The Television Critics Association Awards announced their nominees for the 2019-20 season today. HBO’s limited series Watchmen and Netflix’s limited series Unbelievable led the pack with four nominations each. Coming in just behind with three noms each are AMC’s Better Call Saul, FX on Hulu’s Mrs. America, Pop TV’s Schitt’s Creek and HBO’s Succession. FX’s Better Things, Netflix’s Dead To Me, Hulu’s The Great, and HBO’s Insecure all scored two nominations each.
In the top category of “Program of the Year,” the nominees are Better Call Saul, Mrs. America, Schitt’s Creek, Succession, Unbelievable, and Watchmen.
A few major points of interest:
- Rhea Seehorn becomes the first supporting actress to be nominated in the Individual Achievement in Drama category since 2012 when Peter Dinklage received a nod for Game of Thrones.
- Emmy frontrunner Ozark was completely snubbed, including a missing nomination for Laura Linney who many believe turned in some of the finest work of her career this season.
- It was Jeremy Strong who received the acting recognition for Succession, not Brian Cox. That bodes well for Strong’s Emmy chances.
- The TCAs made room for two performances from Unbelievable but left out Toni Collette who received a Critics Choice award and Golden Globe nomination.
It was not a great year for major network television going by the TCA’s nominees. Out of sixty-eight nominations, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox received only eight nods. While this trend is hardly new, it’s becoming more and more clear how difficult it is to create award worthy prestige television programs within the constraints of network censors.
Due to COVID-19, the TCA Awards will not be held in person this year. Winners will be announced later this summer.
Individual Achievement in Drama
Cate Blanchett, “Mrs. America” – FX on Hulu
Kaitlyn Dever, “Unbelievable” – Netflix
Regina King, “Watchmen” – HBO
Mark Ruffalo, “I Know This Much Is True” – HBO
Rhea Seehorn, “Better Call Saul” – AMC
Jeremy Strong, “Succession” – HBO
Merritt Wever, “Unbelievable” – Netflix
Individual Achievement in Comedy
Pamela Adlon, “Better Things” – FX
Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me” – Netflix
Elle Fanning, “The Great” – Hulu
Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek” – Pop TV
Issa Rae, “Insecure” – HBO
Ramy Youssef, “Ramy” – Hulu
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information
“60 Minutes” – CBS (2012 Winner in Category)
“Frontline” – PBS (Eight-time Winner in Category)
“Hillary” – Hulu
“The Last Dance” – ESPN
“McMillions” – HBO
“The Rachel Maddow Show” – MSNBC
Outstanding Achievement in Reality
“Cheer” – Netflix
“Encore!” – Disney Plus
“Holey Moley” – ABC
“Making It” – NBC
“Top Chef All-Stars L.A.” – Bravo
“We’re Here!” – HBO
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming
“Carmen Sandiego” – Netflix
“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” – PBS Kids (2016 Winner in Category)
“Molly of Denali” – PBS Kids
“Odd Squad” – PBS Kids
“Wild Kratts” – PBS Kids
“Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum” – PBS Kids
Outstanding Achievement in Sketch/Variety Shows
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” – HBO
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Comedy Central
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” –TBS
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” – HBO (2019 and 2018 Winner in Category)
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” – NBC
“Saturday Night Live” – NBC
Outstanding Achievement in Movie or Miniseries
“Little Fires Everywhere” – Hulu
“Mrs. America” – FX on Hulu
“Normal People” – Hulu
“The Plot Against America” – HBO
“Unbelievable” – Netflix
“Watchmen” – HBO
Outstanding New Program
“The Great” – Hulu
“The Mandalorian” – Disney Plus
“The Morning Show” – Apple TV Plus
“Never Have I Ever” – Netflix
“Watchmen” – HBO
“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” – NBC
Outstanding Achievement in Drama
“Better Call Saul” – AMC (2019 Winner in Category)
“The Crown” – Netflix
“Euphoria” – HBO
“The Good Fight” – CBS All Access
“Pose” – FX
“Succession” – HBO
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
“Better Things” – FX
“Dead to Me” – Netflix
“The Good Place” – NBC (2018 Winner in Category)
“Insecure” – HBO
“Schitt’s Creek” – Pop TV
“What We Do in the Shadows” – FX
Program of the Year
“Better Call Saul” – AMC
“Mrs. America” – FX on Hulu
“Schitt’s Creek” – Pop TV
“Succession” – HBO
“Unbelievable” – Netflix
“Watchmen” – HBO
