• The Young and the Restless (United States)

Television - Unscripted

Stephen Park - Asian Boss / Youtube

BEST TV SERIES - News Program       

• 60 Minutes

• Access Hollywood

• Breaking Points

• CBS Morning

• Dateline

• Good Morning America

• NBC Nightly News

• PBS Newshour

• World News Tonight

Best News Anchor

• Sharyn Alfonsi, Anderson Cooper, Norah O’Donnell, Scott Pelley, Lesley Stahl, Jon Wertheim, and Bill Whitaker, 60 Minutes

• Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti, Breaking Points

• Geoff Bennett and Amna Nawaz, PBS Newshour

• Adriana Diaz, CBS Evening News 

• Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, Entertainment Tonight

• Bryant Gumbel, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel

• Lester Holt, NBC Nightly News

• Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, and Anthony Mason, CBS This Morning

• Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan, Good Morning America

Best competitive series

• America’s Funniest Home Videos

• The Bachelorette

• Master Chef

• Next in Fashion

• Physical: 100

• RuPaul’s Drag Race

Best Competitive Series Host

• Joe Bastianich, Gordon Ramsey, and Aaron Sanchez, Master Chef

• Julie Chen Moonves, Big Brother

• Simone Cowell, Terry Cruise, Heidi Klum, and Sofia Vergara, America’s Got Talent

• Alfonso Ribeiro, America’s Funniest Home Videos

• RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race

BEST TV SERIES - Talk Show

• Asian Boss

• The Daily Show 

• Jennifer Hudson Show 

• The Oprah Conversation

• Tamron Hall

Best Talk Show Host 

• Karamo Brown, Karamo

• Tamron Hall, Tamron

• Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson Show

• Bobby Lee, TigerBelly

• Stephen Park, Asian Boss

• Sherri Sheppard, Sherri

• Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Conversation

BEST TV SERIES - Game Show

• Celebrity Family Feud

• Family Feud

• Let’s Make A Deal

• Password

• Whose Line Is It Anyway

• Wipeout

Best Game Show Host

• Wayne Brady, Let’s Make A Deal

• Jamie Foxx, Beat Shazam

• Steve Harvey, Family Feud

• Ken Jeong, I Can See Your Voice

• Keke Palmer, Password

BEST TV SERIES - Docuseries

• The 1619 Project

• Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop Changed the World

• Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

• How to Get Rich

• Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop

• Queen Cleopatra

• Queer Eye

• The Supermodels

• Who Killed Robert Wone?

BEST TV SERIES - Docusoap

• Bling Empire: New York

• Indian Matchmaking

• Love is Blind

• Love Is Bling Japan

• Young, Rich & African 

Media

Middle Ground - Jubliee / Youtube

Best Social Media Content Creator

• Giggle (YouTube)

• Jubilee (YouTube)

• Mark Edward Fischbach (YouTube)

• Khabane “Khaby” Lame (TikTok)

• Adam Waheed (YouTube)

• Jeremy Wang (YouTube)

• Aketch Joy Winnie (YouTube)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

• Akira Kurosawa Film Award: Denzel Washington

• Ethel Waters TV Award: George Takei