AMC series wins top honors at TCA Awards

The nation's TV critics have fallen hard for the pitch from AMC's "Mad Men."

The breakout AMC drama, which was nominated for 16 Emmys earlier this week, took home three awards at Saturday's 24th annual Television Critics Association Awards. The show won the group's top award, Program of the Year, along with honors for best drama and best new series.

The three awards were the first critics' honors in the cable channel's history. HBO and NBC shows also took home three awards each, while PBS won two.

HBO's "John Adams" won the TCA Award for best movie or miniseries, and star Paul Giamatti was honored for individual achievement in drama. Tina Fey took home the award for individual achievement in comedy for her work on "30 Rock," which also won for best comedy series. She thanked the critics for helping make the show "the most successful cable series on broadcast television."

Fey's one-time boss, "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels, was given the career achievement award, and "The Wire" won the Heritage Award, given to a show that has had a "lasting cultural or social impact."

Legendary comic duo the Smothers Brothers introduced the show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Here's the full list of winners:

Program of the Year: "Mad Men" (AMC)
Outstanding New Program: "Mad Men" (AMC)
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: "30 Rock" (NBC)
Outstanding Achievement in Drama: "Mad Men" (AMC)
Outstanding Achievement in News & Information: "The War" (PBS)
Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming: "WordGirl" (PBS)
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries & Specials: "John Adams" (HBO)
Individual Achievement in Drama: Paul Giamatti, "John Adams" (HBO)
Individual Achievement in Comedy: Tina Fey, "30 Rock" (NBC)
Career Achievement: Lorne Michaels
Heritage Award: "The Wire" (HBO)