The Hulu series "The Handmaid’s Tale," FX’s "Atlanta" and NBC’s "This Is Us" led the way with four nominations each for the 33rd annual TCA Awards. The Television Critics Association (TCA), a media organization with more than 200 professional TV critics and journalists from the U.S. and Canada, recognize through the 2017 TCA Awards outstanding TV programming in the 2016-’17 season, honoring, actors, producers and programs in a variety of catgories, inlcuding news and information, youth, reality, dram and comedy.
Any show airing the majority of its season between June 1, 2016 and May 31, 2017 was eligible for consideration. The winners of the 33rd TCA Awards will be announced at the invitation-only presentation on Saturday, August 5, 2017, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, as part of the group’s summer press tour. Entertainer Kristin Chenoweth serves as host for the evening’s festivities.
This year’s nominations are spread across three broadcast networks—ABC, CBS and NBC—as well as PBS, 10 cable networks, and internet-streaming services Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix. For the second consecutive year, HBO is in the lead with 12 nominations; FX has 11; Netflix has 10; NBC has seven; Hulu has four; ABC and PBS have three; Amazon, Disney and Showtime each have two; and A&E, AMC, BBC America, CBS, CNN, ESPN, and TBS finish with one apiece.
Locked in a tight race for the honor of Program Of The Year is an impressive list of competitors consisting of the FX comedy-drama “Atlanta;” HBO’s star-studded suburban murder mystery “Big Little Lies,” and the spiritually rich final season of “The Leftovers;” Netflix’s smash sci-fi thriller “Stranger Things;” NBC’s multi-generational drama “This Is Us;” and the acclaimed dystopian opus “The Handmaid’s Tale,” which netted Hulu its first-ever TCA Awards nominations.
This year’s notable nominees include Oscar® winners Nicole Kidman, Jessica Lange, and Susan Sarandon; sitcom standout Kristen Bell; versatile writer-director-stars Donald Glover and Aziz Ansari; as well as dynamic programming featuring ESPN’s five-part miniseries event “O.J.: Made In America;” Amazon’s tragicomic British series “Fleabag;” Showtime’s controversial political profile “Weiner;” and FX’s Golden Age diva drama “Feud: Bette And Joan,” among others.
The lineup also features a fresh batch of first-time nominees including an unprecedented double nomination for Carrie Coon for her performances in “The Leftovers and “Fargo;” “Fleabag” favorite Phoebe Waller-Bridge; the ‘80s-inspired creature caper “Stranger Things;” A&E’s investigative reality series “Leah Remini: Scientology And The Aftermath;” NBC’s heavenly sitcom “The Good Place;” ABC’s compassionate family comedy “Speechless;” Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K.’s bittersweet parenting dramedy “Better Things;” the celebrated Queen Elizabeth epic “The Crown;” and the CNN news show “The Lead With Jake Tapper.”
“This was truly a landmark season for diversity in television, and the TCA nominations reflect this. Our members have chosen a variety of series that celebrate and represent a wide spectrum of performances,” said TCA president Amber Dowling. “With so many great programs—both new and returning—it was a real challenge for our members to whittle these nominees down. We’re excited to see which programs and performers make the cut as voting now gets underway to determine the TV standouts of the 2016-17 season.”
The Summer TCA Press Tour will be held Tues., July 25 through Wed., Aug. 9.
Below is the list of the 2017 Television Critics Association nominees, excluding the Career Achievement and Heritage Award winners, which will be announced on the night of the awards.
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us,” NBC
Carrie Coon, “The Leftovers” & “Fargo,” HBO & FX
Claire Foy, “The Crown,” Netflix
Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies,” HBO
Jessica Lange, “Feud: Bette And Joan,” FX
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Hulu
Susan Sarandon, “Feud: Bette And Joan,” FX
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Pamela Adlon, “Better Things,” FX
Aziz Ansari, “Master of None,” Netflix
Kristen Bell, “The Good Place,” NBC
Donald Glover, “Atlanta,” FX
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep,” HBO
Issa Rae, “Insecure,” HBO
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, “Fleabag,” Amazon
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION
“Full Frontal With Samantha Bee,” TBS (2016 Winner in Category)
“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” HBO
“The Lead With Jake Tapper,” CNN
“O.J.: Made in America,” ESPN
“Planet Earth II,” BBC America
“Weiner,” Showtime
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMMING
“The Circus,” Showtime
“The Great British Baking Show,” PBS
“The Keepers,” Netflix
“Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath,” A&E
“Shark Tank,” ABC
“Survivor: Game Changers,” CBS
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING
“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” PBS (2016 Winner in Category)
“Doc McStuffins,” Disney Junior
“Elena of Avalor,” Disney Channel
“Odd Squad,” PBS
“Sesame Street,” HBO
“Speechless,” ABC
OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM
“Atlanta,” FX
“The Crown,” Netflix
“The Good Place,” NBC
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” Hulu
“Stranger Things,” Netflix
“This Is Us,” NBC
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES AND SPECIALS
“Big Little Lies,” HBO
“Fargo,” FX
“Feud: Bette and Joan,” FX
“Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life,” Netflix
“The Night Of,” HBO
“Wizard of Lies,” HBO
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
“Better Call Saul,” AMC
“Stranger Things,” Netflix
“The Americans,” FX (2015 & 2016 Winner in Category)
“The Crown,” Netflix
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” Hulu
“This Is Us,” NBC
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
“Atlanta,” FX
“black-ish,” ABC (2016 Winner in Category)
“Fleabag,” Amazon
“Master of None,” Netflix
“The Good Place,” NBC
“Veep,” HBO
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“Atlanta,” FX
“Big Little Lies,” HBO
“Stranger Things,” Netflix
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” Hulu
“The Leftovers,” HBO
“This Is Us,” NBC
NETWORK TALLY
HBO – 12
FX – 11
Netflix – 10
NBC – 7
Hulu – 4
ABC – 3
PBS/PBS KIDS – 3
Amazon – 2
Disney Channel/Disney Junior – 2
Showtime – 2
A&E – 1
AMC – 1
BBC America – 1
CBS – 1
CNN – 1
ESPN – 1
TBS – 1
PROGRAM TALLY– (denotes shows with more than one nomination)
“Atlanta,” FX – 4
“The Handmaid’s Tale,” Hulu – 4
“This Is Us,” NBC – 4
“Big Little Lies,” HBO – 3
“Feud: Bette And Joan,” FX – 3
“Stranger Things,” Netflix – 3
“The Good Place,” NBC – 3
“The Crown,” Netflix – 3
“Fargo,” FX – 2
“Fleabag,” Amazon – 2
“Master Of None,” Netflix – 2
“The Leftovers,” HBO – 2
“Veep,” HBO – 2
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More