”The Americans” (FX), “Fargo” (FX), “Game of Thrones” (HBO), “Making a Murderer” (Netflix), “Mr. Robot” (USA), “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” (FX) and “UnREAL” (Lifetime) are in the running for the Program of the Year honor from the Television Critics Association (TCA), a media organization with more than 200 professional TV critics and journalists from the U.S. and Canada. The 2016 TCA Awards recognize outstanding television programming in the 2015-16 season, honoring actors, producers and programs in a variety of categories including News and Information, Youth, Reality, Drama and Comedy. This year’s event takes place Saturday, August 6, 2016, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel as part of the group’s biannual industry conference, the summer press tour. Jaime Camil, the popular star of the Golden Globe-winning CW comedy series “Jane The Virgin” will serve as host.
This year’s nominations are spread across five broadcast networks—ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and The CW—as well as PBS, 12 cable networks and internet streaming service Netflix. HBO leads with 12 nominations; FX/FXX has 11; Netflix has six; PBS has five; USA has four; ABC, AMC, CBS, Lifetime, and The CW each received three; Disney Junior, NBC and TBS each have two; and CNN, E!, Fox, History, Showtime and WGN America finish with one.
This year’s roster of notable nominees includes “All The Way” star, 2009 TCA Award winner and former TCA Host Bryan Cranston, two-time TCA nominee “Fresh Off The Boat” star Constance Wu, comedy standout Aziz Ansari, and 2016 Golden Globe winner Rachel Bloom.
The lineup also features a fresh batch of first-time nominees including USA’s drama-thriller “Mr. Robot”; FXX’s quirky rom-com “You’re the Worst”; CW’s comedy-musical “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”; Lifetime’s drama “UnREAL”; WGN America’s period-piece “Underground”; CNN’s doc series “United Shades of America”; and E!’s groundbreaking transgender reality series “I Am Cait.”
“TCA members have recognized a record number of first-time nominees for this year’s awards. In our 32-year history this is one of the most diverse slates of genres and programs we’ve ever had,” said TCA president Amber Dowling. “It’s been a banner year for fresh, noteworthy content and we’re looking forward to seeing which shows and actors grab top prizes following the difficult votes ahead.”
The TCA Awards will also bestow a special Heritage Award trophy to one long-standing program that has had a major cultural or social impact. This year’s nominees include the late comedian Garry Shandling’s talk show satire “The Larry Sanders Show”; the revolutionary comedy “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”; one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, “Seinfeld”; Gene Roddenberry’s influential sci-fi saga “Star Trek”; and the mind-bending small town murder mystery “Twin Peaks,” co-created by David Lynch and Mark Frost.
In addition to honoring this year’s best, the TCA presents a Career Achievement Award to an individual who has influenced the medium, which will be announced at the awards presentation.
The Summer TCA Press Tour will be held Wed., July 27 through Thurs., Aug. 11.
Below is the complete list of the 2016 Television Critics Association nominees.
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Bryan Cranston, “All The Way,” HBO
Rami Malek, “Mr. Robot,” USA
Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul,” AMC
Sarah Paulson, “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” FX
Keri Russell, “The Americans,” FX
Courtney B. Vance, “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” FX
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Aziz Ansari, “Master of None,” Netflix
Samantha Bee, “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” TBS
Rachel Bloom, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” The CW
Aya Cash, “You’re The Worst” FXX
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep,” HBO
Constance Wu, “Fresh Off the Boat,” ABC
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION
“CBS Sunday Morning,” CBS
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” TBS
“Jackie Robinson,” PBS
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” HBO – (2015 Winner in Category)
“Real Time With Bill Maher,” HBO
“United Shades of America,” CNN
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMMING
“I Am Cait,” E!
“The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth,” Showtime
“The Great British Baking Show,” PBS
“Making a Murderer,” Netflix
“MasterChef Junior,” Fox
“Survivor Cambodia: Second Chance,” CBS
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING
“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” PBS
“Doc McStuffins,” Disney Junior
“Nature Cat,” PBS
“Odd Squad,” PBS
“Sofia The First,” Disney Junior
OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” The CW
“Marvel’s Jessica Jones,” Netflix
“Master of None,” Netflix
“Mr. Robot,” USA
“Underground,” WGN America
“UnREAL,” Lifetime
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES AND SPECIALS
“All The Way,” HBO
“Fargo,” FX
“The Night Manager,” AMC
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” FX
“Roots,” History
“Show Me A Hero,” HBO
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
“The Americans,” FX – (2015 Winner in Category)
“Better Call Saul,” AMC
“Game of Thrones,” HBO
“The Leftovers,” HBO
“Mr. Robot,” USA
“UnREAL,” Lifetime
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
“black-ish,” ABC
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” The CW
“Master of None,” Netflix
“Silicon Valley,” HBO
“Veep,” HBO
“You’re The Worst” FXX
HERITAGE AWARD
“The Larry Sanders Show,” HBO
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” CBS
“Seinfeld,” NBC
“Star Trek,” NBC
“Twin Peaks,” ABC
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“The Americans,” FX
“Fargo,” FX
“Game of Thrones,” HBO
“Making a Murderer,” Netflix
“Mr. Robot,” USA
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” FX
“UnREAL,” Lifetime
NETWORK TALLY (includes Heritage Award nominees)
HBO – 12
FX/FXX – 11
Netflix – 6
PBS/PBS KIDS – 5
USA – 4
ABC – 3
AMC – 3
CBS – 3
Lifetime – 3
The CW – 3
Disney Junior – 2
NBC – 2
TBS – 2
CNN – 1
E! – 1
Fox – 1
History – 1
Showtime – 1
WGN America – 1
PROGRAM TALLY- (denotes shows with more than one nomination)
“Mr. Robot,” USA – 4
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” FX – 4
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” The CW -3
“Master of None,” Netflix -3
“The Americans,” FX – 3
“UnREAL,” Lifetime -3
“All The Way,” HBO – 2
“Better Call Saul,” AMC -2
“Fargo,” FX -2
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” TBS – 2
“Game of Thrones,” HBO – 2
“Making a Murderer,” Netflix – 2
“You’re The Worst,” FXX -2
“Veep,” – 2
