Homeland Lands the Most Nominations at the TCA Awards

The Television Critics Association (TCA) announced their nominations today.  Unlike most television award shows this one breaks down performance to a single category entitled individual achievement in drama, and individual achievement in comedy.  One of my qualms within this system usually means less female nominees (for some reason), but this is not the case this year.

This year two women landed nominations in the drama category Claire Danes (Homeland) and Jessica Lange (American Horror Story).  The woman makeup the majority of the comedy nominees Lena Dunham (Girls), Julia Louis Dreyfuss (Veep), and Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation).  This is unusual, and I have applaud the TCA for breaking this gendered streak.

Homeland also broke barriers today.  In Homeland's first season they became the most nominated television series with four nominations including the above mentioned nomination for Claire Danes, Outstanding New Program, Outstanding Drama Series, and Program of the Year.

The TCA as you may have noticed have those other neat categories like Outstanding New Program, Program of the Year, Heritage Awards for performers and television series.  This year (like most) Program of the Year is dominated by Dramas, in fact all five are drama series this year.  Usually they sneak in one comedy, a news program, or even a reality series.  I would have liked to see Parks and Recreation or Community make this list but no such luck.  Overall a great set of nominees.

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Claire Danes (Homeland)
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story)

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Louis C.K. (Louie)
Lena Dunham (Girls)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION
Anderson Cooper 360
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Frontline
60 Minutes
The Rachel Maddow Show

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMMING
The Amazing Race
Dancing with the Stars
The Glee Project
So You Think You Can Dance
The Voice

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING
iCarly
Phineas and Ferb
Sesame Street
Switched at Birth
Yo Gabba Gabba

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM
Girls
Homeland
New Girl
Revenge
Smash

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES AND SPECIALS
Downton Abbey
Game Change
Hatfields & McCoys
Hemingway & Gellhorn
Sherlock

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Justified
Mad Men

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
The Big Bang Theory
Community
Louie
Modern Family
Parks and Recreation

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dick Clark
Andy Griffith
David Letterman
Regis Philbin
William Shatner

HERITAGE AWARD
Cheers
Lost
Saturday Night Live
Star Trek
Twin Peaks

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Mad Men
Downton Abbey