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The HCA Keeps Raising the Bar With Their Annual Television Nominees

My Joyous Reactions, Part 1: Drama

Few critics have espoused more words of praise for the Hollywood Critics Association than I have, and few organizations have been more worthy of it. By dividing the majority of their awards between broadcast, cable and streaming services and by adding more categories for each year, in just three years they have become the gold standard by which all other awards shows should be recognized. These days more awards shows are giving fewer nominations and awards. The HCA keeps giving more of each.

And while they have not yet received the pinnacle of awards shows when it comes to television — their fellow critics organization the Critics Choice awards currently holds that mantle — in my opinion, they have reached a high standard both with the series they nominate and with their eventual winners. Over their first two years I was satisfied with more than ninety five percent of their nominees in every category and nearly ninety percent of their winners. In a good year with the Emmys, I’m lucky if I’m happy with seventy percent of the nominees, much less the eventual winners.

This afternoon the day before the Emmys nominations were announced, the HCA gave their listings for nominated series in drama, comedy, and limited series, separated by Broadcast & Cable (there is subdivision in some of the categories there) and streaming. In addition, they have for the first time in their history announced a new set of awards, mirroring the Creative Arts that the Emmys give in a separate ceremony every year. I will not be going into the same detail with this group as I have with the HCA, mainly because I have not done so with the Emmys. What I shall do is, with each show, give a listing for the collective nomination every major nominee has received.

As you’d expect the HCA is as imperfect as all other awards show: there are some glaring and surprising omissions in every category and I will deal with the biggest ones when I’m finished. But they have yet to fail to impress me and they deserve more respect. Therefore, I am preempting my usual reactions to the Emmy nominees by three days, in which I will deal with all of the nominees in each group. (And I’ll be honest, I will doubtless need the time to deal with the inevitable disappointment that comes every year and I’d rather spend more time with an awards group that sparks joy.)

This year, I will be dealing with three separate columns for each major category: Drama, Comedy and Limited Series/Anthology, with the TV Movie nominees added. In each category, I will divide my reactions to the Broadcast and cable nominees and then the streaming ones. I will express my joy and disappointment with each category — but if you’ve read my series on this awards show before, you know I am rarely disappointed by their selections.

This year, I will start with Drama:

OUTSTANDING BROADCAST DRAMA

Congratulations HCA, you’ve fulfilled my great joys. The leading nominee in the Network drama category is Will Trent already one of the best shows of 2023. It received eight nominations, all of them deserved. I hope that it ends up winning.

Also impressive, the showing by Quantum Leap, which managed four nominations -pretty good for a reboot. And I’m grateful that you acknowledged Alaska Daily despite its cancellation. (Couldn’t you have nominated Hilary Swank? Oh well.)

New Amsterdam, the inaugural winner in this category is back for its final season. The Cleaning Lady repeated as did 9–1–1,. Dick Wolf still has friends here: the revival of Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU and Chicago Fire were all nominated. I guess Grey’s Anatomy will never go away, though I would have been fine with The Company You Keep (As you’ll see, it got some parting gifts as well.)

BEST CABLE DRAMA

There are ten nominees here too. As you’d expect there are some familiar faces: The White Lotus, The Last of Us and Succession are among the major nominees. But there is one major from HBO exclusion that makes me love the HCA more. Though House of The Dragon was nominated for seven other awards, it was not nominated for Best Drama.

None of these big dramas were the most nominated series. What was? Yellowjackets. It received a whopping thirteen nominations, more than any other drama series in any category. HCA, you get the job done. I could complain that you only gave Better Call Saul six nominations for its final season, but since it was the big winner last year and might well be again, I won’t argue.

There are some surprises. Interview with A Vampire probably isn’t it received some love from quite a few organizations. Neither is Yellowstone despite all the controversy. But there are three other intriguing choices which show the range. From, a much beloved horror series that the HCA recognized this year (and with more nominations) P-Valley from Starz, a series that several critics organizations have shown love to in the past, and perhaps the biggest shock the second season of Your Honor, though it received no other nominations. I will be honest; I would have preferred either Perry Mason or The Old Man but this is not a bad group.

OUTSTANDING STREAMING DRAMA

The Crown and Andor are the only almost certain nominees in this category to get recognized by the Emmys for Best Drama. The Boys has been nominated before but never received much love from the Emmys otherwise; The Handmaid’s Tale seems to have to run out the clock; and the latest season of The Mandalorian was considered pretty low. In other words, they very well might get nominated by the Emmys. Bad Sisters is actually a far more deserving show to get nominated than the previous three — its gotten more love from other critics groups — but its chances are remote. Queen Charlotte might very well be flying on Bridgerton’s coattails.

The other three nominees are intriguing. The Diplomat has been one of the more favored critics series the last few months. 1923 has a good chance for acting nominees and Picard has been one of the most beloved series even among non-Star Trek fans.

BEST ACTOR IN A BROADCAST /CABLE SERIES

The three certainties for Emmy nominations listed here are Bob Odenkirk, Kieran Culkin and Pedro Pascal. (Pascal was not nominated for The Mandalorian) interestingly, Culkin is the only Succession cast member in this category: neither Brian Cox nor Jeremy Strong were nominated. You continue to impress me HCA.

Many of your other choices impress me more. Ramon Rodriguez is up for playing the title role in Will Trent. Raymond Lee was nominated for his work in Quantum Leap (which was impressive) and Milo Ventimiglia took a Best Actor nod for The Company You Keep before he left. Kevin Costner averted controversy and was nominated and Harold Perrineau was nominated for From as he was last year.

The biggest omission by far is Jeff Bridges who has been nominated for every other award until now. I don’t want to say I’m worried but this troubles me.

BEST ACTOR IN A STREAMING SERIES

The lion’s share of the contenders are expected to come from cable. Diego Luna is a dark horse for his work in the title role in Andor and I’m honestly surprised Dominic West has done so poorly in awards show for his work on The Crown. The other choices are interesting.

Anthony Starr and Jack Quaid received nominations for The Boys. Penn Badgley, whose work on You has been a critics favorite received a nomination. Harrison Ford received a nod for 1923 (not his only nod for a streaming series this year) and Patrick Stewart got nominated for his valedictory season on Picard. The nomination that gives me the most pleasure is Logan Lerman for his undervalued work on Amazon’s Hunters. I honestly thought if anyone from that series would be nominated it would be Al Pacino. Glad to be proven wrong.

BEST ACTRESS IN A BROADCAST/CABLE DRAMAS

The critics sure love the ladies from Yellowjackets. Melanie Lynskey and Juliette Lewis I expected and am glad to see. Sarah Snook, Emma D’Arcy and Bella Ramsey made their appointments. The other three nominees I find more interesting.

Kelly Reilly got nominated for her work on Yellowstone. Angela Bassett, who took a Best Actress prize from the Image awards for her superb work on 9–1–1 is here too. But my personal favorite: Erika Christensen for her superb work as Angie Pulaski on Will Trent. I’m so glad to see her here, I’m willing to overlook the absence of Hilary Swank. You can’t have everything.

BEST ACTRESS IN A STREAMING DRAMA

Let’s start with the most glaring absence. Imelda Staunton for The Crown. Considering not only that she’s a near certain nominee for the Best Actress Emmy and that almost all her co-stars (as we shall see) were nominated, her omission is particularly striking.

Elisabeth Moss is going to get nominated again even though everybody’s tired of The Handmaid’s Tale. Sharon Horgan and Keri Russell deserve to get nominated, but the odds are fairly long. Erin Moriarty and Karen Fukuhara show the girls can play with The Boys. I’m always glad to see Helen Mirren nominated for anything (she has a decent chance for an Emmy nod for 1923) and I’d rather see Lizzy Caplan nominated for Fatal Attraction than Fleishmann is in Trouble — and as we shall see, so did the HCA.

Why is India Amertefelio here and Staunton isn’t? Why was a fictional queen nominated and a real wasn’t? Sigh.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A BROADCAST/CABLE DRAMA

They went to Ten and I’m fine with a lot of them. Matthew MacFayden and Alexander Skarsgard are here for Succession. Good. Alan Ruck and Nicholas Braun aren’t. Hmm. Matt Smith was recognized for House of The Dragon. Jonathan Banks was nominated for Better Call Saul but Giancarlo Esposito wasn’t. Honestly I’m fine with that: Banks had a larger role and Esposito won in this category last year. Elijah Wood is in for Yellowjackets. Hurray and Huzzah!

The rest is…odd. How is John Lithgow not here? How is Theo James here for The White Lotus but F. Murray Abraham isn’t? And apparently the HCA really likes Yellowstone as they seem to have nominated the entire supporting cast. Jeremy Sisto for FBI. Huh? Seriously? You couldn’t nominate any of the guys from A Million Little Things? (Then again, you did nominate the final episode for a Best Teleplay award, so I’ll let that pass.) Besides, you didn’t go overboard on Succession so I’m okay.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A STREAMING DRAMA

The most likely nominees in this category who might get recognized by the Emmys are Jonathan Pryce for The Crown and Stellan Skarsgard for Andor. (Better him than his son.)

There are two nominees apiece for both The Handmaid’s Tale and The Boys. Rufus Sewell is more than overdue a nomination for the Emmys, maybe he’ll get one for the second season of the Diplomat. For All Mankind will never be recognized no matter how brilliant it is and Lord of the Rings will never get acknowledged for anything other than technical. I’m glad to see Brent Spiner nominated, though.

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A BROADCAST CABLE DRAMA

Like I said, HCA loves Yellowjackets. Christina Ricci was a sure thing but I didn’t expect to see Sophie Thatcher or Lauren Ambrose. I’m glad they’re here. Rhea Seehorn is present. So is Jennifer Coolidge (these awards shows do have ties) and Aubrey Plaza! And they nominated Sonja Sohn for Will Trent. Kima got nominated for something. As to the rest:

I’m glad someone was nominated for Perry Mason. I would have been happier if it was Hope Davis or Juliet Rylance rather than Jen Tulloch but I’ll take what I can get. Catalina Sandino Moreno and Janet Montgomery are carryovers for From and New Amsterdam and I have no objections. And there’s no presence from Succession at all. Even better!

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A STREAMING SERIES

Interesting group. Two for Bad Sisters, two for The Handmaid’s Tale (I can’t complain about either Ann Dowd for Yvonne Strahovski being nominated for anything) and Elizabeth Debicki for The Crown — and Lesley Manville as well for her role as Princess Margaret.

I’m glad to see anyone from The Night Agent nominated and Sarah Desjardins earned it. I’m fine with Genevieve O’Reilly for Andor and Jeri Ryan for Picard. I can live with one nominee from The Mandalorian.

As for writing and directing:

One writing nomination for Succession, two for Yellowjackets. The Emmys should do so well. A Million Little Things, Quantum Leap and Will Trent taking nods for writing alongside The White Lotus. Two directing nods for Yellowjackets , one for Succession and one for Will Trent, The Company You Keep and The Cleaning Lady. Nothing for Better Call Saul in either, but nothing’s perfect.

Streaming has Picard, 1923, Andor, The Boys in each category. I expected to see The Mandalorian in direction and The Crown in writing. I’m glad to see The Handmaid’s Tale in neither.

BONUS

For the first time in its history, the HCA is giving awards for Guest Actor and Actress. Since it is in the creative awards, there is no separation by broadcast, cable or streaming. I’ll highlight some of my favorites and good choices.

GUEST ACTOR

At least, somebody was willing to mention The Good Fight somewhere, by far the most glaring omission in streaming. The other nominations in this category are likely to show up in the Emmys: Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman for The Last Of Us, Bryan Cranston for Better Call Saul, Andy Serkis for Andor, and possibly Arian Moayed for Succession. Giancarlo Esposito might be invited for his previously nominated work on The Mandalorian.

Guest Actress

Melanie Lynskey here for The Last of Us. No one from Succession. Did I mention I love the HCA? Vanessa Kirby is here for The Crown (Timothy Dalton is too). Ella Purnell, who had a great stint on Yellowjackets is here. Michelle Forbes has a presence and Tamara Clutterbuck who had a memorable stint on Will Trent is here. Lizzo fans’, praise The Mandalorian. But no Betsy Brandt. Oh well.

Tomorrow I deal with Comedy where I will have just as much fun, if not more.

SUPPORT THE WGA AND THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD!

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