I’ll readily admit that I look forward to the Oscars and the Emmys way more than the Super Bowl. Awards shows are a strange breed. We watch wealthy people cry when given an award by other wealthy people- and we LOVE it.
The Critics’ Choice Television Awards is new awards show- only four years old- and was broadcast for public viewing for the first time on June 19, 2014 on The CW. Rather than the highest honors being handed out by their peers, the nominees and winners are decided by the critics who support them in the press.
The CCTAs are relaxed and casual but take recognizing the best talent very seriously.
Breaking Bad Executive Producer Mark Johnson thanked the critics for saying “stick with this show, it’s good” and thus pushing the show into the pop culture mainstream.
Critics are known for championing ratings underdogs that haven’t become household names. The usual greats were honored (Breaking Bad, Matthew McConaughey in True Detective, Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Veep) but so were unknowns like Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black and the new miniseries Fargo.
Veteran actress Allison Janney won two awards for her performances in Masters of Sex and Mom, two shows that are predominately praised by critics but haven’t quite made it into the cultural zeitgeist and will probably never win any major Emmy categories.
The Emmys are political, so the chance of them ever showering Orange is the New Black in awards is unlikely. Bellamy Young, who won The CCTA for Best Supporting Dramatic Actress, is captivating as First Lady Mellie on Scandal, but will never gain the recognition she deserves. The CCTAs are about the little engines that could- the overlooked and unappreciated.
If you want to know which shows are truly the best and are actually worth your time, taking a look at the CCTA nominees is a smart idea.
Awards shows are a fun escape into the exclusive glamour and glitz of the Hollywood bubble, but it’s always nice to see new talent being added to the circle.
Click here for a full list of nominees and winners.
