(S02E08) I'm starting to wonder if Walter and Jesse have turned into the Abbott and Costello of Albuquerque or the New Mexican Laurel and Hardy or maybe some other bumbling duo that have been attempting to do something so far beyond their ken that the fact that they made it this far is a bloody miracle. This show illustrated yet again how the unexpected situations continue to pile up around Team Heisenberg and by the skin of their teeth; they come out the other side.

Breaking Bad's creator Vince Gilligan should be winning more awards. He's just nabbed a Peabody, but there are Emmys in his future. Breaking Bad is that good. This level of writing, the complicated storytelling is amazing.

The Peabodys are an interesting case in a world over-saturated with award ceremonies and self-congratulatory accolades. The Peabodys don't actually have categories or even a set number of awards to give out every year. The good folks at the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication just give them out as they deem necessary, and their goal isn't just to recognize local news stations or broadcast journalists. The Peabodys' aim is to hold up examples of "what can and should be done in the worlds of journalism, entertainment, documentary, education and public service," or so their press release tells me.

Hell must've frozen over for some people last night when South Park was given its first Peabody award. The Daily Show host, and former Peabody winner, Jon Stewart played emcee at the University of Georgia event in New York. When introducing Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of South Park, Stewart complimented them on their "ability to keep the show fresh and hilarious" after 10 seasons. Parker and Stone reportedly kept their acceptance speeches brief. Parker swore when talking about artistic responsibilities and Stone professed his love for fellow winner, Battlestar Galactica.

The University of Georgia gives out the awards for "distinguished acheivement and meritorious service". Also winning Peabodys were The Shield, Boston Legal, and NBC News for its Hurricane Katrina coverage (Brian Williams personally accepted).

Peabody. It sounds like such a prestigious award, doesn't it? It was a really big deal with The Daily Show won, and now South Park has joined its ranks. Matt Stone and Trey Parker won the award for poking fun of all that is hypocritical in the world. Said the director of the Peabody awards, "It properly offends everybody by design and by doing so it reminds us that it's probably a good idea to be tolerant."

Other Peabody award winners:

Jon Stewart is gearing up for hosting duties yet again, this time for the Peabody Awards in New York City on June 5. Stewart, who has won two Peabodys himself for The Daily Show's election coverage, was chosen partly for his "journalistic smarts and comic genius." Well, I'll give them the "comic genius" part, but I still cringe whenever someone refers to The Daily Show as "journalism." Additionally, winners from the 2005 ceremony will be announced via satellite and Web cast on April 5.

Bill Beutel may be most recognizable to New Yorkers, as he anchored the WABC evening newscasts for 30 years, right up until January of 2001. He briefly returned to WABC as a reporter after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. His trademark sign-off was, "Good luck and be well." He also briefly hosted the morning program on ABC that eventually became Good Morning America. Beutel won several Emmy awards and a coveted Peabody.

Beutel died at his home in Pinehurst, North Carolina.