For almost three decades, I’ve argued that the Television Critics Association Awards are more legit than the Emmys, because TCA members actually watch TV.
If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard an Emmy voter — actors, directors, producers — say that they don’t have time to watch TV because they’re so busy making it, I could at least get a nice dinner at an L.A. restaurant. A lot of them are voting for their friends, business associates, or people who work at the same studio. Or for some show that they’ve heard about without seeing.
Most TV critics watch way too much TV. We know what's out there and what's good.
The caveat I have to give to that is that the days when we could see everything are long gone. There were almost 500 scripted series last year on broadcast, cable and streaming services. Nobody can watch all of them — along with children’s shows, news, documentaries and more.
And I’m not going to criticize any of the nominees. There are others that I believe should have been nominated, but that doesn’t mean that any aren’t deserving.
FYI: I’m voting for “Game of Thrones” as program of the year because it had the biggest impact of anything on TV. That’s how the category was intended.
This year’s nominees are below; I’ve indicated my choice in each in italics. And in a lot of categories, I struggled with my choice — so don’t interpret any of my picks as criticism of those I didn’t choose.
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA • Amy Adams, “Sharp Objects” (HBO); Patricia Arquette, “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime); Christine Baranski, “The Good Fight” (CBS All Access); Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve” (BBC America); Billy Porter, “Pose” (FX); Michelle Williams, “Fosse/Verdon” (FX)
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY • Pamela Adlon, “Better Things” (FX); Bill Hader, “Barry” (HBO); Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep” (HBO); Natasha Lyonne, “Russian Doll” (Netflix); Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek” (Pop TV); Phoebe Waller-Bridge, “Fleabag” (Amazon)
NEWS AND INFORMATION • “60 Minutes” (CBS); “America To Me” (Starz); “Leaving Neverland” (HBO); “Our Planet” (Netflix); “The Rachel Maddow Show” (MSNBC); “Surviving R. Kelly” (Lifetime)
REALITY • “The Great British Baking Show” (PBS); “Making It” (NBC); “Nailed It!” (Netflix); “Queer Eye” (Netflix); “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” (Netflix); “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” (Netflix)
YOUTH PROGRAMMING • “Arthur” (PBS); “Carmen Sandiego” (Netflix); “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” (PBS); “Muppet Babies” (Disney Junior); “Odd Squad” (PBS); “Sesame Street” (HBO/PBS)
SKETCH/VARIETY SHOWS • “Desus & Mero” (Showtime); “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS); “I Think You Should Leave” (Netflix); “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO); “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC); “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)
MOVIE OR MINISERIES • “Chernobyl” (HBO); “Deadwood: The Movie” (HBO); “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime); “Fosse/Verdon” (FX); “Sharp Objects” (HBO); “When They See Us” (Netflix)
NEW PROGRAM • “Dead to Me” (Netflix); “The Other Two” (Comedy Central); “Pose” (FX); “Russian Doll” (Netflix); “Succession” (HBO); “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)
DRAMA • “Better Call Saul” (AMC); “The Good Fight” (CBS All Access); “Homecoming” (Amazon); “Killing Eve” (BBC America); “Pose” (FX); “Succession” (HBO)
COMEDY • “Barry” (HBO); “Fleabag” (Amazon); “The Good Place” (NBC); “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon); “Russian Doll” (Netflix); “Schitt’s Creek” (Pop TV); “Veep” (HBO)
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR • “Chernobyl” (HBO); “Fleabag” (Amazon); “Game of Thrones” (HBO); “Pose” (FX); “Russian Doll” (Netflix); “When They See Us” (Netflix)
This year’s TCA Awards will be presented Aug. 3 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. The ceremony will not be televised or streamed … so the winners can (and do) say anything they want. That’s always fun.
