Newcomers Empire, Transparent, Better Call Saul Up for TCA Awards

LOS ANGELES: The nominations for the 31st Annual Television Critics Association (TCA) Awards have been announced, with the dramas Mad Men, Game of Thrones and The Americans facing off with newcomers Empire and Transparent for program of the year.

The nominations are spread across five broadcast networks—ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and The CW—as well as PBS, nine cable networks and the internet streaming services Netflix and Amazon. HBO leads the way with seven nominations; ABC, CBS, AMC and FX each have five; FOX, PBS, The CW and Amazon each have four; NBC and Comedy Central each have three; ABC Family has two; and Netflix, Starz, Logo, Nickelodeon and SundanceTV each have one.

Veep's Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who won for individual achievement in comedy in 2014, is up in the category again this year, competing with Gina Rodriguez of Jane the Virgin, Amy Schumer of Inside Amy Schumer, Jeffrey Tambor of Transparent and Constance Wu of Fresh Off the Boat. The nominees for individual achievement in drama are Viola Davis of How to Get Away with Murder, Jon Hamm of Mad Men, Taraji P. Henson of Empire, Matthew Rhys of The Americans and Bob Odenkirk of Better Call Saul.

Outstanding achievement in drama is a competition between The Americans, Empire, Game of Thrones, Justified and Mad Men. The comedy contenders are The Big Bang Theory, Inside Amy Schumer, Jane the Virgin, Transparent and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

In the category of movies, miniseries and specials, the nominees for outstanding achievement are Bessie, The Honorable Woman, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, Olive Kitteridge and Wolf Hall. Up for best new program are Better Call Saul, Empire, The Flash, Jane the Virgin and Transparent.

The TCA Award nominees for reality programming are The Amazing Race, The Chair, Dancing with the Stars, Shark Tank and RuPaul's Drag Race, which won in the category in 2014. 2014's winners in the youth programming arena, The Fosters, is again nominated, alongside Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, The Legend of Korra, Sesame Street and Switched at Birth.

In the category of outstanding achievement in news and information, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart are competing with CBS Sunday Morning, Frontline and 60 Minutes.

Up for this year's heritage award are Friends, Late Show/Late Night with David Letterman, The Shield, Star Trek and Twin Peaks.

The winners will be announced August 8.

TCA President Scott D. Pierce said: “TCA members face yet another difficult decision this year, as they prepare to cast their votes for the winners in each category. This was an incredible season for returning favorites and new additions alike, and we’re looking forward to seeing what our members have chosen as the best of the best, when the winners are announced on August 8.”