The 2021 TCA Awards: And the Nominees Are…

The Television Critics Association (TCA) announced the nominees for the organization’s 37th Annual TCA Awards, which honor the outstanding creators, series, and stars of the 2020-2021 TV season. The TCA is made up of more than 200 members, professional television critics and journalists from the United States and Canada, who nominate programming available on broadcast, cable and streaming outlets.

The TCA presents awards in 13 distinct categories, honoring outstanding achievements in drama, comedy, miniseries, youth, news and information, reality, and variety, sketch or talk shows, among others. Categories have been expanded this year to feature a total of eight nominees each, with the exception of “Outstanding Achievement In Variety, Talk Or Sketch,” which has nine. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the TCA will forego its formal in-person presentation once again. Winners will instead be announced at a later date.

This season’s tallies saw Netflix back in front, with a record 15 nominations. Last year’s leader, HBO, is a close second with 14 nominations; with its counterpart, HBO Max, rounding out the top three with 10 total nominations. Streaming platforms again proved to be a force, with Apple TV+ racking up eight nominations, followed by Disney+ which tied with Showtime’s five nominations. Additionally, Hulu and NBC garnered four apiece; Amazon, CBS, FX, PBS Kids, and Peacock each has three; and Starz earned two. Bravo, Comedy Central, Disney Jr., MSNBC, NatGeo, Paramount+, and PBS close out the nominations with one each.

This year’s nominations feature an unprcedented number of first-year programs. Five of Apple TV+’s eight nominations come courtesy of the acclaimed freshman breakout comedy “Ted Lasso,” which leads all nominees. The sitcom’s tally includes nods for Individual Achievement In Comedy for stars Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham, as well as nominations for Outstanding New Program, Outstanding Achievement In Comedy, and Program Of The Year.

The TCA’s coveted Program Of The Year category includes HBO’s “I May Destroy You” and “Mare of Easttown” against the HBO Max dramedy “Hacks.” Tied with four nominations apiece — the second-most among this year’s nominees — the three series also vie for Outstanding New Program. Program Of The Year also features Netflix’s period piece “Bridgerton,” Amazon’s limited event “The Underground Railroad,” Disney+’s “WandaVision,” Netflix’s drama “The Queen’s Gambit,” and the aforementioned “Ted Lasso.”

Elsewhere, “Framing Britney Spears” and “Oprah With Meghan And Harry: A CBS Primetime Special” contend for the honor of Outstanding Achievement In News And Information. “I May Destroy You” creator, writer, and star Michaela Coel enters a loaded Individual Achievement In Drama landscape that includes Oscar®-winner Kate Winslet, Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Elizabeth Olsen, and Thuso Mbedu in her international debut. Trevor Noah, John Oliver, and Stephen Colbert battle for late-night supremacy in Outstanding Achievement In Variety, Talk Or Sketch. Veterans “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Pose” and “The Crown” compete newcomers “Lovecraft Country” and “P-Valley” in Outstanding Achievement In Drama. And genre pioneer “The Real World Homecoming: New York” seeks to reclaim its throne in Outstanding Achievement In Reality.

“This was an incredible year for fresh, inclusive content and new creators, and our nominations are a reflection of that,” said Melanie McFarland, TCA President and TV Critic for Salon. “The TCA membership selected from a wealth of original offerings that broke fresh ground and presented exciting, thought-provoking experiences that redefined the television landscape. Although we will not be able to honor these landmark achievements in-person, we look forward to celebrating 37 years of the TCA Awards and sharing our top picks when the winners are unveiled.”

What follows is the list of 2021 Television Critics Association nominees, excluding the Career Achievement and Heritage Award winners, which will be announced along with the winners later this summer.

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Michaela Coel, “I May Destroy You” – HBO
Ethan Hawke, “The Good Lord Bird” – Showtime
Thuso Mbedu, “The Underground Railroad” – Amazon
Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision” – Disney+
Mj Rodriguez, “Pose” – FX
Omar Sy, “Lupin” – Netflix
Anya Taylor-Joy, “The Queen’s Gambit” – Netflix
Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown” – HBO

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Bo Burnham, “Bo Burnham: Inside” – Netflix
Kaley Cuoco, “The Flight Attendant” – HBO Max
Maya Erskine, “Pen15” – Hulu
Renee Elise Goldsberry, “Girls5Eva” – Peacock
Charlotte Nicdao, “Mythic Quest” – Apple TV+
Jean Smart, “Hacks” – HBO Max
Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION
“Allen v. Farrow” – HBO
“City So Real” – NatGeo
“Framing Britney Spears” – FX/FX On Hulu
“Frontline” – PBS (Eight-time Winner in Category)
“I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” – HBO
“Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special” – CBS
“The Rachel Maddow Show” – MSNBC
“60 Minutes” – CBS (2012 Winner in Category)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY
“Couples Therapy” – Showtime
“Deaf U” – Netflix
“The Great Pottery Throw Down” – HBO Max
“Legendary” – HBO Max
“Nailed It! Double Trouble” – Netflix
“The Real World Homecoming: New York” – Paramount+
“Taste the Nation” – Hulu
“Top Chef: Portland” – Bravo

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING
“The Baby-Sitters Club” – Netflix
“Bluey” – Disney Jr.
“Donkey Hodie” – PBS Kids
“Emily’s Wonder Lab” – Netflix
“Odd Squad” – PBS Kids
“Sesame Street” – HBO

“Waffles + Mochi” – Netflix
“Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum” – PBS Kids

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM
“Bridgerton” – Netflix
“The Flight Attendant” – HBO Max
“Hacks” – HBO Max
“I May Destroy You” – HBO
“Mare of Easttown” – HBO
“P-Valley” – Starz
“Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
“WandaVision” – Disney+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES OR SPECIALS
“Bo Burnham: Inside” – Netflix
“The Good Lord Bird” – Showtime
“I May Destroy You” – HBO
“It’s a Sin” – HBO Max
“Mare of Easttown” – HBO
“The Queen’s Gambit” – Netflix
“The Underground Railroad” – Amazon
“WandaVision” – Disney+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
“Bridgerton” – Netflix
“The Crown” – Netflix
“For All Mankind” – Apple TV+
“The Handmaid’s Tale” – Hulu
“Lovecraft Country” – HBO
“The Mandalorian” – Disney+
“Pose” – FX
“P-Valley” – Starz

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
“The Flight Attendant” – HBO Max
“Girls5Eva” – Peacock
“Hacks” – HBO Max
“Mythic Quest” – Apple TV+
“Pen15” – Hulu
“Superstore” – NBC
“Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
“Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” – NBC

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY, TALK OR SKETCH
“The Amber Ruffin Show” – Peacock
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” – HBO (2020 Winner in Category)
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Comedy Central
“Desus & Mero” – Showtime
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” – HBO (2019 & 2018 Winner in Category)
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” – NBC
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” – CBS
“Saturday Night Live” – NBC
“Ziwe” – Showtime

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“Bridgerton” – Netflix
“Hacks” – HBO Max
“I May Destroy You” – HBO
“Mare of Easttown” – HBO
“The Queen’s Gambit” – Netflix
“Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
“The Underground Railroad” – Amazon
“WandaVision” – Disney+

NETWORK TALLY

Netflix – 15

HBO – 14

HBO Max – 10

Apple TV+ – 8

Disney+ – 5

Showtime – 5

Hulu – 4

NBC – 4

Amazon – 3

CBS – 3

FX-3

PBS Kids – 3

Peacock – 3

Starz – 2

Bravo – 1

Comedy Central – 1

Disney Jr. – 1

MSNBC – 1

NatGeo – 1

Paramount+ – 1

PBS – 1

PROGRAMS WITH MULTIPLE NOMINATIONS

“Ted Lasso,” Apple TV+ – 5

“Hacks,” HBO Max – 4

“I May Destroy You,” HBO – 4

“Mare of Easttown,” HBO – 4

“WandaVision,” Disney+ – 4

“Bridgerton,” Netflix – 3

“The Flight Attendant,” HBO Max – 3

“The Queen’s Gambit,” Netflix – 3

“The Underground Railroad,” Amazon – 3

“Bo Burnham: Inside,” Netflix – 2

“Girls5Eva,” Peacock – 2

“The Good Lord Bird,” Showtime – 2

“Mythic Quest,” Apple TV+ – 2

“Pen15,” Hulu – 2

“Pose,” FX – 2

“P-Valley,” Starz – 2