2022 TCA nominations: Freshman series ‘Abbott Elementary’ is head of the class

The Television Critics Association (TCA) has announced their 38th TCA Awards nominations, rewarding the best in television for the 2021/2022 season across 13 categories of comedy, drama, variety, news and more, and ABC’s hit freshman series Abbott Elementary from creator Quinta Brunson is in the front of the class with five mentions: Program of the Year, Achievement in Comedy, New Program and two for Individual Achievement in Comedy, for Brunson and breakout star Janelle James.

Apple TV+’s Severance and Showtime’s Yellowjackets were next with four nods each while HBO Max’s 2021 comedy winner Hacks, Hulu’s Only Murders In The Building, Netflix’s Squid Game and HBO’s Succession earned three each.

Individual acting achievement in both comedy and drama are non-gendered categories. Drama features an even split between female and male nominees, including SAG winner Lee Jung-jae for Squid Game, Melanie Lynskey for Yellowjackets, Rhea Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk for Better Call Saul and Michael Keaton for Dopesick. Comedy features eight nominees (five women, three men) and includes Steve Martin (but not Martin Short) for Only Murders in the Building, Bill Hader for Barry and Bridget Everett for Somebody Somewhere.

The TCA consists of more than 200 professional journalists covering television. The winners will be revealed at the August 6 awards ceremony at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, California, and will be the first in-person ceremony since 2019.

The Career Achievement and Heritage Award winners will be announced later this summer.

Here is the full list of nominees:

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game” – Netflix
Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” – Hulu
Melanie Lynskey, “Yellowjackets” – Showtime
Mandy Moore, “This Is Us” – NBC
Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul” – AMC
Margaret Qualley, “Maid” – Netflix
Adam Scott, “Severance” – Apple TV+
Rhea Seehorn, “Better Call Saul” – AMC
Amanda Seyfried, “The Dropout” – Hulu
Jeremy Strong, “Succession” – HBO

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Pamela Adlon, “Better Things” – FX
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” – ABC
Bridget Everett, “Somebody Somewhere” – HBO
Bill Hader, “Barry” – HBO
Janelle James, “Abbott Elementary” – ABC
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building” – Hulu
Jean Smart, “Hacks” – HBO Max (2021 winner here)
Jason Sudeikis – “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION
“The Beatles: Get Back” – Disney+
“Benjamin Franklin” – PBS
“Frontline” – PBS
“George Carlin’s American Dream” – HBO
“How To with John Wilson” – HBO
“Prehistoric Planet” – Apple TV+
“60 Minutes” – CBS
“The Tinder Swindler” – Netflix
“We Need To Talk About Cosby” – Showtime

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY
“The Amazing Race” – CBS
“Cheer” – Netflix
“Finding Magic Mike” – HBO Max
“Legendary” – HBO Max
“Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” – Bravo
“Real World Homecoming: New Orleans” – Paramount+
“Take Out with Lisa Ling” – HBO Max
“Top Chef: Houston” – Bravo

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING
“Ada Twist, Scientist” – Netflix
“The Baby-Sitters Club” – Netflix
“El Deafo” – Apple TV+
“Mira, Royal Detective” – Disney Junior
“Octonauts: Above & Beyond” – Netflix
“Odd Squad” – PBS Kids
“Ridley Jones” – Netflix
“Sesame Street” – HBO Max

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM
“Abbott Elementary” – ABC
“Ghosts” – CBS
“Only Murders in the Building” – Hulu
“Pachinko” – Apple TV+
“Reservation Dogs” – FX
“Severance” – Apple TV+
“The White Lotus” – HBO
“Yellowjackets” – Showtime

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES OR SPECIALS
“Dopesick” – Hulu
“The Dropout” – Hulu
“The Girl From Plainville” – Hulu
“Maid” – Netflix
“Midnight Mass” – Netflix
“The Staircase” – HBO Max
“Station Eleven” – HBO Max
“Under the Banner of Heaven” – FX

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
“Better Call Saul” – AMC
“The Good Fight” – Paramount+
“Pachinko” – Apple TV+
“Severance” – Apple TV+
“Squid Game” – Netflix
“Succession” – HBO
“This Is Us” – NBC
“Yellowjackets” – Showtime

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
“Abbott Elementary” – ABC
“Atlanta” – FX
“Barry” – HBO
“Ghosts” – CBS
“Hacks” – HBO Max
“Only Murders In The Building” – Hulu
“Reservation Dogs” – FX
“Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY, TALK OR SKETCH
“The Amber Ruffin Show” – Peacock
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” – HBO
“I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” – Netflix
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” – HBO
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” – NBC
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” – CBS
“Saturday Night Live” – NBC
“Ziwe” – Showtime

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“Abbott Elementary” – ABC
“Better Call Saul” – AMC
“Hacks” – HBO Max
“Severance” – Apple TV+
“Squid Game” – Netflix
“Succession” – HBO
“The White Lotus” – HBO
“Yellowjackets” – Showtime

Photo: Pamela Littky/ABC via Getty