Peabody Awards go to John Oliver, Amy Schumer, ‘Jane the Virgin’

John Oliver has something new for his anchor desk: A Peabody Award.

The British-born host of HBO’s satirical news program “Last Week Tonight” was among those cited Thursday as entertainment winners for the prestigious prizes, along with Comedy Central’s “Inside Amy Schumer,” the CW’s “Jane the Virgin” and FX’s “The Americans” and “Fargo.”

Also on the list for the 74th Peabody Awards were the BBC drama “The Honorable Woman,” Cinemax’s historical drama “The Knick,” Sundance TV’s “Rectify” and “Black Mirror,” an anthology drama from Britain’s Channel 4.

The Peabodys -- awarded by the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication -- honor excellence in broadcasting and online entertainment and journalism. An 18-member board of TV critics and industry experts chooses the prizes.

Oliver, whose show is in its second season, was lauded for providing a “most worthy addition to the news-as-comedy genre. ‘Last Week Tonight’ doesn’t just satirize the previous week’s news, it engages in fresh, feisty investigative reports that ‘real’ news programs would do well to emulate.”

“Jane the Virgin,” about a Latina who accidentally becomes pregnant in an infertility-treatment mix-up, was called a “smart, self-aware telenovela that know when and how to wink at itself.”

Winners will be presented at a New York ceremony hosted by “Portlandia” star Fred Armisen on May 31.

Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT