TCA Nods Unveil TV's Best
42nd Annual TCA Awards Nominees Revealed, New Categories Added for Evolving TV Landscape
Key Points
TCA said it uses two non-gendered acting categories instead of separate lead/supporting/guest races—one for comedy and one for drama. In comedy, nominees include Hannah Einbinder (Hacks), Harrison Ford (Shrinking), Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback), Jean Smart (Hacks), Tim Robinson (The Chair Company), alongside Kate O’Flynn and Matthew Rhys (Widow’s Bay).
Reality programming received multiple nominations, including Couples Therapy and Love on the Spectrum. Hallmark’s Finding Mr. Christmas also earned a nomination despite being cancelled after just two seasons—one of which aired on Hallmark+.
On the purpose of adding new categories, TCA Board director Liz Shannon Miller said: “These new categories celebrate the ways TV continues to evolve… especially as standout new series emerge from outside the mainstream.”
While TCA previously framed the timing as “later this summer,” multiple outlets reported the winners will be announced in early August across TCA’s social media accounts.
Three TV shows tied for the most nominations at the 42nd annual TCA Awards: "Heated Rivalry," "Industry," and "Widow's Bay" each earned five nods, according to Hollywood Reporter. The Television Critics Association announced the full list of nominees for the 2025-2026 television season, with winners set to be revealed in early August via TCA's social media accounts.
The TCA also expanded its awards from 12 to 14 categories this year, adding Outstanding Achievement in Animation and Outstanding Achievement in International Series, per Programming Insider. The expansion reflects how streaming has made global and animated TV a bigger part of the critical conversation.
Six Shows Battle for Program of the Year
"Heated Rivalry," "Industry," and "Widow's Bay" are all in the running for Program of the Year, the top prize. They face stiff competition from "The Comeback," "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," and "Shrinking," according to Yahoo. That makes six total contenders for the night's biggest honor.
"Hacks" and "The Pitt" each scored four nominations, keeping them close behind the leaders. "Pluribus" also grabbed four nods. TCA members — more than 200 professional TV critics from the U.S. and Canada — cast the votes that determined the nominee list, per Programming Insider.
Comedy Acting Field Mixes Veterans With Fresh Faces
The TCA uses two non-gendered acting categories — one for comedy, one for drama — instead of separate male and female races. In comedy, nominees include Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart from "Hacks," Harrison Ford from "Shrinking," and Lisa Kudrow from "The Comeback," according to Hollywood Reporter.
"Widow's Bay" placed both of its leads in the comedy acting field: Kate O'Flynn and Matthew Rhys. Tim Robinson from "The Chair Company" rounds out the category. The fact that a show with clear thriller elements lands in comedy acting shows how blurry TV genre lines have become, noted AV Club.
Animation and International Series Get Their Own Awards
TCA Board Director Liz Shannon Miller explained the reasoning behind the new categories. "These new categories celebrate the ways TV continues to evolve," she said, "especially as standout new series emerge from outside the mainstream." The animation nominees include "The Simpsons," "South Park," and "Invincible," per AV Club.
The new International Series award — given only to shows produced outside the U.S. in mostly non-English languages — recognized "Squid Game" among its inaugural nominees. Critics had long argued that non-English shows were unfairly competing against bigger-budget domestic titles, according to Hollywood Reporter.
Reality TV Gets 10 Nominations, Including a Cancelled Hallmark Show
Reality programming earned 10 total nominations this cycle, with eight shows in the Outstanding Reality Programming category alone, per Reality Blurred. "Couples Therapy" and "Love on the Spectrum" both received recognition. That number signals that critics are taking unscripted television more seriously than ever.
One of the more surprising nominees is Hallmark's "Finding Mr. Christmas," which was cancelled after just two seasons — one of which aired on Hallmark+. The nomination was widely seen as a rebuke of rapid cancellation culture in streaming, according to Reality Blurred. The winners across all 14 categories will be announced in early August on TCA's social media.
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