2023 TCA Awards: ‘The Bear,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ ‘Succession’ Lead with Five Nominations Each

Abbott Elementary, Andor, Poker Face, Shrinking follow with four nominations; Jury Duty, Mrs. Davis with three

The Television Critics Association (TCA) have anointed first seasons of FX’s The Bear and HBO’s The Last of Us joined the final season of HBO’s Succession as the most-nominated television programs of the 2022-2023 season for their annual awards with each series earning five nominations including Program of the Year.

The Bear, which follows the comedic and dramatic trials of a young chef from the fine dining world returns to Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop, also earned nominations for two of its stars, Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri for Individual Achievement, plus New Program and Comedy Series.

The Last of Us, the HBO adaptation of the highly popular video game series, earned the same grouping, but in drama: double acting noms for stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, New Program and Drama Series.

Succession has yet win Program of the Year with the TCA but is a previous double winner for Drama Series (in 2020 and 2022) and this year will compete with no less than three Individual Achievement in Drama nominations with Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook and Jeremy Strong all in competition.

Other notable mentions include Dominque Fishback for Swarm and Betty Gilpin for Mrs. Davis (Individual Achievement in Drama), James Marsden for Jury Duty (Individual Achievement in Comedy), Interview with the Vampire (New Program, Drama Series) and The Other Two (Program of the Year and Comedy Series).

In spite of the annual TCA summer press tour being canceled due to the ongoing writers strike, the awards prevail, including the group adding two new categories, splitting Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming into separate awards for children’s and family shows, which splits shows like Sesame Street and American Born Chinese from competing against each other.

“The 2023 nominees for the TCA Awards boast an eclectic lineup from across the entertainment spectrum,” said Melanie McFarland, TCA President and TV Critic for Salon.com. “This season truly had something for everyone — from innovative comedies and gripping dramas, to immersive documentaries and refreshingly cerebral storytelling set in a galaxy far, far away. I am eager to see which stars and series our members have chosen to honor when the winners are revealed.”

Winners are set to be announced on August 7. See the full list of nominations and previous winner status below.

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

Abbott Elementary – ABC (2022 Winner in Category)
Andor – Disney+
Better Call Saul – AMC
Poker Face – Peacock
Succession – HBO | Max
The Bear – FX
The Last of Us – HBO | Max
The Other Two – HBO | Max
The White Lotus – HBO | Max

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA

Christine Baranski, The Good Fight – Paramount+
Kieran Culkin, Succession – HBO | Max
Dominique Fishback, Swarm – Prime Video
Betty Gilpin, Mrs. Davis – Peacock
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us – HBO | Max
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us – HBO | Max
Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul – AMC
Sarah Snook, Succession – HBO | Max
Jeremy Strong, Succession – HBO | Max

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY

Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary – ABC (2022 Winner in Category)
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear – FX
Harrison Ford – Shrinking – Apple TV+
Bill Hader, Barry – HBO | Max
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary – ABC
Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face – Peacock
James Marsden, Jury Duty – Amazon Freevee
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear – FX

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS AND INFORMATION

30 for 30 – ESPN
Free Chol Soo Lee – PBS
Frontline – PBS (Eight-time Winner in Category)
Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? – Netflix
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence – Hulu
Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi – Hulu
​The 1619 Project – Hulu
The U.S. and the Holocaust – PBS

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY

Couples Therapy – Showtime (2021 Winner in Category)
Jury Duty – Amazon Freevee
RuPaul’s Drag Race – MTV (2014 Winner in Category)
The Rehearsal – HBO | Max
The Traitors – Peacock
Top Chef – Bravo
Vanderpump Rules – Bravo
Welcome to Wrexham – FX

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING (New Category for 2023)

Alma’s Way – PBS KIDS
Bluey – Disney+
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood – PBS KIDS (2016 Winner in Youth Category)
Donkey Hodie – PBS KIDS
Eva the Owlet – Apple TV+
Molly of Denali – PBS KIDS (2020 Winner in Youth Category)
Ridley Jones – Netflix
Sesame Street – HBO | Max (2018, 2011 & 2001 Winner in Youth Category)
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures – Disney Junior/Disney+

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN FAMILY PROGRAMMING (New Category for 2023)

American Born Chinese – Disney+
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series – Disney+
Jane – Apple TV+
Love, Victor – Hulu
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur – Disney Channel
Ms. Marvel – Disney+
Never Have I Ever – Netflix
Star Trek: Prodigy – Paramount+
The Mysterious Benedict Society – Disney+

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM

Andor – Disney+
Interview with the Vampire – AMC
Jury Duty – Amazon Freevee
Mrs. Davis – Peacock
Poker Face – Peacock
Shrinking – Apple TV+
The Bear – FX
The Last of Us – HBO | Max

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES, MINISERIES OR SPECIALS

A Small Light – National Geographic
Beef – Netflix
Black Bird – Apple TV+
Daisy Jones & The Six – Prime Video
Fleishman is in Trouble – FX
Mrs. Davis – Peacock
The Patient – FX
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story – The Roku Channel

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA

Andor – Disney+
Better Call Saul – AMC (2019 Winner in Category)
Interview with the Vampire – AMC
Succession – HBO | MAX (2022 & 2020 Winner in Category)
The Good Fight – Paramount+
The Last of Us – HBO | Max
The White Lotus – HBO | Max
Yellowjackets – Showtime

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY

Abbott Elementary – ABC (2022 Winner in Category)
Barry – HBO | Max
Poker Face– Peacock
Reservation Dogs – FX
Shrinking – Apple TV+
The Bear – FX
The Other Two – HBO | Max
What We Do in the Shadows – FX

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN VARIETY, TALK OR SKETCH

The Amber Ruffin Show – Peacock
A Black Lady Sketch Show – HBO | Max (2020 Winner in Category)
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson – Netflix (2022 Winner in Category)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – HBO | Max (2021, 2019 & 2018 Winner in Category, and 2015 winner in News & Information)
Late Night with Seth Meyers – NBC
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – CBS
Saturday Night Live – NBC
Ziwe – Showtime

Photo: Matt Dinerstein/FX