At a certain point one
runs out of laudatory words to give the Critics Choice Awards, particularly
when it comes to Limited Series. The last decade the number of brilliant
limited series has increased exponentially across the board and yet somehow the
Critics Choice keep doing a superb job recognizing not only the easiest choices
but the ones that are frequently overlooked. Such again is the case this year when
yet again the Critics Choice have a near perfect blend of the old and the new –
those series that have just been honored by the Emmys, those that will likely
contend next year and the ones that will likely fall through the cracks.
So without further ado
let’s deal with all the nominees for Limited Series and TV Movie.
BEST LIMITED SERIES
Three of last year’s
contenders for almost every Emmy in this category – Baby Reindeer, Night
Country and Ripley – are among the nominees here. Two of the near
certain contenders for next year – The Penguin and Disclaimer –
are equally prominent. I’ve seen the first four and will get to the fifth later
on.
I’m thrilled to see Masters
of The Air here even if it is a token nomination: this was one of the more
sublime hits of 2024. We Were the Lucky Ones was greatly praised. I
confessed to being slightly shocked to see Mr. Bates vs The Post Office here
instead of, say, Capote Vs. The Swans or Griselda, but better that
then The Regime
BEST TV MOVIE
I’m glad to see The
Great Lillian Hall here and am glad to see Shudder recognized. The rest I’ll
withhold comment on as I mostly have to plead ignorance.
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED
SERIES OR MOVIE FOR TELEVISION
Yet again you prove
your merit by recognizing Ewan McGregor for A Gentleman in Moscow. And
there isn’t a single note about the other five nominees: Andrew Scott and
Richard Gadd were major contenders last year and Colin Farrell and Kevin Kline
will be this coming year. Another plus for acknowledging Tom Hollander for Feud.
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED
SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Jodie Foster and Naomi
Watts were in the race last year and Jessica Lange absolutely should have been
for The Great Lillian Hall. Cristin Milioti and Cate Blanchett will no
doubt start making the rounds of the race for next year’s Best Actress Emmy. I
don’t know if Phoebe-Rae Taylor deserves to be here more than, say, Sofia Vergara
but I’ll let it go.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Robert Downey Jr and
Treat Williams more than deserve to be here. I’m willing to make allowances for
Hugh Grant because his work in The Regime really was the only good think
about that mess of a series. As for the other three…
It is strange that Ron
Cephas Jones is the only nominee for Genius but along with Williams that
may be more due to his recent passing. Logan Lerman being here for We Were
the Lucky Ones makes a certain sense and I’m not sure why Liev Schreiber is
here for The Perfect Couple when no one else is. Still I’ll let this one
go.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
IN A LIMITED SERIES OR TV MOVIE
And you once again earn
my eternal gratitude by nominating Betty Gilpin’s exceptional work in Three
Women. I’m beginning to think she might actually have a chance at an Emmy
nod down the road. (More on that later.)
Kali Reis, Jessica
Gunning and Dakota Fanning were superb last year in their nominated series. I
had honestly thought Deidre O’Connell’s work in The Penguin might get
overlooked over the incredible performances of the entire cast, so I’m glad to
see her included. I will comment on Leila
George when I see Disclaimer.
SURPRISING OMISSIONS
Honestly the most
strike is the complete shutout of the most recent season of Monster which
is heavily favored for Emmy contention. Then again the first season didn’t get
a lot of love from the Critics either. We’ll have to wait and see what the
Golden Globes say Monday.
Now let’s deal with the
rest.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE
SERIES
I only have knowledge
of three of the series: My Brilliant Friend, Pachinko and Squid Game.
Is it significant that in its second season Squid Game received no
other nominations and Pachinko did? We’ll have to see.
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
Well the superhero vibe
is strong here and I will be curious to see if either men X-Men ’97 or Invincible
can triumph over Bob’s Burgers or The Simpsons. I’m less sure
about Caped Crusader but Bluey does have strong vibes.
BEST TALK SHOW
Allowing for John
Oliver no longer being in contention this is a good mix. I’m glad to see John
Mulaney here after being ignored last year and The Daily Show and Stephen
Colbert deserve to be here. Is it odd that Hot Ones is here and Seth
Meyers isn’t? Quite a bit, actually.
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
Glad to see Rachel
Bloom is back in the mix. I hope she wins. I don’t deny loving Ali Wong, Ramy
Youssef and Jim Gaffigan but they’ve had their time. Nikki Glaser…well, I’ll
see her at the Golden Globes regardless.
I will deal with the considerable
job of trying to pick the winners in the second week of January. Until then I’ll
see you guys on Monday where the Golden Globes will have a high bar to meet to
match the always impressive work the Critics have done here.
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