There’s a misperception out there that TV critics are some sort of monolith. That there’s some sort of critical consensus.
To prove that wrong, you need look no further than the nominees for this year’s Television Critics Association Awards — which include a few shows I don’t much care for, one that troubles me greatly and one I absolutely loathe.
Don’t get me wrong. The TCA Awards are more legit than, say, the Emmys, because they’re given by people who actually watch almost everything on TV. (Nobody can watch everything anymore.)
Darren Criss, from left, Edgar Ramirez and Ricky Martin participate in "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" panel during the Fox Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
And I’ll happily endorse the overwhelming majority of the TCA Awards nominees.
But I’m not a big fan of “Bill” or “GLOW.” And this might get me in trouble, but I’m kind of over “The Handmaid’s Tale” after Season 2.
I’ve also been stewing over “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” for months. The more I think about it, the more I’m troubled by the fact that so much of the supposed docudrama was complete fiction.
And, sorry, but I completely detested “Twin Peaks: The Return.”
From left, Laura Dern, Kimmy Robertson, Mädchen Amick, Kyle MacLachlan and Robert Forster attend the "Twin Peaks" panel at the Showtime portion of the 2017 Winter Television Critics Association press tour on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Anyway, here are the nominees and how I voted. The TCA Awards will be presented on Aug. 4.
Individual Achievement in Drama • Jodie Comer, “Killing Eve” (BBC America); Darren Criss, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” (FX); Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu); Sandra Oh, “Killing Eve” (BBC America); Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell, “The Americans” (FX)
Sandra Oh, left, and Jodie Comer, cast members in the BBC America series "Killing Eve," pose together for a portrait during the 2018 Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour at the Langham Hotel on Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
My vote • Sandra Oh, who’s amazing.
Individual Achievement in Comedy • Pamela Adlon, “Better Things” (FX); Rachel Bloom, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW); Rachel Brosnahan, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon); Ted Danson, “The Good Place” (NBC); Donald Glover, “Atlanta” (FX); Bill Hader, “Barry” (HBO)
This image released by The CW shows Rachel Bloom in a scene from "Crazy Ex Girlfriend." Co-created and starring the radiant Bloom, it is funny, poignant and supercharged with musical production numbers that would find a warm welcome on any Broadway stage. (Tyler Golden/The CW via AP)
My vote • Rachel Bloom. She’s not just the star of an amazing show, she’s a writer/producer.
News and Information • “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” (CNN), “60 Minutes” (CBS), “Blue Planet 2″ (BBC America), “Rachel Maddow Show” (MSNBC), “The Vietnam War” (PBS), “Wild Wild Country” (Netflix)
A woman takes a photograph of a billboard for the CNN television show "Parts Unknown" with American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, Friday, June 8, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
My vote • “Parts Unknown.” I was a big fan anyway, and the sympathy factor after Bourdain’s death makes this show the favorite.
Reality • “Great British Baking Show” (PBS), “Nailed It!” (Netflix), “Project Runway” (Lifetime), “Queer Eye” (Netflix), “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
(Photo courtesy Gavin Bond/Netflix) Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness and Tan France star in “Queer Eye” on Netflix.
My vote • “Queer Eye.” I just wish there were more episodes.
Youth Programming • “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” (PBS Kids), “Elena of Avalor” (Disney Channel), “Muppet Babies” (Disney Junior), “Odd Squad” (PBS Kids), “Sesame Street” (HBO), “Sofia the First” (Disney Junior)
(Courtesy Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood/The Fred Rogers Company) "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" is part of the lineup on the PBS KIDS channel.
My vote • They’re all deserving, but … “Daniel Tiger.”
Sketch/Variety Show • “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS), “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC), “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO), “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC), “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS), “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Jimmy Fallon, left, and Stephen Colbert attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination exhibition on Monday, May 7, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
My vote • Colbert. Although this first-time category is interesting for who isn’t nominated. (Jimmy Fallon?)
Movie or Miniseries • “Alias Grace” (Netflix), “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” (FX), “Howards End” (Starz), “Patrick Melrose” (Showtime), “The Tale” (HBO), “Twin Peaks: The Return” (Showtime)
(Photo: Ollie Upton/Showtime) Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the title character in “Patrick Melrose.”
My vote • “Patrick Melrose” was great, and Benedict Cumberbatch was great in it.
New Program • “Barry” (HBO), “Counterpart” (Starz), “GLOW” (Netflix), “Killing Eve” (BBC America), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon), “Mindhunter” (Netflix)
This image released by Netflix shows Cameron Britton, left, and Jonathan Groff in a scene from the 10-episode series "Mindhunter," streaming on Netflix. (Merrick Morton/Netflix via AP)
My vote • I’m obsessed with “Mindhunter.”
Drama • “The Americans” (FX), “The Crown” (Netflix), “The Good Fight” (CBS All Access), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu), “Killing Eve” (BBC America), “This Is Us” (NBC)
Courtesy | Patrick Harbron, CBS Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart and Cush Jumbo as Lucca Quin in “The Good Fight.”
My vote • I’m even more obsessed with “The Good Fight.”
Comedy • “Atlanta” (FX), “Barry” (HBO), “GLOW” (Netflix), “The Good Place” (NBC), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon), “One Day at a Time” (Netflix)
This image released by NBC shows Kristen Bell as Eleanor, left, and Ted Danson as Michael in a scene from "The Good Place." (Justin Lubin/NBC via AP)
My vote • “The Good Place,” the most unexpectedly great show on TV.
Program of the Year • “The Americans” (FX), “Atlanta” (FX), “The Good Place” (NBC), “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu), “Killing Eve” (BBC America), “This Is Us” (NBC)
My vote • “The Americans,” based on all six seasons.
