The 10 reality shows and documentary series nominated for TCA Awards

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.

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.)

All the other TCA Award nominees

Here are the other nominees for TCA Awards, with the exception of the Career Achievement and Heritage Awards, which are announced at the ceremony.

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA

• Amy Adams, Sharp Objects, HBO
• Patricia Arquette, Escape at Dannemora, Showtime
• Christine Baranski, The Good Fight, CBS All Access
• Jodie Comer, Killing Eve, BBC America
• Billy Porter, Pose, FX
• Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon, FX

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY

• Pamela Adlon, Better Things, FX
• Bill Hader, Barry, HBO
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep, HBO (2014 Winner in Category)
• Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll, Netflix
• Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek, Pop TV
• Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag, Amazon

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING

• Arthur, PBS Kids
• Carmen Sandiego, Netflix
• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, PBS Kids (2016 Winner in Category)
• Muppet Babies, Disney Junior
• Odd Squad, PBS Kids
• Sesame Street, HBO (2018, 2011, 2001 Winner in Category)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SKETCH/VARIETY SHOWS

• Desus & Mero, Showtime
• Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,TBS
• I Think You Should Leave, Netflix
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO (2018 Winner in Category)
• Late Night with Seth Meyers, NBC
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIE OR MINISERIES

• Chernobyl, HBO
• Deadwood: The Movie, HBO
• Escape at Dannemora, Showtime
• Fosse/Verdon, FX
• Sharp Objects, HBO
• When They See Us, Netflix

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM

• Dead to Me, Netflix
• The Other Two, Comedy Central
• Pose, FX
• Russian Doll, Netflix
• Succession, HBO
• What We Do in the Shadows, FX

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA

• Better Call Saul, AMC
• The Good Fight, CBS All Access
• Homecoming, Amazon
• Killing Eve, BBC America
• Pose, FX
• Succession, HBO

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY

• Barry, HBO
• Fleabag, Amazon
• The Good Place, NBC (2018 Winner in Category)
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Amazon
• Russian Doll, Netflix
• Schitt’s Creek, Pop TV
• Veep, HBO (2014 Winner in Category)

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

• Chernobyl, HBO
• Fleabag, Amazon
• Game of Thrones, HBO (2012 Winner in Category)
• Pose, FX
• Russian Doll, Netflix
• When They See Us, Netflix