The 10 reality shows and documentary series nominated for TCA Awards

Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman on the finale of Making It! season one

Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman open the barn doors to reveal the winner Making It! during the season-one finale, "Happily Ever Crafter." (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBC)

by Andy Dehnart 19 Jun. 2019 | 12:00 pm

The Television Critics Association announced the nominees for its 35th annual TCA Awards, which will be presented in August. Those include 10 reality TV shows and documentary series across two categories.

The nominees were chosen by the members of the Television Critics Association. A press release says that “[m]ore than 220 professional television critics and journalists from the United States and Canada voted,” and that includes me, since I’m a member and serve on the TCA’s board of directors.

The Outstanding Achievement in News and Information category has both news programs and documentary reality series as nominees. The exact same thing happened last year—in fact, the same two news shows were nominated, so the difference in the category are just the documentary reality series:

60 Minutes, CBS (2012 Winner in Category)
America To Me, Starz
Leaving Neverland, HBO
Our Planet, Netflix
The Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC
Surviving R. Kelly, Lifetime

Two of those shows had significant cultural impact earlier this year, giving voice to victims of abuse by two different celebrities.

I also loved America to Me.

Charles Donalson, America to Me — Charles Donalson (right), one of the stars of America to Me. (Photo by Starz)

In the Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming category, critics chose four Netflix series, three competitions, and three shows that focus on food:

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

Any of those would be strong winners. Of course I’d think that: four of the six nominees made my list of the best reality TV of 2018, and Queer Eye won the TCA Award last year.

Last year’s Great British Baking Show season was its last season on PBS, which brought the show to the U.S. so audiences here—including me!—could fall in love with a competition that was witty and charming, not cutthroat and cruel. So I’d love to see it win.

But I also loved and was charmed by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, whose hosting, chemistry, and banter with contestants alone made Making It! one of 2018’s best shows. (It’ll be back later this year, but as a holiday event series.)