NCIS Declared Most-Watched Drama in the World at Monte-Carlo TV Fest

MONTE-CARLO: NCIS was presented with the International Television Audience Award for a drama TV series at the 54th Monte-Carlo Television Festival, honoring the show as the most-watched drama in the world.

The annual International Audience Award is presented jointly by the Monte-Carlo Television Festival and Eurodata TV Worldwide to reward programs that delivered the highest ratings worldwide in 2013 across five continents in three categories: drama TV series, comedy TV series and telenovelas/soap operas. Modern Family won the award for comedy, while The Bold and the Beautiful won for telenovelas/soap operas.

The festival presented a slew of Golden Nymph Awards last night. Top of the Lake swept the mini-series category, winning as best mini-series and seeing performance nods go to Elisabeth Moss and Peter Mullan. In the TV-movie category, Take Good Care of Him (Pass Gut Auf Ihn Auf) won for best TV film and lead actress, going to Julia Koschitz. Best actor in the category went to Klaus Maria Brandauer for Blank (Die Auslöschung).

In the series space, Lilyhammer was named best international comedy, while Episodes won for best European comedy. Julie Bowen of Modern Family was honored as best actress in a TV comedy, while Steven Van Zandt took the best actor win for Lilyhammer. For drama, Hostages was named best international TV drama series, and The Bridge (Bron/Broen) won for best European TV drama series. Ayelet Zurer of Hostages won for outstanding actress, and Kim Bodnia of The Bridge for outstanding actor.

A number of special awards were presented as well. Deadly Depths (Armes Chimiques Sous La Mer) received the Prince Rainier III Special Prize. BBC News' Central African Republic won both the AMADE Prize and the International Committee of the Red Cross Prize. Take Good Care of Him received the SIGNIS Prize. NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation) scored the Monaco Red Cross Prize for Battlefield Tokyo. The URTI Prize: Grand Prix for Author's Documentaries went to Scheherazade's Diary (Le Journal de Schéhérazad).