2021 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards Announce Winners

On Sunday evening, the Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) presented their inaugural awards ceremony for the best in this season of television. Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso was the biggest winner of the evening, winning four awards including Best Streaming Comedy series and winning every category where it was nominated.

HBO Max flexed its own muscles as well, winning two awards for Hacks, while Netflix won multiple acting awards. The cable and broadcast categories tended to spread their awards around several shows, with NBC winning the most awards of the evening in series and acting categories.

The show began with words from the founder of the association, Scott Menzel, acknowledging the rapidly changing circumstances. The show was initially planned to be held in the Avalon Hollywood Historic Nightclub. However, due to rising cases in COVID-19 and the Delta variant, the in-person ceremony was canceled in favor of a virtual ceremony.

The Legacy Award was presented to the television show Cobra Kai, which first began on YouTube in 2018. On its third season and streamed by Netflix, Cobra Kai was accepted by multiple members of the cast and crew. The show received a single nomination for Best Streaming Series, Comedy. HCA President Nestor Bentacor presented the award to the show.

The HCATV Icon Award was presented to television writer and producer Marta Kauffman. Kauffman is most well-known for co-creating the hit television sitcom Friends, alongside longtime collaborator David Crane. She also co-created the Netflix series Grace and Frankie and the television show Veronica’s Closet. US Weekly writer Mara Reinstein presented the award.

The HCTVA Impact Award was presented to the television show New Amsterdam. New Amsterdam is a show focused on the lives of hospital workers under the direction of reformist medical director Dr. Max Goodwin. The award was accepted by the cast and crew of New Amsterdam. The show received a single nomination and won for Best Broadcast Network Series, Drama. The Black C.A.P.E. writer Jonita Davis presented the award.

The Pop Culture Icon Award was presented to actor Tom Ellis, who is most well-known for portraying Lucifer Morningstar on the FOX/Netflix television show Lucifer. Tom Ellis has performed in multiple television shows and movies including the show Lucifer, which will air its final season on Netflix in the fall of 2021. Ellis was nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy, Streaming, losing to Jason Sudekis from Ted Lasso. Lesley Ann-Brandt, Ellis’ co-star on Lucifer, presented the award.

The Breakout Star Award was presented to Thuso Mebdu, the lead actress in the Amazon miniseries The Underground Railroad. Mebdu has been active in the South African television industry since 2014, earning a nomination for an International Emmy Award in 2017. She made her international debut in The Underground Railroad. Mebdu was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie, losing to Anya Taylor-Joy for The Queen’s Gambit. Barry Jenkins, the creator of The Underground Railroad, presented the award.

The Virtuoso Award was presented to Bo Burnham, a comedian and filmmaker whose origins were short sketches in YouTube. Burnham directed and wrote the 2018 film Eighth Grade, before producing, directing, shooting, editing, and writing the comedy special Bo Burnham: Inside, which premiered on Netflix earlier this year. Bo Burnham: Inside was nominated for and won Best Streaming Series, Variety Series, Talk Show, or Comedy/Variety Special. HCA President Scott Menzel presented the award.

All winners can be found below.

Series

Best Cable Series, Comedy – Resident Alien (SYFY)
Best Streaming Series, Comedy – Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Best Broadcast Network Series, Comedy – Young Rock (NBC)

Best Streaming Series, Drama – The Mandalorian (Disney+)
Best Broadcast Network Series, Drama – New Amsterdam (NBC)
Best Cable Series, Drama – Cruel Summer (Freeform)

Best Animated Series or Animated Television Movie – Harley Quinn (HBOMax)
Best Broadcast Network or Cable Docuseries, Documentary Television Movie, or Non-Fiction Series – Welcome to Chechnya (HBO)
Best Streaming Docuseries, Documentary Television Movie, or Non-Fiction Series – Kid 90 (Hulu)
Best Broadcast Network or Cable Sketch Series, Variety Series, Talk Show, or Comedy/Variety Special – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Best Streaming Sketch Series, Variety Series, Talk Show, or Comedy/Variety Special – Bo Burnham: Inside (Netflix)
Best Broadcast Network Reality Series, Competition Series, or Game Show – The Masked Singer (FOX)
Best Cable or Streaming Reality Series, Competition Series, or Game Show – RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
Best Broadcast Network or Cable Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Live-Action Television Movie – Mare of Easttown (HBO)
Best Streaming Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Live-Action Television Movie – WandaVision (Disney+)

Acting, Comedy

Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy – Ted Danson, Mr. Mayor (NBC)
Best Actress in a Broadcast or Cable Series, Comedy – Jane Levy, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)
Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy – Nico Santos, Superstore (NBC)
Best Supporting Actress in Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy – Mary Steenburgen, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist (NBC)

Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy – Jason Sudekis, Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy – Jean Smart, Hacks (HBOMax)
Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy – Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy – Hannah Einbinder, Hacks (HBOMax) & Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Acting, Drama

Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama – Billy Porter, Pose (FX)
Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama – MJ Rodriguez, Pose (FX)
Best Supporting Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama – Michael K. Williams, Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Drama – Tatiana Maslany, Perry Mason (HBO)

Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama – Josh O’Connor, The Crown (Netflix)
Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama – Emma Corrin, The Crown (Netflix)
Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama – Rupert Grint, Servant (Apple TV+)
Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Drama – Gillian Anderson, The Crown (Netflix)

Acting, Limited, Anthology Series, or Television Movie

Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie – Colman Domingo, Euphoria: Two-Part Special (HBO)
Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie – Anya Taylor-Joy, The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie – Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown
Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie – Kathryn Hahn, WandaVision (Disney+)