2011 TCA Awards

Last night, the Television Critics Association (TCA) handed out their annual honors in the midst of their Summer Press Tour (click for the nominees). Will any of the winners repeat at the Emmys?

Program of the Year: Friday Night Lights
Outstanding New Program: Game of Thrones
Outstanding Achievement in Drama: Mad Men
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: Modern Family
Individual Achievement in Drama: Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Individual Achievement in Comedy: Ty Burrell, Modern Family and Nick Offerman, Parks & Recreation
Outstanding Achievement in Movies and Miniseries: Masterpiece: Sherlock
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information: Restrepo
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming: Sesame Street
Career Achievement Award: Oprah Winfrey
Heritage Award: The Dick Van Dyke Show

The night's top winner is Friday Night Lights taking the Program of the Year for its final season similar to 2009 winner, Battlestar Galactica. Suffice to say both shows are not Emmy staples, but Friday Night Lights made a breakthrough last year getting its two leads nominated and repeated the feat this year as well as getting the show nominated for Outstanding Drama Series.

Unfortunately for that show, its Emmy chances aren't high especially since it will be up against Game of Thrones and Mad Men nabbing awards last night as well, New Program and Drama Series respectively. Mad Men also scored when Jon Hamm beat out fellow Emmy-nominees Steve Buscemi, Peter Dinklage, Julianna Margulies, Margo Martindale, and Tim Olyphant in Individual Achievement in Drama. Note that last year's winner Margulies shockingly did not repeat her win at the Emmys.

Last year's big winner Glee was snubbed this year even during the nomination phase, which opened the way for Modern Family to repeat its Comedy Series triumph last year. Meanwhile Ty Burrell and Emmy-snubbed Nick Offerman shared the honor for Individual Achievement in Drama besting Louis C.K., Amy Poehler, Danny Pudi, and Jon Stewart. As happy as I am about Offerman's win, I honestly expected a lot more Parks & Recreation love (for example, winning over Modern Family). Jane Lynch did repeat her win here last year at the Emmys and Burrell could do the same if vote-splitting amongst his three other co-stars isn't a factor.

In a bit of an upset, though not to me, Sherlock was able to win the miniseries category beating Downton Abbey and presumed Emmy-favorite Mildred Pierce. Sherlock, however, was not nominated in the counterpart category at the Emmys. The Amazing Race, of course, gets the first reality award the TCA has given out while Oprah Winfrey expectantly gets the Career Achievement Award. They really couldn't give it to anyone else this year.