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The 14th annual SCAD TVfest took over Midtown Atlanta this week, bringing three days of star-studded panels, screenings, and industry celebrations to the Savannah College of Art and Design’s SCAD theater. Running Feb. 4–6, 2026, the festival has become one of the most anticipated television events of the year, offering fans, students, and professionals alike a front-row seat to television’s biggest names and creative minds.
One of the defining features of SCAD is its achievement awards, designed to honor outstanding contributions across the television industry. Among this year’s honorees is Quinta Brunson, creator and star of Abbott Elementary, who received the Variety Creative Showrunner Award in recognition of her innovative work in comedy and small-screen storytelling. Quinta appeared along with her co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph at the event.
A highlight for many attendees was the presentation of the Legend of Television Award to Jeff Probst, longtime host of the groundbreaking reality series Survivor. Probst’s award acknowledges his role in shaping the reality TV genre as the show approaches its milestone 50th season.
We interviewed Jeff about the legacy of Survivor backstage.
The festival also celebrated performers across genres and platforms: Ali Larter was honored with the Distinguished Performance Award for her work on Paramount+’s Landman, while Lili Reinhart received the Spotlight Award for her role in Hal & Harper. Rising talents such as Jackson White were recognized with the Rising Star Award, and beloved ensemble casts like Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke of Scrubs were honored with the Cast Award.
You can check out interview with the cast of Scrubs here:
Other awards included the Luminary Award presented to Aldis Hodge of Amazon Prime’s Cross, and the Outstanding Achievement in a Series Award for Adjoa Andoh and Golda Rosheuvel of Bridgerton. The festival also spotlighted The Pitt with an Impact Award for its culturally resonant storytelling. Black Girl Nerds’ founder/CEO Jamie Broadnax moderated the Bridgerton panel and it was provocative discussion around representation in media and some insights about season 4. We’re still hoping for that Lady Danbury spinoff!
Panels have been a cornerstone of this year’s schedule, blending fan-focused content with professional insight. Conversations have delved into topics such as showrunning, writing comedy and drama, the art of casting, and the inner workings of writers’ rooms. Specific sessions have illuminated how Hallmark finds its signature romantic voice and what it takes to build genre series like sci-fi and fantasy for modern audiences.
You can check out some of our interviews from the Hallmark panelists here:
With its blend of celebration, education, and insider access, SCAD TVfest continues to bridge the gap between industry heavyweights and the next generation of creators, all while reinforcing Atlanta’s growing status as a hub for television culture and innovation.
Be sure to head over to our YouTube channel, IG page and Threads to see all of our interview clips from SCAD TVfest.
The post SCAD TVfest 2026 Lights Up Atlanta with Industry Panels, Star Honors, and More appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
The 14th annual SCAD TVfest took over Midtown Atlanta this week, bringing three days of star-studded panels, screenings, and industry celebrations to the Savannah College of Art and Design’s SCAD theater. Running Feb. 4–6, 2026, the festival has become one of the most anticipated television events of the year, offering fans, students, and professionals alike a front-row seat to television’s biggest names and creative minds.
One of the defining features of SCAD is its achievement awards, designed to honor outstanding contributions across the television industry. Among this year’s honorees is Quinta Brunson, creator and star of Abbott Elementary, who received the Variety Creative Showrunner Award in recognition of her innovative work in comedy and small-screen storytelling. Quinta appeared along with her co-star Sheryl Lee Ralph at the event.
A highlight for many attendees was the presentation of the Legend of Television Award to Jeff Probst, longtime host of the groundbreaking reality series Survivor. Probst’s award acknowledges his role in shaping the reality TV genre as the show approaches its milestone 50th season.
We interviewed Jeff about the legacy of Survivor backstage.
The festival also celebrated performers across genres and platforms: Ali Larter was honored with the Distinguished Performance Award for her work on Paramount+’s Landman, while Lili Reinhart received the Spotlight Award for her role in Hal & Harper. Rising talents such as Jackson White were recognized with the Rising Star Award, and beloved ensemble casts like Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke of Scrubs were honored with the Cast Award.
You can check out interview with the cast of Scrubs here:
Other awards included the Luminary Award presented to Aldis Hodge of Amazon Prime’s Cross, and the Outstanding Achievement in a Series Award for Adjoa Andoh and Golda Rosheuvel of Bridgerton. The festival also spotlighted The Pitt with an Impact Award for its culturally resonant storytelling. Black Girl Nerds’ founder/CEO Jamie Broadnax moderated the Bridgerton panel and it was provocative discussion around representation in media and some insights about season 4. We’re still hoping for that Lady Danbury spinoff!
Panels have been a cornerstone of this year’s schedule, blending fan-focused content with professional insight. Conversations have delved into topics such as showrunning, writing comedy and drama, the art of casting, and the inner workings of writers’ rooms. Specific sessions have illuminated how Hallmark finds its signature romantic voice and what it takes to build genre series like sci-fi and fantasy for modern audiences.
You can check out some of our interviews from the Hallmark panelists here:
With its blend of celebration, education, and insider access, SCAD TVfest continues to bridge the gap between industry heavyweights and the next generation of creators, all while reinforcing Atlanta’s growing status as a hub for television culture and innovation.
Be sure to head over to our YouTube channel, IG page and Threads to see all of our interview clips from SCAD TVfest.
The post SCAD TVfest 2026 Lights Up Atlanta with Industry Panels, Star Honors, and More appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
When audiences talk about iconic films and television series, the conversation often starts with performances, plot twists, or cinematography. Yet some of the most powerful storytelling happens before a single line of dialogue is spoken. Costume design, hair, and makeup are foundational to how characters move through the world and how stories feel lived in. For decades, Black creatives have shaped these visual languages while rarely receiving the spotlight they deserve. Today, their work is finally being recognized as not just supportive craft, but as essential authorship.
Costume design is one of the most visible ways Black designers have asserted cultural specificity and historical truth on screen. Ruth E. Carter’s Oscar-winning work on Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever reframed how Afrofuturism could be imagined through clothing. Drawing from African textiles, tribal symbolism, and diasporic history, Carter built a visual archive that honored the past while projecting power into the future. Her designs were not simply beautiful. They carried meaning, politics, and identity. That level of intentionality has long been present in Black costume design, even when the recognition lagged behind.
Designers like Shiona Turini have also reshaped the way contemporary Black characters are styled, particularly in television. Her work on Insecure helped define a generation’s understanding of modern Black femininity. Issa Dee’s wardrobe felt aspirational yet accessible, reflecting a lived-in authenticity that resonated deeply with audiences. The clothes told a story of ambition, vulnerability, and self-discovery without ever feeling like a costume. That balance is a skill honed through lived experience, something Black designers bring instinctively to their work.
Hair styling has perhaps been one of the most politicized aspects of Black representation on screen. For years, natural hair, locs, braids, and textured styles were deemed unprofessional, ahistorical, or distracting. Black hairstylists have consistently pushed back against those limitations, insisting on accuracy and respect. The impact of that advocacy can be seen in projects like The Woman King, Bridgerton, and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, where natural textures and protective styles were not only embraced but celebrated.
Hairstylists such as Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson, who won Oscars for their work on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, demonstrated how hair can communicate time period, social status, and inner life. The sweat, the pressed styles, the wigs, and the maintenance rituals all contributed to a deeper understanding of the characters’ realities. This level of detail challenges the long-held industry myth that Black hair is too difficult or too time-consuming to prioritize. In truth, it has always been a matter of willingness and respect.
The rise of Black-owned beauty brands has also changed the game. Companies like Fenty Beauty did not just expand shade ranges. They forced the industry to confront how exclusionary its practices had been for decades. This shift has had a direct impact on film and television, where makeup artists now have better tools to enhance rather than neutralize Black features. On screen, this translates to characters who look radiant, dimensional, and real.
What connects costume design, hair, and makeup is their shared role in world-building. These departments collaborate closely to establish tone, history, and emotional truth. When Black creatives lead or are meaningfully included in these spaces, the results feel richer and more authentic. Stories stop flattening Blackness into a single aesthetic and instead reflect its vast diversity across regions, eras, and identities.
Despite recent progress, challenges remain. Black artists are still underrepresented in department head roles and often brought in only for Black-led projects. True equity means recognizing that Black designers, stylists, and makeup artists are not niche hires. They are essential contributors whose skills elevate any production, regardless of subject matter.
Celebrating Black excellence behind the scenes is about more than awards or viral moments. It is about acknowledging the architects of visual culture who have always been there, shaping how we see ourselves and each other. Every perfectly tailored costume, every intentional hairstyle, every flawless makeup look is a reminder that storytelling is a collective effort. And when Black creatives are empowered to lead, the screen reflects a fuller, more honest world.
As audiences continue to demand better representation, the industry must continue to invest in the people who make that representation possible. The future of film and television is being stitched, braided, and blended behind the scenes by Black artists who understand that style is never just style. It is history, identity, and power made visible.
The post Costume Design, Hair, and Makeup: Black Excellence Behind the Scenes appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
The 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz is one of the most, if not the most, iconic movies in Hollywood history. But it wasn’t the silver screen that made it so revered. It was its yearly airings on national television that made it an indelible part of American culture. The Wizard of Oz began airing on CBS in 1956, and drew in massive viewership. It continued to air yearly on TV for the next forty years, airing on CBS for the last time in 1998. Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will return to broadcast TV for the first time in 28 years, airing on MeTV this fall. 
The cinematic musical classic will air multiple times during primetime hours and throughout October as part of MeTV’s Halloween BOO-Nanza. This is the network’s monthlong celebration of classic horror, sci-fi, and family-friendly favorite films. This included a marquee Saturday night showcase hosted by horror host Svengoolie. Thanks to the massive success of Wicked, the original The Wizard of Oz has seen a resurgence of interest. Although it hasn’t appeared on broadcast television since 1998, it did become a staple of cable television. In a statement, MeTV’s Neal Sabin said, “The Wizard of Oz is more than a movie. It is a shared American experience that was defined by the annual tradition of gathering around the television set.” MeTV will present the classic film without any edits.
Although television is undoubtedly the reason for Oz’s cultural longevity, it’s a bit of a myth that The Wizard of Oz flopped in theaters. It was very popular with audiences, and the Academy even awarded Judy Garland a special Oscar for the film. However, it was also very expensive to produce, so it didn’t start earning money until its theatrical re-release. But without a doubt, TV helped make The Wizard of Oz what it is today. So it’s great that it’s returning home, so to speak. As Dorothy Gale once said, There’s no place like home.
The post THE WIZARD OF OZ Returns to Broadcast TV After 28 Years appeared first on Nerdist.