Lisa Johnson Mandell reveals the year’s best TV series and performances, as reflected in the nominations for the annual Critics Choice TV Awards. Help her cast her votes! 

At last!

Some of you may be wondering where I’ve been for the past several weeks—a thousand apologies if I forgot your birthday, anniversary, open house or screening. It seems I’ve been working diligently on the nominations for the Critics Choice TV Awards, and this year it was a laborious yet glorious task, because there are so many worthy contenders.

The winners will be announced at the 31^st annual Critics Choice Awards in an exclusive live broadcast across E! and USA Network linear channels and digital platforms on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The show will be hosted by Chelsea Handler from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

It should come as no surprise that the astonishing Adolescence leads this year’s television nominees with six nominations including a nod for Best Limited Series. The cast was recognized across multiple categories, with Stephen Graham nominated for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television. Castmates Owen Cooper and Ashley Walters each received nods for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television, while Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco are both up for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television.

Nobody Wants This was also one of the top-nominated TV contenders, earning five nominations.

Nominees for this year’s Critics Choice TV Awards

BEST DRAMA SERIES

Alien: Earth (FX)

Andor (Disney+)

The Diplomat (Netflix)

Paradise (Hulu)

The Pitt (HBO Max)

Pluribus (Apple TV)

Severance (Apple TV)

Task (HBO Max)

 

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Sterling K. Brown – Paradise (Hulu)

Diego Luna – Andor (Disney+)

Mark Ruffalo – Task (HBO Max)

Adam Scott – Severance (Apple TV)

Billy Bob Thornton – Landman (Paramount+)

Noah Wyle – The Pitt (HBO Max)

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Kathy Bates – Matlock (CBS)

Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)

Britt Lower – Severance (Apple TV)

Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us (HBO Max)

Keri Russell – The Diplomat (Netflix)

Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus (Apple TV)

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Patrick Ball – The Pitt (HBO Max)

Billy Crudup – The Morning Show (Apple TV)

Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat (Netflix)

Wood Harris – Forever (Netflix)

Tom Pelphrey – Task (HBO Max)

Tramell Tillman – Severance (Apple TV)

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show (Apple TV)

Denée Benton – The Gilded Age (HBO Max)

Allison Janney – The Diplomat (Netflix)

Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt (HBO Max)

Greta Lee – The Morning Show (Apple TV)

Skye P. Marshall – Matlock (CBS)

 

BEST COMEDY SERIES

Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Elsbeth (CBS)

Ghosts (CBS)

Hacks (HBO Max)

Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)

The Studio (Apple TV)

 

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside (Netflix)

David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical (NBC)

Danny McBride – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)

Seth Rogen – The Studio (Apple TV)

Alexander Skarsgård – Murderbot (Apple TV)

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face (Peacock)

Rose McIver – Ghosts (CBS)

Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)

Carrie Preston – Elsbeth (CBS)

Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max)

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Ike Barinholtz – The Studio (Apple TV)

Paul W. Downs – Hacks (HBO Max)

Asher Grodman – Ghosts (CBS)

Oscar Nuñez – The Paper (Peacock)

Chris Perfetti – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Timothy Simons – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Danielle Brooks – Peacemaker (HBO Max)

Hannah Einbinder – Hacks (HBO Max)

Janelle James – Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Justine Lupe – Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Ego Nwodim – Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Rebecca Wisocky – Ghosts (CBS)

  

BEST LIMITED SERIES

Adolescence (Netflix)

All Her Fault (Peacock)

Chief of War (Apple TV) 

Death by Lightning (Netflix)

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)

Dope Thief (Apple TV)

Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)

The Girlfriend (Prime Video)

 

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)

Deep Cover (Prime Video)

The Gorge (Apple TV)

Mountainhead (HBO Max)

Nonnas (Netflix)

Summer of ’69 (Hulu)

 

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Michael Chernus – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)

Stephen Graham – Adolescence (Netflix)

Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief (Apple TV)

Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix)

Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me (Netflix)

Michael Shannon – Death by Lightning (Netflix)

 

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Jessica Biel – The Better Sister (Prime Video)

Meghann Fahy – Sirens (Netflix)

Sarah Snook – All Her Fault (Peacock)

Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)

Robin Wright – The Girlfriend (Prime Video)

Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Owen Cooper – Adolescence (Netflix)

Wagner Moura – Dope Thief (Apple TV)

Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning (Netflix)

Michael Peña – All Her Fault (Peacock)

Ashley Walters – Adolescence (Netflix)

Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead (HBO Max)

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Erin Doherty – Adolescence (Netflix)

Betty Gilpin – Death by Lightning (Netflix)

Marin Ireland – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)

Sophia Lillis – All Her Fault (Peacock)

Julianne Moore – Sirens (Netflix)

Christine Tremarco – Adolescence (Netflix)

 

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES

Acapulco (Apple TV) 

Last Samurai Standing (Netflix)

Mussolini: Son of the Century (MUBI) 

Red Alert (Paramount+)  

Squid Game (Netflix) 

When No One Sees Us (HBO Max) 

 

BEST ANIMATED SERIES

Bob’s Burgers (Fox)

Harley Quinn (HBO Max)

Long Story Short (Netflix)

Marvel Zombies (Disney+)

South Park (Comedy Central)

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+)

 

BEST TALK SHOW

The Daily Show (Comedy Central)

Hot Ones (YouTube)

Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)

Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC)

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo)

 

BEST VARIETY SERIES

Conan O’Brien Must Go (HBO Max)

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max)

Saturday Night Live (NBC)

 

BEST COMEDY SPECIAL

Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life (HBO Max)

Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian (HBO Max)

Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things (Netflix)

Marc Maron: Panicked (HBO Max)

Sarah Silverman: PostMortem (Netflix)

SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)

 

TELEVISION NOMINATIONS BY PROGRAM FOR THE 31ST ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS

 

A MAN ON THE INSIDE (Netflix) – 1

Best Actor in a Comedy Series – Ted Danson

 

ABBOTT ELEMENTARY (ABC) – 3

Best Comedy Series

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Chris Perfetti

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Janelle James

 

ACAPULCO (Apple TV ) – 1

Best Foreign Language Series

 

ADOLESCENCE (Netflix) – 6

Best Limited Series

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Stephen Graham

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Owen Cooper

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Ashley Walters

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Erin Doherty

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Christine Tremarco

 

ALIEN: EARTH (FX) – 1

Best Drama Series

 

ALL HER FAULT (Peacock) – 4

Best Limited Series

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Sarah Snook

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Michael Peña

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Sophia Lillis

 

 

ANDOR (Disney+) – 2

Best Drama Series

Best Actor in a Drama Series – Diego Luna

 

BOB’S BURGERS (Fox) – 1

Best Animated Series

 

BRETT GOLDSTEIN: THE SECOND BEST NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE (HBO Max) – 1

Best Comedy Special

 

BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY (Peacock) – 2

Best Movie Made for Television

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Renée Zellweger

 

CALEB HEARON: MODEL COMEDIAN (HBO Max) – 1

Best Comedy Special

 

CHIEF OF WAR (Apple TV ) – 1

Best Limited Series

 

CONAN O’BRIEN MUST GO (HBO Max) – 1

Best Variety Series

 

DEATH BY LIGHTNING (Netflix) – 4

Best Limited Series

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Michael Shannon

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Nick Offerman

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Betty Gilpin

 

DEEP COVER (Prime Video) – 1

Best Movie Made for Television

 

DEVIL IN DISGUISE: JOHN WAYNE GACY (Peacock) – 3

Best Limited Series

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Michael Chernus

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Marin Ireland

 

DOPE THIEF (Apple TV) – 3

Best Limited Series

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Brian Tyree Henry

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Wagner Moura

 

 

DYING FOR SEX (FX on Hulu) – 2

Best Limited Series

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Michelle Williams

 

ELSBETH (CBS) – 2

Best Comedy Series

Best Actress in a Comedy Series – Carrie Preston

 

FOREVER (Netflix) – 1

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Wood Harris

 

GHOSTS (CBS) – 4

Best Comedy Series

Best Actress in a Comedy Series – Rose McIver

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Asher Grodman

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Rebecca Wisocky

 

HACKS (HBO Max) – 4

Best Comedy Series

Best Actress in a Comedy Series – Jean Smart

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Paul W. Downs

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Hannah Einbinder

 

HARLEY QUINN (HBO Max) – 1

Best Animated Series

 

HOT ONES (YouTube) – 1

Best Talk Show

 

JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! (ABC) – 1

Best Talk Show

 

LANDMAN (Paramount+) – 1

Best Actor in a Drama Series – Billy Bob Thornton

 

LAST SAMURAI STANDING (Netflix) – 1

Best Foreign Language Series

 

LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER (HBO Max) – 1

Best Variety Series

 

LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS (NBC) – 1

Best Talk Show

 

LEANNE MORGAN: UNSPEAKABLE THINGS (Netflix) – 1

Best Comedy Special

 

LONG STORY SHORT (Netflix) – 1

Best Animated Series

 

MARC MARON: PANICKED (HBO Max) – 1

Best Comedy Special

 

MARVEL ZOMBIES (Disney+) – 1

Best Animated Series

 

MATLOCK (CBS) – 2

Best Actress in a Drama Series – Kathy Bates

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Skye P. Marshall

 

MONSTER: THE ED GEIN STORY (Netflix) – 1

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Charlie Hunnam

 

MOUNTAINHEAD (HBO Max) – 2

Best Movie Made for Television

Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Ramy Youssef

 

MURDERBOT (Apple TV) – 1

Best Actor in a Comedy Series – Alexander Skarsgård

 

MUSSOLINI: SON OF THE CENTURY (MUBI ) – 1

Best Foreign Language Series

 

NOBODY WANTS THIS (Netflix) – 5

Best Comedy Series

Best Actor in a Comedy Series – Adam Brody

Best Actress in a Comedy Series – Kristen Bell

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Timothy Simons

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Justine Lupe

 

NONNAS (Netflix) – 1

Best Movie Made for Television

 

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING (Hulu) – 1

Best Comedy Series

 

PARADISE (Hulu) – 2

Best Drama Series

Best Actor in a Drama Series – Sterling K. Brown

 

PEACEMAKER (HBO Max) – 1

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Danielle Brooks

 

PLURIBUS (Apple TV) – 2

Best Drama Series

Best Actress in a Drama Series – Rhea Seehorn

 

POKER FACE (Peacock) – 1

Best Actress in a Comedy Series – Natasha Lyonne

 

RED ALERT (Paramount+ ) – 1

Best Foreign Language Series

 

SARAH SILVERMAN: POSTMORTEM (Netflix) – 1

Best Comedy Special

 

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (NBC) – 2

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Ego Nwodim

Best Variety Series

 

SEVERANCE (Apple TV) – 4

Best Drama Series

Best Actor in a Drama Series – Adam Scott

Best Actress in a Drama Series – Britt Lower

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Tramell Tillman

 

SIRENS (Netflix) – 2

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Meghann Fahy

Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Julianne Moore

 

SNL50: THE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL (NBC) – 1

Best Comedy Special

 

SOUTH PARK (Comedy Central) – 1

Best Animated Series

 

SQUID GAME (Netflix ) – 1

Best Foreign Language Series

 

 

1. DENIS MEDICAL (NBC) – 1

Best Actor in a Comedy Series – David Alan Grier

 

SUMMER OF ’69 (Hulu) – 1

Best Movie Made for Television

 

TASK (HBO Max) – 3

Best Drama Series

Best Actor in a Drama Series – Mark Ruffalo

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Tom Pelphrey

 

THE BEAST IN ME (Netflix) – 1

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Matthew Rhys

 

THE BETTER SISTER (Prime Video) – 1

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Jessica Biel

 

THE DAILY SHOW (Comedy Central) – 1

Best Talk Show

 

THE DIPLOMAT (Netflix) – 4

Best Drama Series

Best Actress in a Drama Series – Keri Russell

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Ato Essandoh

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Allison Janney

 

THE GILDED AGE (HBO Max) – 2

Best Actress in a Drama Series – Carrie Coon

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Denée Benton

 

THE GIRLFRIEND (Prime Video) – 2

Best Limited Series

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television – Robin Wright

 

THE GORGE (Apple TV) – 1

Best Movie Made for Television

 

THE LAST OF US (HBO Max) – 1

Best Actress in a Drama Series – Bella Ramsey

 

THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT (CBS) – 1

Best Talk Show

 

 

THE MORNING SHOW (Apple TV) – 3

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Billy Crudup

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Nicole Beharie

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Greta Lee

 

THE PAPER (Peacock) – 1

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Oscar Nuñez

 

THE PITT (HBO Max) – 4

Best Drama Series

Best Actor in a Drama Series – Noah Wyle

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series – Patrick Ball

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series – Katherine LaNasa

 

THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES (HBO Max) – 3

Best Comedy Series

Best Actor in a Comedy Series – Danny McBride

Best Actress in a Comedy Series – Edi Patterson

 

THE STUDIO (Apple TV) – 3

Best Comedy Series

Best Actor in a Comedy Series – Seth Rogen

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Ike Barinholtz

 

WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE WITH ANDY COHEN (Bravo) – 1

Best Talk Show

 

WHEN NO ONE SEES US (HBO Max ) – 1

Best Foreign Language Series

 

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN (Disney+) – 1

Best Animated Series

Lisa Johnson Mandell reveals the year’s best TV series and performances, as reflected in the nominations for the annual Critics Choice TV Awards. Help her cast her votes!