Critics' Choice Television Awards Winners

It was only last year when the Broadcast Television Journalists Association held the inaugural Critics' Choice Television Awards and just tonight they handed out their second set of winners. I unfortunately didn't get to talk about the nominees when they came out a couple of weeks ago since I was still in blogging limbo-hiatus land, so just wanted to quickly give my thoughts on the nominees below and the eventual winners.

BEST COMEDY SERIES
The Big Bang Theory
COMMUNITY
Girls
Modern Family
New Girl
Parks and Recreation

Community surprised everyone by notching the most nominations of any show and it shocked everyone again by taking the top prize. While it wouldn't be my personal choice (my vote would have been for Parks & Rec), I can't help but feel ecstatic for the show and the cast. Nomination-wise, no big shockers. Happy Endings and Cougar Town really should be here, but it is what it is.

BEST DRAMA SERIES
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
HOMELAND
Mad Men

I would have loved for them to find room for Fringe, but how can I really complain with a nomination list so obviously full of quality? My own pick would probably be Breaking Bad, but I do mean it when I say that any of these shows would've been a worthy winner. This year the prize went to Homeland.

BEST MOVIE/MINISERIES
American Horror Story
Luther
SHERLOCK
Page Eight
The Hour
Game Change

Weirdly enough I've seen four out of the six nominees though not the one starring Julianne Moore. Sherlock took the win and it probably would've gotten my vote as well from the choices.

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
LOUIS C.K., Louie
Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Garret Dillahunt, Raising Hope
Joel McHale, Community
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

I feel weirdly ambivalent about this particular category, but last year's winner Jim Parsons and this year's winner Louis C.K. are pretty good picks. It's nice to see McHale and Dillahunt recognized.

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
ZOOEY DESCHANEL, New Girl
Lena Dunham, Girls
Julia Louis Dreyfus, Veep
Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
AMY POEHLER, Parks and Recreation
Ashley Rickards, Awkward

No contest, this award belonged to no one other than Amy Poehler and I'm glad she won here. Last year's winner Tina Fey was oddly absent, but I'm OKAY with that. I'm not as okay with Zooey Deschanel ALSO winning in a tie. If it had to be a tie, I'd probably prefer it be with Julia Louis Dreyfus.

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
BRYAN CRANSTON, Breaking Bad
Kelsey Grammer, Boss
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Charlie Hunnam, Sons of Anarchy
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Timothy Olyphant, Justified

Like I said earlier, it's a competition between Bryan Cranston, Damian Lewis, and Jon Hamm. With the latter winning last year, the race really came down to the two men not on the ballot last year. By I suppose it was a no-brainer to give the award to Cranston especially as critics has spent more time with Walter White than Nicholas Brody. My vote would've slightly gone to Lewis, but maybe Cranston, too. If there ever was a need for a tie, this would be it!

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
CLAIRE DANES, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Emmy Rossum, Shameless
Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy

I still remember fondly when Anna Torv was nominated last year, but I certainly don't fault the BTJA for not nominating her this time especially with a list that NEEDS to be replicated for the Emmy Awards. Dockery's inclusion especially gives me warm and fuzzy feelings. Claire Danes took home the award this year, which was deserved. Me? I'd love a six-way tie to be perfectly honest.

BEST ACTOR IN A MOVIE/MINISERIES
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, Sherlock
Bill Nighy, Page Eight
Woody Harrelson, Game Change
Idris Elba, Luther
Dominic West, The Hour
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys

The exclusion of Ben Whishaw or Martin Freeman is pretty glaring, but I suppose they just missed the cut. I've only seen half of these performances, but I'm pleased that Benedict Cumberbatch won tonight.

BEST ACTRESS IN A MOVIE/MINISERIES
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Gillian Anderson, Great Expectations
JULIANNE MOORE, Game Change
Patricia Clarkson, Five
Lara Pulver, Sherlock
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult

Was there anyone else who had a chance with Julianne Moore playing Sarah Palin? I guess Jessica Lange was a threat, but this one seemed like a no-brainer.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
TY BURRELL, Modern Family
Max Greenfield, New Girl
Nick Offerman, Parks and Recreation
Danny Pudi, Community
Jim Rash, Community
Damon Wayans Jr., Happy Endings

Last year's winner Neil Patrick Harris wasn't included and I think that was a fine choice considering the already stacked list of nominees. If I had to make up my own nominees list, this list would come very close to it. My vote would have most likely gone to Oscar-winner Jim Rash, but Ty Burrell taking home the award makes total sense.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
JULIE BOWEN, Modern Family
Alison Brie, Community
Cheryl Hines, Suburgatory
Gillian Jacobs, Community
Eden Sher, The Middle
Casey Wilson, Happy Endings

A bit odd to not see Jane Krakowski here and while I love Casey Wilson, I think her two other female co-stars outshone her a bit this season. Cheryl Hines' nomination is inspired though, but too bad there was no room for Zosia Mamet in Girls. Julie Bowen winning is great, but my vote would've gone to someone else probably.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
GIANCARLO ESPOSITO, Breaking Bad
Neal McDonough, Justified
John Noble, Fringe
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
John Slattery, Mad Men

This is another stacked category that I have no clue how they narrowed down. I honestly thought it was going to come down between Peter Dinklage and Aaron Paul (the Sophiest Choice at the Emmys bar none), but shockingly the award went to much-deserved Giarcarlo Esposito.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
CHRISTINA HENDRICKS, Mad Men
Regina King, Southland
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Maggie Siff, Sons of Anarchy

Archie Panjabi's absense is giving me hives a bit and while she's technically lead I wouldn't have minded seeing Madeleine Stowe here. It's also crazy not to see any of the wonderful ladies from Game of Thrones pop up here as well as Maggie Smith. In any case, Christina Hendricks repeats her win last year and why not as she had a lot to do this season in particular.

BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A COMEDY SERIES
Becky Ann Baker, Girls
Bobby Cannavale, Modern Family
Kathryn Hahn, Parks and Recreation
Justin Long, New Girl
PAUL RUDD, Parks and Recreation
Peter Scolari, Girls

BEST GUEST PERFORMER IN A DRAMA SERIES
Dylan Baker, Damages
Jere Burns, Justified
Loretta Devine, Grey’s Anatomy
LUCY LIU, Southland
Carrie Preston, The Good Wife
Chloe Webb, Shameless

BEST REALITY SERIES
ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NO RESERVATIONS
Hoarders
Sister Wives
Kitchen Nightmares
Pawn Stars
Undercover Boss

BEST REALITY SERIES — COMPETITION
The Pitch
Shark Tank
So You Think You Can Dance
THE VOICE
Chopped
The Amazing Race

BEST REALITY SHOW HOST
TOM BERGERON, Dancing with the Stars
Nick Cannon, America’s Got Talent
CAT DEELEY, So You Think You Can Dance
Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race
RuPaul, RuPaul’s Drag Race

BEST TALK SHOW
Conan
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The View

BEST ANIMATED SERIES
ARCHER
Adventure Time
Bob’s Burgers
Family Guy
Star Wars: The Clone Wars