Apple TV+ Breakout Hit Ted Lasso Tops 2021 TCA Awards Nominations

Just a week ahead of its sophomore season debut, Apple TV+'s breakout comedy Ted Lasso has something else to cheer about. The show, which took home 20 Emmy nominations earlier this week, is up for five nominations for the Television Critics Association's 2021 TCA Awards, making it the most-nominated show in a sea of acclaimed freshmen series. New series dominated the organization's nominations this year, with Ted Lasso picking up five nominations: nods for stars Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham, and a nomination for Outstanding New Program, Outstanding Achievement in Comedy and Program of the Year. Three new HBO and HBO Max shows—Hacks, I May Destroy You and Mare of Easttown—came in close second with four nominations apiece, along with Disney+'s WandaVision, which also received four nods. All five of those shows will go head-to-head for the highest honor, Program of the Year. Additional nominees in that category include Netflix's Bridgerton, Amazon Prime Video's The Underground Railroad and Netflix's The Queen's Gambit—all of which are also new series. The TCA, an association comprised of more than 200 North American TV critics and journalists (including myself), honors outstanding television programming every year, and it often recognizes some of the acclaimed shows that Emmy voters overlooked. That's once again apparent in the 2021 nominees: While shows like Peacock's Girls5Eva, Showtime's The Good Lord Bird and Starz's P-Valley didn't get Emmy nomination attention Tuesday, each show received two nods apiece from the TCA. “This was an incredible year for fresh, inclusive content and new creators, and our nominations are a reflection of that,” TCA president and Salon TV critic Melanie McFarland said in a statement. “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." Netflix received 15 nominations total, the most of any network. HBO brought in 14 nominations total, and HBO Max, where HBO programming also streams, collected 10 total nominations. Disney+ and Showtime each pulled in five nominations, while Hulu and NBC collected four nominations each. Streamers Amazon Prime Video and Peacock each received three nominations, as did CBS, FX and PBS Kids. This Year’s Emmy Nominations Prove Streaming Has Officially Taken Over TV Awards Season In addition to nominations for Sudeikis and Waddingham, the acting category nominees for comedy include 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+) and Jean Smart (Hacks, HBO Max). In drama, the nominees include Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You, HBO), Ethan Hawke (The Good Lord Bird, Showtime), Thuso Mbedu (The Underground Railroad, Amazon Prime Video), Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision, Disney+), Mj Rodriguez (Pose, FX), Omar Sy (Lupin, Netflix), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen's Gambit, Netflix) and Kate Winslet (Mare of Easttown, HBO.) The winners of the annual awards are normally announced at a ceremony held during the TCA’s annual summer press tour in Los Angeles, but like 2020's ceremony, the 2021 ceremony was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s winners will be announced later this summer. The full list of the 2021 TCA Awards nominees (save for the Career Achievement and Heritage Award winners, which will be announced later) can be found below. Individual Achievement in DramaMichaela 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 ComedyBo 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 InformationAllen v. Farrow (HBO)City So Real (NatGeo)Framing Britney Spears (FX/FX On Hulu)Frontline (PBS)I'll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO)Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special (CBS)60 Minutes (CBS) Outstanding Achievement in RealityCouples 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 ProgrammingThe Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix)Bluey (Disney Jr.)Donkey Hodie (PBS Kids)Emily's Wonder Lab (PBS Kids)Odd Squad (PBS Kids)Sesame Street (HBO) Waffles + Mochi (Netflix)Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum (PBS Kids) Outstanding New ProgramBridgerton (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 SpecialsBo 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 Prime Video)WandaVision (Disney+) Outstanding Achievement in DramaBridgerton (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 ComedyThe 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)The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)Desus & Mero (Showtime)Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)Saturday Night Live (NBC)Ziwe (Showtime) Program of the YearBridgerton (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 Prime Video)WandaVision (Disney+)