They most prestigious award for excellence in broadcasting -- next to the Emmys -- were announced today. The 67th Annual Peabody Awards honored Mad Men, 30 Rock, Dexter, Project Runway, The Colbert Report -- all favorites here at TV Squad -- among others. To the Peabody Award voters, I say, "Good job."

The winners, chosen by the Peabody board -- which is part of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication -- will receive the awards on June 16 at a luncheon at New York's Waldorf Astoria. NBC News anchorman Brian Williams will be the emcee.

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: