Right in the middle of seemingly thousands of critics’ prizes for film work, today we got the TV nominations for the Critics Choice Association, nearly three weeks ahead of their corresponding film lists. It’s the first major mid-year opportunity to see what television may still be in the conversation from the Emmys and what new series have been strongly received. There’s plenty to say about this list that isn’t entirely consistent, nominating certain performers from some shows while questionably ignoring their costars. It’s also worth noting that not a single one of the comedy or drama winners from last year were eligible this time around, though that’s just as much about series that ended (Fleabag, Watchmen) as shows that have yet to premiere their latest seasons (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Succession).
For the second year in a row, Schitt’s Creek is nominated in all five eligible categories, and it’s joined this time around by three drama series in pulling off that same feat – nominations leaders The Crown and Ozark (each with six total bids due to a second cited performer in one of the categories) and new series Lovecraft Country. The best residual breakthrough from the Emmys appears to be What We Do in the Shadows, which scored four acting bids, for all except my favorite series regular, Kayvan Novak. I’m particularly pleased that a slew of actors who missed out on Emmy nods, like Josh O’Connor, Tobias Menzies, Bob Odenkirk, Tom Pelphrey, Janet McTeer, Nicholas Hoult, and most importantly, Daisy Edgar-Jones, did manage to score here. Read on for the full list of nominees, with some more commentary by category...
BEST DRAMA SERIES
Better Call Saul (AMC)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Ozark (Netflix)
Perry Mason (HBO)
This Is Us (NBC)
It’s interesting to note this group’s support of The Good Fight, nominating it for the third year in a row here. It’s only ever received two bids at the Emmys, both for music. The Mandalorian is a new nominee this year despite being eligible last year (this is its only bid), and the two freshman representatives are Lovecraft Country and Perry Mason.
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jason Bateman – Ozark (Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC)
Jonathan Majors – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Josh O’Connor – The Crown (Netflix)
Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul (AMC)
Matthew Rhys – Perry Mason (HBO)
This list is the most standard and expected one, ousting Paul Giamatti (Billions) and Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor), and also Mike Colter (Evil), who I don’t think was eligible since his show only aired three episodes in 2020. Tobias Menzies moved to the supporting category, opening up his slot for costar O’Connor, who was front-and-center in season four.
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christine Baranski – The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
Olivia Colman – The Crown (Netflix)
Emma Corrin – The Crown (Netflix)
Claire Danes – Homeland (Showtime)
Laura Linney – Ozark (Netflix)
Jurnee Smollett – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
I had to double-check because I was almost positive that Homeland wrapped its final season back in 2019, but it turns out it was 2020. This is only the third nomination for Danes after citations for seasons one and two, which in my opinion coincide with when the show was actually worthy of accolades. I’ll be curious to see if enthusiasm for Corrin’s portrayal of Princess Diana can eclipse the general awards energy that Colman has. Glad to see Smollett here!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jonathan Banks – Better Call Saul (AMC)
Justin Hartley – This Is Us (NBC)
John Lithgow – Perry Mason (HBO)
Tobias Menzies – The Crown (Netflix)
Tom Pelphrey – Ozark (Netflix)
Michael K. Williams – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
This is the third consecutive nomination for Hartley, who remains the only nuclear Pearson family member never to be nominated for an Emmy. His performance really is strong, and it’s nice to see one group honoring him. The same goes for Pelphrey, who missed out on an Emmy bid despite Emmy love for his show. Emmy voters chose Giancarlo Esposito for Better Call Saul over their typical mainstay Banks, whose last nomination was in 2015. It’s also great to see Williams cited since he wasn’t a sure thing at all and is, as usual, excellent.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Gillian Anderson – The Crown (Netflix)
Cynthia Erivo – The Outsider (HBO)
Julia Garner – Ozark (Netflix)
Janet McTeer – Ozark (Netflix)
Wunmi Mosaku – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Rhea Seehorn – Better Call Saul (AMC)
What a delight to see Mosaku included! Anyone who watches her show knows that she’s one of its best assets. I’m also pleased to see McTeer, who didn’t make the cut with Emmy, as well as Seehorn, who earns her second (non-consecutive) bid here. With Emma Corrin promoted to lead and a nominee from last year, Helena Bonham Carter, left off the list, Anderson may have an easy path to victory here without any internal competition. Erivo is her show’s only mention.
BEST COMEDY SERIES
Better Things (FX)
The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Mom (CBS)
PEN15 (Hulu)
Ramy (Hulu)
Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Where, you may ask, is The Great? I’m not sure either, but there’s still reason to be happy with this list. I love Ted Lasso, and I’m also excited about the other new show included here, The Flight Attendant. This is the first-ever nomination in this category for Better Things, which was indeed one of the better things on TV in 2020. I’m thrilled that Ramy made the cut, and it’s interesting to see repeat nominees Mom and PEN15, which have spottier Emmy track records (the latter still has a shot since it’s only on season two). Can any of these series beat Schitt’s Creek?
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Hank Azaria – Brockmire (IFC)
Matt Berry – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Nicholas Hoult – The Great (Hulu)
Eugene Levy – Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Jason Sudeikis – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Ramy Youssef – Ramy (Hulu)
I like this list a lot, and I’m glad to see Hoult in the right category after his supporting Emmy snub. It’s also nice to have Azaria, who was nominated for his show’s first two seasons, back for its swan song, in which he did a terrific job. Hooray for Sudeikis – what a wonderful show that is.
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Pamela Adlon – Better Things (FX)
Christina Applegate – Dead to Me (Netflix)
Kaley Cuoco – The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Natasia Demetriou – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Catherine O’Hara – Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO)
Applegate and Rae made it in even though their shows didn’t, but where is Linda Cardellini, one of the best parts of her show’s second season? I’m sure that What We Do in the Shadows fans are excited for Demetriou and I’m very happy about Cuoco.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
William Fichtner – Mom (CBS)
Harvey Guillén – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Daniel Levy – Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Alex Newell – Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
Mark Proksch – What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Andrew Rannells – Black Monday (Showtime)
It’s always curious to see performers score as the only mentions for shows that might have been expected elsewhere. Newell is one such example, and while Rannells was terrific in his show’s second season, I would definitely classify him as a lead. I don’t watch Mom but I do like Fitchner!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Lecy Goranson – The Conners (ABC)
Rita Moreno – One Day at a Time (Pop)
Annie Murphy – Schitt’s Creek (Pop)
Ashley Park – Emily in Paris (Netflix)
Jaime Pressly – Mom (CBS)
Hannah Waddingham – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
I stopped watching The Conners last year but I did like what Goranson was doing. I know Park from her Tony-nominated role in Mean Girls, and I liked her in the pilot of Emily in Paris, which is as far as I got with that show. I would have loved to see Juno Temple from Ted Lasso, but Waddingham is a great choice too.
BEST LIMITED SERIES
I May Destroy You (HBO)
Mrs. America (FX)
Normal People (Hulu)
The Plot Against America (HBO)
The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Small Axe (Amazon Studios)
The Undoing (HBO)
Unorthodox (Netflix)
Who’s happy that Normal People is here? I know I am. The Plot Against America didn’t do much at the Emmys but showed up in a big way here with four nominations. We also have Small Axe, which has been winning a number of film critics’ prizes, and I think I’m at least more comfortable with it being called a limited series than a single movie, even if it’s really a series of movies. Oh, well.
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bad Education (HBO)
Between the World and Me (HBO)
The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)
Hamilton (Disney+)
Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)
What the Constitution Means to Me (Amazon Studios)
There’s no set standard for what’s eligible where, as Hamilton will be competing as a film at the Golden Globes, but at least this list is creative. I’m most pleased to see Sylvie’s Love since it’s a beautiful production with great performances that is going to be relegated to the TV movie categories instead of getting a shot at Oscar. After a disappointing showing at the Emmys, Bad Education is here with just this one nomination.
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
John Boyega – Small Axe (Amazon Studios)
Hugh Grant – The Undoing (HBO)
Paul Mescal – Normal People (Hulu)
Chris Rock – Fargo (FX)
Mark Ruffalo – I Know This Much is True (HBO)
Morgan Spector – The Plot Against America (HBO)
I’m happiest about Spector being included since he’s really an underrated actor who deserves recognition for his strong handling of his role. Let’s celebrate another chance at a trophy for Mescal!
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Cate Blanchett – Mrs. America (FX)
Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You (HBO)
Daisy Edgar-Jones – Normal People (Hulu)
Shira Haas – Unorthodox (Netflix)
Anya Taylor-Joy – The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Tessa Thompson – Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)
I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Edgar-Jones’ name on this list. I hadn’t watched Normal People by the time Emmy nominations were announced, so I couldn’t be outraged about her snub then, but at least she’s here now. This is a great list, and I’m glad that Thompson is here along with expected (and superb) nominees like Haas and Taylor-Joy. Intriguingly, despite costars Hugh Grant and Donald Sutherland making the cut, Nicole Kidman, who was cited for Big Little Lies last year, missed out.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Daveed Diggs – The Good Lord Bird (Showtime)
Joshua Caleb Johnson – The Good Lord Bird (Showtime)
Dylan McDermott – Hollywood (Netflix)
Donald Sutherland – The Undoing (HBO)
Glynn Turman – Fargo (FX)
John Turturro – The Plot Against America (HBO)
I couldn’t get past episode one of The Good Lord Bird, but it’s good to see actors nominated even when their lead stars or series aren’t. The same goes for McDermott, a worthy representative of his show. Turman is a formidable choice – let’s get him an Oscar nomination for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom while we’re at it, shall we?
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Uzo Aduba – Mrs. America (FX)
Betsy Brandt – Soulmates (AMC)
Marielle Heller – The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Margo Martindale – Mrs. America (FX)
Winona Ryder – The Plot Against America (HBO)
Tracey Ullman – Mrs. America (FX)
This group chose the same three women from Mrs. America as Emmy voters did. Brandt is an interesting pick from Soulmates, which I hadn’t even thought of as eligible here even though its anthology format does support that placement. Heller was so wonderful in The Queen’s Gambit. But where's Jessie Buckley for Fargo?
BEST TALK SHOW
Desus & Mero (Showtime)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBC/Syndicated)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty (Netflix)
Hannah Gadsby: Douglas (Netflix)
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill (Netflix)
Marc Maron: End Times Fun (Netflix)
Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia (Netflix)
Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything (Netflix)
BEST SHORT FORM SERIES
The Andy Cohen Diaries (Quibi)
Better Call Saul: Ethics Training with Kim Wexler (AMC/Youtube)
Mapleworth Murders (Quibi)
Nikki Fre$h (Quibi)
Reno 911! (Quibi)
Tooning Out the News (CBS All Access)
Who or what are you happiest to see nominated?