My Joyous Reaction to the 2024 Astra TV Nominations, Part 2: Dramas

 

Now I move on to drama where I am aware of some omissions, some glaring, some less so. I was a little dismayed to see that Justified: City Primeval received no nominations, more shocked that Slow Horses both a critical and Emmy favorite was basically ignored and somewhat surprised where some of the major nominees were listing, as you’ll see. But as always with the Astra the inclusions, particularly with the broadcast series more than make up for those excluded and in more than a few cases the nominees made me jump for joy. (Figuratively.)

So let’s get started.

 

OUTSTANDING BROADCAST DRAMA

The ones that cause me the most joy, as you might expect, are that the leading nominees are two of candidates for the best of 2024: Will Trent last year’s winner and Elsbeth. The Cleaning Lady, 9-1-1, Law & Order: SVU and Grey’s Anatomy have all been here before. I would have preferred seeing Found over The Equalizer or The Good Doctor, but as we’ll see the Astras didn’t ignore it.

 

OUTSTANDING CABLE DRAMA SERIES

YEAH! A critics organization finally acknowledged what I’ve known for years! Billions is deserving of a Best Drama nomination! You have edged ahead of the Critics Choice Awards on this, Astras.

Outlander fans will no doubt be thrilled to see that the Astras have made it one of the most nominated series. The Curse and The Gilded Age are almost certain nominees for Emmys. Winning Time was here last year as was Chucky. And if you’re wondering where Shogun is, well, they didn’t forget it but…well, you’ll see.

 

BEST ACTOR IN A BROADCAST OR CABLE DRAMA

I don’t know which of the nominees give me more pleasure: Paul Giamatti’s long overdue recognition for his work on Billions or Morgan Spector, whose exceptional work on The Gilded Age might very well end up being overlooked. If you’re a network procedural fan, the Astras more than have you covered: Shemar Moore is here for SWAT, Tom Selleck is here for blue Bloods and Christopher Meloni is here for Organized Crime.  Ramon Rodriguez is back for Will Trent and Sam Heughan is present for Outlander. Even Freddie Highmore is up for his work for The Good Doctor. This category will be interesting because it is highly unlikely any of the nominees, no matter how deserving many are, will be nominated. (Though I would hope Rodriguez and Giamatti might have an outside chance.)

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A BROADCAST OR CABLE DRAMA

Two of the most likely frontrunners for the prize: Emma Stone for The Curse and Carrie Coon for The Gilded Age are here. I would love to see Carrie Preston among the ranks, her chances are rising. I would hope Erika Christensen would be included but I know it’s unlikely.

There is good representation with Angela Bassett and Queen Latifah here. And contenders in earlier years such as Catriona Balfe and Mariska Hargitay are more than counted for. The most obvious exclusion in my opinion is Aunjue Ellis but it’s a good group.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A NETWORK OR CABLE DRAMA

Nathan Lane is here for The Gilded Age and a huge number of my favorite actors and series are in the hunt. Wendell Pierce is up for Elsbeth, Ernie Hudson was recognized for his superb work in Quantum Leap and Jake McLaughlin was recognized for his towering work on Will Trent. Jason Clarke and Jason Segel, two of the best character actors in TV, were nominated for their work in Winning Time and Jeremy Sisto got nominated for FBI.  Benny Safdie was recognized for his work on The Curse and I’m actually better with him being honored that Nathan Fielder.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A BROADCAST OR CABLE DRAMA

Very diverse group in both senses of the word. Sonja Sohn is here for Will Trent and she goes up against Christine Baranski for The Gilded Age. Cynthia Nixon isn’t here, but Audra McDonald is and honestly I’m fine with that. Carra Patterson is up for Elsbeth.

The other three nominees are outside by purview. Walking Dead fans will be glad to know Lesley-Ann Brandt is here and Outlander fans will be thrilled with Sophie Skelton. Kate Del Castillo was recognized for her work on the newest season of The Cleaning Lady. Would I have liked to see Maggie Siff or Kelli Williams here? Yes, but honestly I can’t complain.

 

BEST DIRECTING AND WRITING

Chucky is here in both categories. Elsbeth is here too but for different episodes as is The Curse, Law and Order: SVU and The Cleaning Lady. The Gilded Age is represented in both by the season finale which is fitting. Outlander and Will Trent are up for directing alone.

But I am overjoyed to see Found represented for its writing.

 

Now let’s move to streaming.

BEST STREAMING DRAMA

Let’s deal with the biggest problem. Shogun is represented here for being on FX on Hulu even though most of us saw it on FX. That’s not the biggest issue as you’ll see.

The Crown, The Morning Show, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Fallout are all among the most likely nominees to dominate the drama categories in a few weeks. Loki was considered a dark horse in some of the acting categories and many thought 3 Body Problem would be here.

But for reasons that defy logic, the Astras seem to have nominated every major drama on Apple TV+ except Slow Horses. I can understand The Morning Show, but Monarch and Silo? For All Mankind would have logic to it, but seriously? Ashoka is even more annoying. You lost some major goodwill here, Astras.

 

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A STREAMING DRAMA

Gary Oldman is here. He’s the only nominee from Slow Horses and some of the other nominations will make you incredulous.

I’ll allow for the discrepancy that puts Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis here; they earned it. Donald Glover deserves it and I know sight unseen Walton Goggins will. Colin Farrell I do get because he was heavily considered as was Tom Hiddleston. But Kurt Russell over Dominic West for The Crown? Seriously? You nominated him last  year but now its not good to be the king?

 

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A STREAMING DRAMA

I have fewer notes here. Jennifer Aniston, Imelda Staunton and Anna Sawai are likely the most prominent contenders. Maya Erskine has a good chance for Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I never frown on Reese Witherspoon getting nominated for anything and I don’t have a problem with Ella Purnell for Fallout. I’ll let Rebecca Ferguson and Rosario Dawson go as I admire both of them as performers.

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA

Billy Crudup and Jonathan Pryce were among my past choices. Jon Hamm and Mark Duplass are possible nominees. Ke Huy Quan and Owen Wilson were nominated for Loki by the Critics Choice. And I’d be willing to excuse Benedict Wong because I haven’t seen 3 Body Problem.

But nothing for Jack Lowden for Slow Horses. Wyatt Russell for Monarch? Boy the Astras have a father son thing that has blinded them.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A STREAMING DRAMA

Okay. Nicole Beharie was a likely nominee for The Morning Show and I can acknowledge Greta Lee and Holland Taylor. No one doubts Elizabeth Debicki, the probable winner in this category. I’ll allow for Elza Gonzalez because I haven’t seen 3 Body Problem and I’m willing to give Gugu Mbatha Raw the benefit for Loki.

But as much as I love and admire both Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Amy Ryan, the Astras blundered by nominating them over Kristen Scott Thomas for Slow Horses and Lesley Manville for The Crown. Manville is galling because she was nominated last year and she is passed over. And if you’re noticing a lack of presence for Shogun in this category, you’re not imagining it, though some have been recognized.

 

BEST WRITING AND DIRECTING IN A STREAMING DRAMA

Fallout, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Shogun, The Morning Show and Three Body Problem were all nominated in both directing and writing for the same episode. Loki was nominated for two different ones. Sugar and Ashoka were nominated for directing. The Crown and Silo for writing.

 

BEST GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA

As with comedy, the Astras don’t differentiate between streaming and cable here, though its worth noting in some cases they are stretching the difference between guest and supporting. Paul Dano, Ron Perlman and Wagner Moura were all nominated for Mr. & Mrs. Smith. John Ortiz was deservedly nominated for his work on Will Trent as was Corbin Bernsen for The Curse. Kyle MacLachlan was nominated for Fallout and Michael Braugher for The Gilded Age.

But in the case of two nominees, there is a big gap. Mark-Paul Gosselaar was a regular on Found but is nominated as a Guest Actor. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he was nominated but he is a supporting actor. Similarly Sam Waterston, who has been a regular on Law & Order for years and was nominated as a lead actor, is nominated for his work in the final season as a Guest Actor. I won’t bicker because he's gotten enough recognition. John Goodman is clearly double dipping. I’m a little surprised there’s no one from Elsbeth here.

 

BEST GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA

Michaela Coel, Parker Posey and Sarah Paulson are all here for Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Claire Foy is here for her one episode of The Crown. Susan Kelechi Watson and Retta more than earned their nods for their one episode of Will Trent and Elsbeth respectively. And I’m glad to see Lisa Gay Hamilton here. And I’ll allow for Glenn Close for The New Look.

And while I’m fine in theory with Yuko Miyamoto for Shogun, the question begs to be asked: Where’s the rest of the cast? Why is Miyamoto here and not all of the other great supporting characters in any form? I blame the Astras for classifying Shogun not as a drama, but a streaming drama. Had it been in cable, it would have done nearly as well. I had this exact question when Reality was nominated for being on Max rather than HBO but this is an even more glaring issue. I realize it seems odd to be arguing Shogun has not gotten enough recognition, particularly as it’s going to be getting an overwhelming amount starting next week but is…odd.

 

Tomorrow I deal with Best Limited Series and Best TV Movie which have more overlap than usual. Here some of the biggest blind-spots of the Astras are apparent – though again considering how many of my favorites are here, I can’t complain that much. I’ll also cover some of the remaining categories that I am interested in, though I’ll be leaving out some of my own blind-spots.