While its sister awards for films have been around for two decades now, the Critics’ Choice Television Awards, airing Sunday night on A&E, will be just five years old. Yet in that short time, early childhood in terms of awards show longevity, the CCTAs have made a deep impact on the TV industry.
Growing from a luncheon in its first year to several years of non-televised gala dinners that recognize multiple categories of artistry on the small screen, the CCTAs were first broadcast on the CW before landing at their new network home of A&E, which also aired the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards this past January.
What’s different about the Television Awards is the body of voters are people who watch TV for a living, members of the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA), and thus are more inclined to recognize talent straight out of the gate and as well to crown a new crop of contenders every year–or at least to spread the wealth a bit.
That’s nothing against great programs that year after year get awards recognition during their runs. But it’s also beneficial to viewers to bring attention to programs that might otherwise get lost on the playlist. “Orphan Black” is a perfect example, a one-of-a-kind drama airing on BBC America that the critics were quick to recognize.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the organization and have hopefully contributed to some of its impact.
This year’s awards show, which will be hosted by Cat Deeley promises inherent drama and comedy just by the nature of the nominees. Another highlight will be when Charlize Theron presents the LOUIS XIII Genius Award to two-time Emmy Award winner Seth MacFarlane.
Both the marquee categories of best comedy series and best drama series boast freshman shows. For drama, that is of course Fox’s “Empire,” which made a huge splash commercially and critically during its recently ended first season. On the comedy side, we have FX’s “You’re the Worst” and the CW’s “Jane the Virgin,” both of which premiered in fall 2014.
Take a look at the list of nominees and be sure to tune in to A&E Sunday, May 31 for the red carpet preshow at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m.ET, followed by the two-hour awards ceremony beginning at 5p/8p.
BEST COMEDY SERIES
- Broad City (Comedy Central)
- Jane the Virgin (The CW)
- Mom (CBS)
- Silicon Valley (HBO)
- Transparent (Amazon)
- Veep (HBO)
- You’re the Worst (FX)
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
- Anthony Anderson, Blackish (ABC)
- Chris Messina, The Mindy Project (FOX)
- Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent (Amazon)
- Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
- Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley (HBO)
- Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth (FOX)
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
- Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central)
- Constance Wu, Fresh Off the Boat (ABC)
- Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin (The CW)
- Ilana Glazer, Broad City (Comedy Central)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO)
- Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback (HBO)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
- Adam Driver, Girls (HBO)
- Cameron Monaghan, Shameless (Showtime)
- Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin (The CW)
- T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley (HBO)
- Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
- Tony Hale, Veep (HBO)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
- Allison Janney, Mom (CBS)
- Carrie Brownstein, Portlandia (IFC)
- Eden Sher, The Middle (ABC)
- Judith Light, Transparent (Amazon)
- Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
- Melanie Lynskey, Togetherness (HBO)
BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A COMEDY SERIES
- Becky Ann Baker, Girls (HBO)
- Bradley Whitford, Transparent (Amazon)
- Josh Charles, Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central)
- Laurie Metcalf, The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
- Peter Gallagher, Togetherness (HBO)
- Susie Essman, Broad City (Comedy Central)
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
· Bessie (HBO)
· Killing Jesus (National Geographic Channel)
· Nightingale (HBO)
· A Poet in New York (BBC America)
· Stockholm, Pennsylvania (Lifetime)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
· 24: Live Another Day (FOX)
· American Crime (ABC)
· The Book of Negroes (BET)
· The Honorable Woman (Sundance)
· Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
· Wolf Hall (PBS)
BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
· David Oyelowo – Nightingale (HBO)
· James Nesbitt – The Missing (Starz)
· Kiefer Sutherland – 24: Live Another Day (FOX)
· Mark Rylance – Wolf Hall (PBS)
· Michael Gambon – The Casual Vacancy (HBO)
· Richard Jenkins – Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
· Aunjanue Ellis – The Book of Negroes (BET)
· Felicity Huffman – American Crime (ABC)
· Frances McDormand – Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
· Jessica Lange – American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX)
· Maggie Gyllenhaal – The Honorable Woman (Sundance)
· Queen Latifah – Bessie (HBO)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
· Bill Murray – Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
· Cory Michael Smith – Olive Kitteridge (HBO)
· Elvis Nolasco – American Crime (ABC)
· Finn Wittrock – American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX)
· Jason Isaacs – Stockholm, Pennsylvania (Lifetime)
· Jonathan Pryce – Wolf Hall (PBS)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
· Claire Foy – Wolf Hall (PBS)
· Cynthia Nixon – Stockholm, Pennsylvania (Lifetime)
· Janet McTeer – The Honorable Woman (Sundance)
· Khandi Alexander – Bessie (HBO)
· Mo’Nique – Bessie (HBO)
· Sarah Paulson – American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX)
BEST DRAMA SERIES
- The Americans (FX)
- Empire (Fox)
- Game of Thrones (HBO)
- The Good Wife (CBS)
- Homeland (Showtime)
- Justified (FX)
- Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
- Eva Green – Penny Dreadful (Showtime)
- Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife (CBS)
- Keri Russell – The Americans (FX)
- Taraji P. Henson – Empire (FOX)
- Vera Farmiga – Bates Motel (A&E)
- Viola Davis – How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
- Aden Young – Rectify (Sundance)
- Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul (AMC)
- Charlie Hunnam – Sons of Anarchy (FX)
- Freddie Highmore – Bates Motel (A&E)
- Matthew Rhys – The Americans (FX)
- Timothy Olyphant – Justified (FX)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
- Carrie Coon – The Leftovers (HBO)
- Christine Baranski – The Good Wife (CBS)
- Joelle Carter – Justified (FX)
- Katheryn Winnick – Vikings (History)
- Lorraine Toussaint – Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
- Mae Whitman – Parenthood (NBC)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
- Ben Mendelsohn – Bloodline (Netflix)
- Christopher Eccleston – The Leftovers (HBO)
- Craig T. Nelson – Parenthood (NBC)
- Jonathan Banks – Better Call Saul (AMC)
- Mandy Patinkin – Homeland (Showtime)
- Walton Goggins – Justified (FX)
GUEST PERFORMER IN A DRAMA SERIES
- Cicely Tyson – How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)
- Julianne Nicholson – Masters of Sex (Showtime)
- Linda Lavin – The Good Wife (CBS)
- Lois Smith – The Americans (FX)
- Sam Elliott – Justified (FX)
- Walton Goggins – Sons of Anarchy (FX)
BEST REALITY SERIES
- Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN)
- Deadliest Catch (Discovery Channel)
- Married at First Sight (A&E)
- MythBusters (Discovery Channel)
- Shark Tank (ABC)
- Undercover Boss (CBS)
BEST REALITY COMPETITION SERIES
- The Amazing Race (CBS)
- America’s Got Talent (NBC)
- Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
- Face Off (Syfy)
- Master Chef Junior (FOX)
- The Voice (NBC)
BEST REALITY SERIES HOST
- Anthony Bourdain – Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN)
- Betty White – Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (Lifetime)
- Cat Deeley – So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
- James Lipton – Inside the Actors Studio (Bravo)
- Phil Keoghan – The Amazing Race (CBS)
- Tom Bergeron – Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
- Archer (FX)
- Bob’s Burgers (FOX)
- Gravity Falls (Disney Channel)
- The Simpsons (FOX)
- South Park (Comedy Central)
- Star Wars Rebels (Disney XD)
BEST TALK SHOW
- The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
- The Graham Norton Show (BBC America)
- Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS)
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
