The Television Critics Association’s annual TCA Awards is making a grand return to an in-person event this year for the first time since 2019. The 40th annual TCA Awards will be held at the Langham Pasadena on July 12, marking a significant moment during this summer’s TCA press tour. The event had been virtual for the past five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and last year’s Hollywood strikes.
Wendi McLendon-Covey, a favorite among critics, is set to host the event. “No pressure,” she jokes. “But my God, it’s going to feel good to actually get to be in person again and have that return to normalcy. I love the TCAs, I love meeting everybody. Maybe I’m a nerd, but I’m looking forward to it.”
McLendon-Covey, who earned an Emmy nomination in 2022 for the TV movie “Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon,” is also well-known for her long-running role on ABC’s “The Goldbergs.” She is currently starring in the new NBC comedy “St. Denis Medical,” alongside David Alan Grier and Allison Tolman. The series, from the creators of “Superstore,” recently received an order for five additional episodes, bringing the total to 18. “We’re having a blast with it, and I’m so glad I don’t have to pack up my trailer and say goodbye to everybody,” she says. “It’s great we get to keep going for a little bit.”
This year’s TCA Awards sees Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” and “Ripley,” as well as FX’s “Shogun,” leading the nominations with five each. FX and Netflix both garnered 16 nods overall, topping all outlets. The TCA Awards honor achievements in various categories, including comedy, drama, movies/miniseries/specials, news and information, variety/talk/sketch, reality, family programming, and children’s programming. The awards also feature non-gendered prizes for individual achievements in comedy and drama.
The top award, Program of the Year, has contenders such as “Baby Reindeer,” “Ripley,” “Shogun,” FX’s “The Bear,” “Reservation Dogs,” and Max’s “Hacks.” “What a delicious treat ‘Shogun’ is,” McLendon-Covey says. “It’s so great. I voted ‘Shogun’ across the board for Emmys. And ‘Fargo’ was absolutely terrifying.”
The nominations this year highlight the sometimes confusing nature of categories and genres. “Baby Reindeer,” “Fargo,” and “Ripley” received nominations in both the drama and movie/miniseries/specials categories. In drama, they compete against “Shogun,” Prime Video’s “Fallout,” and HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country.” In movies/miniseries/specials, they face Netflix’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Showtime’s “Fellow Travelers,” and HBO’s “The Sympathizer.”
In the comedy category, McLendon-Covey believes “Hacks” will perform well. “I think ‘Hacks’ will do really well. And I absolutely respect ‘Abbott Elementary.’ Quinta Brunson is fantastic.” “Abbott,” which won the comedy award in 2022, is up against 2023 winner “The Bear,” as well as “Hacks,” “Reservation Dogs,” Netflix’s “Girls5eva,” and Peacock’s “We Are Lady Parts.”
McLendon-Covey admits she doesn’t have much experience hosting awards events, but the TCA Awards are known for their casual atmosphere. The audience of reporters and winners already know the results beforehand, making it a stress-free evening. “I want to keep it light,” she says. “I want to keep it positive. I do feel that there is a way that can be done. I think people are sick to death of bad news, politics, and all of that shit. Pardon my French! There is a way and a need to keep things fun and focus on the fact that we are back together after five years. How lucky we are to have jobs where we can celebrate all these things! So that’s what I really want to concentrate on.”
Here are this year’s nominees:
Program of the Year:
– “Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
– “The Bear” – FX
– “Hacks” – HBO | Max
– “Reservation Dogs” – FX
– “Ripley” – Netflix
– “Shōgun” – FX
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy:
– “Abbott Elementary” – ABC (2022 Winner in Category)
– “The Bear” – FX (2023 Winner in Category)
– “Girls5eva” – Netflix
– “Hacks” – HBO | Max
– “Reservation Dogs” – FX
– “We Are Lady Parts” – Peacock
Outstanding Achievement in Drama:
– “Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
– “Fallout” – Prime Video
– “Fargo” – FX
– “Ripley” – Netflix
– “Shōgun” – FX
– “True Detective: Night Country” – HBO | Max
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries or Specials:
– “Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
– “The Fall of the House of Usher” – Netflix
– “Fargo” – FX
– “Fellow Travelers” – Showtime
– “Ripley” – Netflix
– “The Sympathizer” – HBO | Max
Outstanding New Program:
– “Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
– “Fallout” – Prime Video
– “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” – Prime Video
– “Ripley” – Netflix
– “Shōgun” – FX
– “X-Men ’97” – Disney+
Individual Achievement in Drama:
– Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country” – HBO | Max
– Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
– Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun” – FX
– Anna Sawai, “Shōgun” – FX
– Andrew Scott, “Ripley” – Netflix
– Juno Temple, “Fargo” – FX
Individual Achievement in Comedy:
– Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” – ABC (2022 Winner in Category)
– Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear” – FX
– Renée Elise Goldsberry, “Girls5eva” – Netflix
– Devery Jacobs, “Reservation Dogs” – FX
– Jean Smart, “Hacks” – HBO | Max (2021 Winner in Category)
– Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear” – FX
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information:
– “America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston” – PBS
– “Frontline” – PBS (Eight-time Winner in Category)
– “The Jinx: Part Two” – HBO | Max
– “Queens” – Nat Geo
– “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” – ID
– “Telemarketers” – HBO | Max
Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch:
– “The Daily Show” – Comedy Central (2004 Winner in News & Information ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’)
– “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – ABC
– “John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA” – Netflix
– “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” – HBO | Max (2021, 2019 & 2018 Winner in Category, and in 2015 Winner in News & Information)
– “Late Night with Seth Meyers” – NBC
– “Saturday Night Live” – NBC
Outstanding Achievement in Reality:
– “The Amazing Race” – CBS (2011 & 2022 Winner in Category)
– “Conan O’Brien Must Go” – HBO | Max
– “Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show” – HBO | Max
– “The Traitors” – Peacock
– “Top Chef” – Bravo
– “We’re Here” – HBO | Max
– “Welcome to Wrexham” – FX
Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming:
– “Doctor Who” – Disney+
– “Heartstopper” – Netflix
– “My Adventures with Superman” – Adult Swim
– “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” – Disney+
– “Renegade Nell” – Disney+
– “X-Men ’97” – Disney+
Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming:
– “Bluey” – Disney+ (2023 Winner in Category)
– “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” – PBS KIDS (2016 Winner in Youth Category)
– “Frog and Toad” – Apple TV+
– “Pokémon Concierge” – Netflix
– “Sesame Street” – HBO | Max (2018, 2011 & 2001 Winner in Youth Category)
– “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin” – Apple TV+
Source: Variety
