‘Mystery Science Theater,’ ‘Homicide’ Win Peabodys : Radio/TV: Awards for excellence also go to ‘Silverlake Life,’ ‘60 Minutes’ and NPR.

A prime-time cop drama, a documentary on AIDS, an investigative report on “60 Minutes,” a cable comedy series and an animated children’s show were among the programs honored Thursday by the prestigious Peabody Awards for excellence in radio and television during 1993.

The 29 winners, selected by the University of Georgia’s Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication from more than 1,000 entries, will be honored at a ceremony in New York on May 16.

The winners included NBC’s police series “Homicide--Life on the Street”; the AIDS documentary “Silverlake Life: The View From Here,” seen on PBS; a “60 Minutes” report on the CIA’s involvement in a drug-trafficking operation; the comedy series “Mystery Science Theater 3000” on Comedy Central and “Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs,” a cartoon series on Fox.

Fox and Churchill Entertainment in Los Angeles also were cited for a public-service campaign to enlighten children about “racial, gender and general differences.”

CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour, radio broadcaster Paul Harvey and NBC reporter Robert Bazell were singled out for individual recognition: Amanpour for her “balanced and courageous” coverage from Bosnia, Harvey for “a lifetime of achievement in radio news” and Bazell for “significant, comprehensive and informative reporting” on health and science.

FASE Productions in Los Angeles got an award for the documentary “Good Morning, Miss Toliver,” about an inspiring teacher in East Harlem. So did another documentary about New York schoolchildren, HBO’s “I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School,” which also won an Academy Award last week.

Other Peabodys went to HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show,” the Disney Channel’s “The Ernest Green Story,” PBS’ “American Masters: Paul Simon--Born at the Right Time,” PBS’ “Prime Suspect” and ABC’s “Day One” for a report on female genital mutilation.

Radio winners included the National Public Radio arts series “Fresh Air With Terry Gross,” ABC Radio for a report on women who served in Vietnam, and NPR for its coverage of health reform.