Its That Time of Year Again: I Recognize The Brilliance That Is The Astra TV Nominations, Part 1: Outstanding Comedy Series Nominations

 

If you have been following my column for a while, you are aware of the incredibly high regard I hold the Astra (formerly Hollywood Critics Association) Awards for television. In just four years they have managed to become what I consider the gold standard that all TV awards should follow with only the Critics Choice Awards as their peers.

Considering that I’ve been one of the Critics Choice Awards greatest advocates on my column that should say something about the esteem I hold the Astras in. Frankly both awards shows have spent their short lives always raising the bar for every other TV awards group to follow and certainly the Emmys hasn’t caught up to either group in their runs. After three years of their simultaneous existence I’m still not sure which circle -  Critics Choice or Astras – is the superior group; it’s like comparing top sirloin and ribeye. Both have a superb ability to nominate series that almost always fall under the radar for most viewers. Both have a tendency to give awards to shows that the Emmys never think to honor (the Critics Choice gave its top prizes for Best Drama to Better Call Saul and The Americans; the Astras to This is Us) and both have the tendency to ignore watercooler shows that the Emmys tend to recognize for smaller successes (the Astra’s recognition of Cruel Summer in its first season is the best example). The Astras at the moment has a slight edge in my heart if only for the simple fact that they continue to give more nominations and awards rather than less, a trend that the Critics Choice isn’t quite on board with (though to be fair, their nominees are always quality).

It's not that the Astra awards nominations are perfect, if only because no awards show can be. It’s often not until I come down from cloud nine on the ninety percent of the series and actors they nominate that I’m overjoyed they did that I realize some of the more obvious or less obvious actors and series they choose to ignore. But I’ve come to realize that this is the standard for every awards show in TV; they all have foibles and blind spots and some of them are more obvious than others. Sometimes their process doesn’t make sense – they’ll often give multiple acting and writing nominations to series that don’t get nominated for the top prize in the category -  but at this point I’ve come to realize this is one of those flaws that is baked in to every single TV awards show I’ve encountered. And if I’m being honest it is those nuances that make awards show like the Astras so much fun.

The Astras biggest benefit, for those who haven’t read my columns, is that they have chosen to resolve the differences between broadcast, cable and streaming with the simplest solution: they divide the awards between them. Broadcast and cable have their own group of awards in comedy and drama; streaming has the same. They are still in the process of evolving, however. In their second and third years of existence, they divided TV Movies and Limited Series into broadcast & cable and streaming sub-categories as well. For this year’s nominations, they have returned to the format of their first year: nominating all of the mini series and performers in the same category. However they have expanded each category to acknowledge this: there are ten nominees for Best Limited Series and ten in each of the acting categories as well as eight in the writing and directing categories. Perhaps this is to reflect a different trend: the diminishment of cable in the past year across the board. As we shall see going forward cable has less of a presence in the major categories for comedy and drama than it has in the past, though whether this is a result of the writers strike or an overall trend remains to be seen.

Still as always the Astras have done what they’ve done for the past four years: they make me proud of my chosen profession almost as much as the Critics Choice have for the last fourteen years. So for the next three days, I will go over the awards by breaking it down by comedy, drama and limited series. In the former two categories, I shall also deal with the divisions between Broadcast and Cable and Streaming. This year, I’ll start with comedy.

 

BEST BROADCAST COMEDY SERIES

No one should be surprised to see Abbott Elementary here or that it’s the most nominated series. I’m also not surprised to see Ghosts here; it’s been one of the most nominated shows since it debuted two years ago. I’m thrilled to see Young Sheldon here, particularly as it has had a shaky history with the Astras and I’m overjoyed to see Not Dead Yet nominated in this category.

Animal Control has been one of the favorites of critics and The Neighborhood has been beloved in its circle. I’m not shocked to see The Connors here either. It is odd to see the CW’s Son of A Critch here instead of So Help Me Todd but as we will see, they didn’t forget it.

 

BEST CABLE COMEDY SERIES

Here there are only six nominated shows but what’s here is choice. Resident Alien, which has been a favorite of this group since it won Best Cable Comedy in its inaugural year is back in the ranks. What We Do In The Shadows which won in the second year is here in force. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia which has never gotten the love it deserves from any awards show is here in force, and I expected to see Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Righteous Gemstones here.

My major grievance is that Breeders isn’t here and Shining Vale another comedy series is. Don’t get me wrong; I’m glad the Astra’s has acknowledged the existence of Starz something the Emmys still hasn’t acknowledged, but it does chafe a little.

 

Best Actor in A Broadcast or Cable Comedy

Okay I’m overjoyed Iain Armitage is here for Young Sheldon and ecstatic that Dule Hill is here for The Wonder Years. Considering it aired its last episode back in last August before being cancelled I didn’t think even the Astras had this long a memory. Well done.

Utkarsh Ambedkar won last year in this category for Ghosts. Larry David is a near certain Emmy nominee and it is at least a possibility that Matt Berry will be nominated for What We Do In the Shadows. Alan Tudyk has been nominated twice before for Resident Alien and more than deserves it here. John Goodman and Cedric the Entertainer have been overlooked by every awards show for a while so I’m glad they’re here.

 

Best Actress in a Broadcast or Cable Comedy

And yet again the Astras earn a place on my Christmas card list for nominated not one but two actresses I hoped the Emmys would: Gina Rodriguez for Not Dead Yet and Marcia Gay Harden for So Help Me Todd. That both will almost certainly lose to Quinta Brunson, whose already won twice in this category for Abbott doesn’t trouble me.

Rose McIver has been here before as has Natasia Demetriou. Kaitlin Olson is now nominated for her great work in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Sara Tomko for her great role in Resident Alien. Am I perturbed to see Tichina Arnold here instead of Daisy Haggard for Breeders? Yes, but given the rest of the nominees in this category that would be the definition of pettiness.

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Comedy

Lot of Ghosts in this category: Asher Goodman, Richie Moriarty and Brandon Scott Jones are all nominated for this show. They are countered by Chris Perfetti and Tyler James Williams for Abbott Elementary. Bowen Yang is here for SNL, Harvey Guillen for his constantly superb work in What We Do In The Shadows and J.B. Smoove is here for a role that has already won him an Emmy in Curb Your Enthusiasm. I’m honestly not sure who I would have nominated in their place – I might have hoped to see Brad Garrett or Corey Reynolds here – but it’s a good group.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A BROADCAST NETWORK OR CABLE COMEDY

As you’d expect Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph are here for Abbott Elementary along with Lisa Ann Walter. Danielle Pinnock and Rebecca Wisocky are here for Ghosts. James and Pinnock have each won in this category already.

I’m thrilled to see Annie Potts recognized for Young Sheldon, more than happy to see Kirsten Schaal here for What We Do In the Shadows and actually kind of happy to see Susie Essman here for Curb. (If there was an award for telling someone to F- themselves she’d have won it years ago.) No notes at the moment.

 

BEST DIRECTING

The series finale for Curb Your Enthusiasm is here as is the season finale for Abbott. I’m not shocked to see Ghosts or What We Do In the Shadows included, they rely on directing more than most shows. I’m overjoyed to see The Wonder Years and Resident Alien included.

BEST WRITING

Overjoyed to see Young Sheldon and So Help Me Todd nominated and thrilled to see the season premiere of Abbott nominated (Brunson wrote it). Glad to see Righteous Gemstones here and unsurprised to see Ghosts and What We Do In The Shadows.

 

Now let’s move to streaming.

 

BEST STREAMING COMEDY SERIES

It should come as a shock to no one that the major nominees are The Bear, Hacks, Only Murders in the Building and Palm Royale. I’m thrilled to see Reservation Dogs in the hunt and Girls5eva fans should be thrilled too. Loot has gotten some award speak over the last couple years and you here interesting things about The Gentleman.  Ted and Gen V are slightly surprised, though considering the latter is a spinoff of The Boys which has been a favorite of this group since it began giving awards, not much of one.

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A STREAMING COMEDY

Practically no surprises. Jean Smart, Ayo Edebiri and Selena Gomez are all here. Devery Jacobs notches another nomination demanding the Emmys recognize her next week. Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph have been heavy favorites and Renee Elise Goldberry has been among the critics favorites for Girls5eva since it debuted. Kaley Cuoco is a little strange, but the Astras did nominate her twice for her work on The Flight Attendant

 

BEST ACTOR IN A STREAMING COMEDY

Jeremy Allen White, Steve Martin and Martin Short are not surprises and honestly Theo James has a good chance for being nominated for The Gentleman. But I am thrilled to see both Michael Sheen and David Tennant nominated for their work in Good Omens. Rhys Darby has been a favorite for our Flag means death and Jharrel Jerome has gotten a lot of support for I’m A Virgo.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A  STREAMING COMEDY

And once again you get a bonus Astra for nominating Meg Stalter for Hacks. Don’t worry I love six of your other nominees too but I expected most of them. Hannah Einbinder is here as are Abby Elliott, Meryl Streep and Liza Colon-Zayas. It’s strange that Allison Janney and Laura Dern are here for Palm Royale and Carol Burnett isn’t but maybe that’s a testament to the cast. It’s kind of strange that Alanna Urbach is here for Ted but I’ll let it go.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A STREAMING COMEDY

A lot of points for nominating Paul W. Downs for Hacks (though the Astras did do that before) and nominating Giancarlo Esposito for The Gentlemen almost makes up for ignoring him for Parish.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Matty Matheson and Oliver Platt are here for The Bear, Carl Clemons-Hopkins for Hacks and Paul Rudd for Only Murders in the Building. Ricky Martin is a strange choice for Palm Royale, but then again I haven’t seen it yet.

 

BEST DIRECTING and WRITING IN A STREAMING TV SERIES

The Bear is nominated in both categories, as you’d expected for ‘The Fishes’ episode. Reservation Dogs is nominated in both categories for the series finale. Palm Royale, Ted and Hacks are all nominated in both categories for the same episode. ONLY Murders and Gen V are nominated in both categories for different episodes. The only deviation is The Gentlemen is nominated for directing and Girls5eva for writing.

 

BEST GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY

There’s no division between broadcast, cable and streaming in the next two categories so there’s ten nominees in each. Bob Odenkirk and Jon Bernthal are their for The Bear, no surprise. Matthew Broderick and Mel Brooks are there for Only Murders in the Building. Christophers McDonald and Lloyd are there for Hacks. Sean Hayes and Steve Buscemi are there for Curb. I’m not sure why Bradley Cooper was nominated for his one brief scene in Abbott over say, Keegan Michael Key, but there he is. Lamorne Morris’s nomination for Ghosts should make up for not being nominated for Fargo.

 

BEST GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY

Jamie Lee Curtis, the near shoo-in for the Emmy in this category, is up for The Bear as are Olivia Colman and Sarah Paulson. Kaitlin Olson double dips for her work as D.J in Hacks and Christina Hendricks is with her. Jane Lynch and Da’Vine Joy Randolph are here for Only Murders in the Building and Allison Janney also double dips for her work in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Thrilled to see Tatyana Ali for her work in Abbott Elementary and Vanessa Bayer shows up for What We Do In The Shadows.

And in case your wondering where Saturday Night Live is, in an acknowledgement to reality, the Astras have created a new category called Best Saturday Night Live Host. Ryan Gosling as you’d expect is here, as is Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig (they’re double dipping) Emma Stone (ditto) Kate McKinnon and Timothee Chalamet. It’s tough to pick a favorite in this group, but I’m going with Mother over Beavis.

Tomorrow I will deal with drama. And I should tell you while I have almost no complaints with comedy, in this category there are some striking exclusions – made up for by some remarkable inclusions I hadn’t dared hope for even from the Astras. Stay tuned.