2012 TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARD NOMINEES

I am the Media Strategist for The Television Critics Association.

THE TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES

2012 TCA AWARDS NOMINEES

TCA Program of the Year Nominees Represent Diverse Genres From Period Piece “Downton Abbey” and Fantasy Adventure “Game of Thrones” to Arresting Dramas “Breaking Bad,” “Homeland” and “Mad Men”   

Critics Nominate Stellar Personalities for Career Achievement Award, Including Dick Clark, Andy Griffith, David Letterman, Regis Philbin and William Shatner 

The 28th Annual TCA Awards will be Presented on Saturday, July 28 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel

LOS ANGELES (June 7, 2012) – The Television Critics Association (TCA), a media organization with more than 200 professional TV critics and journalists from the United States and Canada, today announced nominations for its 2012 TCA Awards.  The 2012 TCA Awards recognize outstanding television programming in the 2011-2012 season, honoring both actors and producers in a variety of categories including news and information, youth, reality, drama and comedy achievements.

The winners of the 28th Annual TCA Awards will be announced at the invitation-only presentation on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, as part of the group’s bi-annual industry conference.

The nominations for current programming are spread across all four broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox — PBS, and 13 cable networks. HBO leads the way with eight nominations; AMC has six; NBC and PBS each have five; and CBS and FX each have four.

The nominees include a number of past winners, including Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm, Jim Parsons and shows ranging from “Mad Men” to “Game of Thrones” and “The Daily Show” to “The Big Bang Theory.”

But there are also a number of first-time nominees, including “Homeland” and its star, Claire Danes, and “Girls” and its creator/star, Lena Dunham.

“Homeland” and “Girls” join “New Girl,” “Revenge” and “Smash” as nominees for Outstanding New Program.

“These nominees represent the highest quality that television had to offer in the past year,” said TCA President Candace Havens. “Our more than 200 members chose these people and programs as the best of the best.”

In addition to recognizing the year’s finest programming, the TCA Awards bestow a Heritage Award trophy to one long-standing program that has culturally or socially impacted society. This year, the TCA members have nominated some of TV’s most memorable series with NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” ABC’s “Lost,” NBC’s “Cheers,” NBC’s “Star Trek” and ABC’s “Twin Peaks” as nominees in this eminent category.

The organization also presents a Career Achievement Award to an individual who has influenced television through his work on the small screen. Nominees include TV host/producer Dick Clark (“American Bandstand”), late-night talk show host David Letterman (“Late Show with David Letterman”), actor William Shatner (“Star Trek”), actor Andy Griffith (“The Andy Griffith Show”) and TV host Regis Philbin (“Regis and Kelly”).

Below is the complete list of the 2012 Television Critics Association nominees.

Individual Achievement in Drama

  1. Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad,” AMC)
  2. Claire Danes (“Homeland,” Showtime)
  3. Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones,” HBO)
  4. Jon Hamm (“Mad Men,” AMC)
  5. Jessica Lange (“American Horror Story,” FX)

Individual Achievement in Comedy

  1. Louis C.K. (“Louie,” FX)
  2. Lena Dunham (“Girls,” HBO)
  3. Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” HBO)
  4. Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory,” CBS)
  5. Amy Poehler (“Parks and Recreation,” NBC)

Outstanding Achievement in News and Information

  1. “Anderson Cooper 360” (CNN)
  2. “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
  3. “Frontline” (PBS)
  4. “60 Minutes” (CBS)
  5. “The Rachel Maddow Show” (MSNBC)

Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming

  1. “The Amazing Race” (CBS)
  2. “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC)
  3. “The Glee Project” (Oxygen)
  4. “So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox)
  5. “The Voice” (NBC)

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming

  1.  “iCarly” (Nickelodeon)
  2. “Phineas and Ferb” (Disney)
  3.  “Sesame Street” (PBS)
  4. “Switched at Birth” (ABC Family)
  5. “Yo Gabba Gabba” (Nick Jr.)

Outstanding New Program

  1. “Girls” (HBO)
  2. “Homeland” (Showtime)
  3. “New Girl” (Fox)
  4. “Revenge” (ABC)
  5. “Smash” (NBC)

Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials

  1. “Downton Abbey: Masterpiece” (PBS)
  2. “Game Change” (HBO)
  3. “Hatfields & McCoys” (History)
  4. “Hemingway & Gellhorn” (HBO)
  5. “Sherlock: Masterpiece” (PBS)

Outstanding Achievement in Drama

  1. “Breaking Bad” (AMC)
  2. “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
  3. “Homeland” (Showtime)
  4. “Justified” (FX)
  5. “Mad Men” (AMC)

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy

  1. “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
  2. “Community” (NBC)
  3. “Louie” (FX)
  4. “Modern Family” (ABC)
  5. “Parks and Recreation” (NBC)

Career Achievement Award

  1. Dick Clark
  2. Andy Griffith
  3. David Letterman
  4. Regis Philbin
  5. William Shatner

Heritage Award

  1. “Cheers” (NBC)
  2. “Lost” (ABC)
  3. “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
  4. “Star Trek” (NBC)
  5. “Twin Peaks” (ABC)

Program of the Year

  1. “Breaking Bad” (AMC)
  2. “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
  3. “Homeland” (Showtime)
  4. “Mad Men” (AMC)
  5. “Downton Abbey: Masterpiece” (PBS)

ABOUT THE TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION

The Television Critics Association represents more than 200 journalists writing about television for print and online outlets in the United States and Canada. For 28 years the TCA has honored outstanding achievement in television and enduring contributions to the medium’s heritage through the TCA Awards.  Membership in the Television Critics Association is open to full-time TV writers at newspapers, magazines, trade publications, news wire services, news syndicates, and text-based Internet news organizations. For additional information on the TCA, please visit www.tvcritics.org. The TCA is also represented on Facebook and Twitter. To follow the Summer TCA on twitter, tweets are represented with the hashtag #TCAs12.

 

-TCA-

Can Charlie Get Back His Sheen?

Charlie is Still Driving His Messaging, But Now in a Good Way Credit: Ian White

Can you “win” too much?

In the case of Charlie Sheen, he’s gulping a tall glass of mea culpa and eating humble pie right now for he’s done just that – except his winning wasn’t that, it was the opposite…losing. And now after not being able to handle being fired from a $1.2 million dollar a week paycheck on CBS’ “Two and a Half Men,” he is trying to mop up after himself and doing a PR about-face.

Do you think Charlie will be able to rebound after his unstable recent past?

I know I don’t need to explain Charlie Sheen’s predicament and what led him to start his own crisis management. You all are too well aware of his podcasts, tweets, live shows and contentious battles with his former employers, Warner Bros. TV.

However, all of a sudden Sheen has apparently seen the light. I don’t know where and when the light bulb went off and he started realizing that he was a tornado that was destroying everything and everyone in his path. But, I’m glad he did and I’m happy that he’s trying to make amends wherever and whenever possible.

As a PR practitioner, Charlie Sheen has been an amazing case study to follow. From being a train wreck taking his own PR into his own hands last March, to now, publicly pleading for forgiveness, we all can learn from his mistakes. Sheen is on the Good Ship Lollipop PR train doing whatever he can to be self-deprecating about his past and trying to move forward so he can be perceived as a stable employee, father, son and well, human being. But is that enough?

From firing his longtime publicist early last year, he’s now employed one once again.  And although, he was allowed to be a presenter at the Emmys for ratings, you have admit that it was smart strategy to use that platform to publicly apologize and try to save your face. Can you think of another venue that would allow you to be in front of over 12 million viewers in one swoop?

PR WHIRLWIND

The PR profession is alive and well and in full operation with the triad surrounding Sheen. Not only is Sheen trying to stay in the message, publicists for “Two and a Half Men” are trying to keep their message in the trend whirlwind as well. For no matter how you slice it, when Sheen speaks, the media and public listen. When someone from “Two and A Half Men” speaks…they have to speak loader to get noticed if Sheen is not recognized. He is a news magnet.

With that, have you noticed Ashton Kutcher making the rounds to talk shows? Did you see Jon Cryer get a star on the Walk of Fame? CBS’ PR team is on high alert to succeed this year without Sheen.

Who will get the last laugh? Well, if you tuned into Comedy Central’s Roast of Charlie Sheen Monday night  (another perfectly timed appearance), Charlie would tell you he’s already won.

And who could argue that! He’s now allegedly getting a $25 million settlement and doesn’t have a financial worry in the world. However, with this new Charlie we are seeing, he has a conscious and an awareness that his behavior was in poor judgement. I just hope he starts the healing process toward finding that peace that passes all understanding.

Time does heal all wounds…and the viewing public will come around once he consistently proves that he on the stable train to wellness. That’s the best PR he can buy.

Don’t take my word for it. Here’s Charlie’s view from his recent roast.

Roast of Charlie Sheen Mon, Sept 19 10/9c
Charlie Sheen – Charlie on Mars
www.comedycentral.com
Comedy Central Funny TV Shows Roast of Charlie Sheen

 

 

Current TV’S Olbermann Hire is a Game-Changer

Current TV hits a home run with Olbermann.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Current TV will become more successful with the hire of left-wing political journalist Keith Olbermann. This type of business move, bringing a large brand or entity to a smaller one, is a tried and true formula that has worked for a number of similar situations and companies.

BIG FISH IN SMALL POND WORKS

Television and cable networks have employed this philosophy numerous times to raise ratings and profiles and to gain subscribers. That’s why NBC invests in the Olympics. CBS, FOX and ESPN the NFLABC and the Academy Awards.  NBC with the Golden Globes.  Exclusive events such as these always draw massive crowds (i.e., Super Bowl 45 broke ratings records as the most-watched television program of all time, averaging 111 million viewers on the Fox network..)

The above are franchises, but this also applies to people with big profiles and followings.  CBS News lured Katie Couric to its network.  TBS nabbed Conan O’Brien.  And now Keith Olbermann switches to Current TV.  These transaction occurred for the same reason – to increase subscribers and ratings. This exchange also is reminiscent of when Howard Stern jumped from traditional radio to satellite.  Sometimes this big-to-small ploy does not work.  But, in this case, it makes total sense.  It’s like putting a lemon in water. One enhances the taste of the other.  Whereas, while Olbermann was at MSNBC, his views and MSNBC’s views became more like oil and water.  The two just separate.

PREDICTIONS

Will Olbermann bring more viewers to Current TV? Yes.

Will the audience stay with him? Yes and No. It all depends on the quality of the content.

Will Olbermann have more freedom to express his views? Definitely yes.

Will Current TV provide Olbermann with a platform to express his big ideas without corporate pressure? Yes.

Olbermann will make Current TV exciting and as such, this move is a real game changer that the network desperately needed.

This was a great strategic business move by both parties.

I can hardly wait until the Spring.

Treat Celebrities as Equals

Why Can’t They Play Nice Together?

Dawn C. Chmielewski and Amy Kaufman’s article “Is Nickelodeon going to give rival Disney the brush off at Kids’ Choice Awards? “in the Los Angeles Times on Saturday, March 27, reminded me about an ugly practice in our business — excluding celebrities from events or shows just because they belong to another company not currently owned by the “said” media conglomerate. For those of you who haven’t experienced this yet in your PR practice, this is a common reality in the world of entertainment PR.

Here’s how it works.  Let say, Ed O’Neill from ABC’s hit comedy “Modern Family” was pitched to be on NBC’s “The Today Show” – well, this pitch wouldn’t have happened, because “The Today Show” only wants NBC celebrities and plus, ABC has their own morning show “Good Morning America.”  The same holds true for late night celebrities.  Seldom, if ever, would you see a non-CBS celebrity on “Late Show with David Letterman” or an non-NBC’er on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”  And the pockets go much deeper – this also stretches into the programs of their cable sisters.  Even if Ed O’Neill was in a blockbuster movie by an independent studio, he would be seen as ABC’s goods and would guest non-Grata anywhere else.  It’s a fraternity if you will and the Networks run their own private country clubs. They take care of their own and believe me the system is well aware of it.

So if I was given the keys to the media kingdom, here’s the first change I would make – its revolutionary – but I’d open my companies doors and let everyone in – no matter what competing show they were on or rival network or for that matter parent owner.  If a person is in the media, they are allowed in – no questions asked.

Just imagine – MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow could be included in a “60 Minutes” piece.  Or “Dancing with the Stars” celebrities could appear on “Late Show With David Letterman” or Jay Leno could guest on “Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel.”  Or for that matter, Craig Ferguson could visit with the gals on “The View.”  Better yet, the stars that the kids love would be welcome on the red carpet at the “Kids Choice Awards!”

I really don’t understand this industry insecurity.  It’s dysfunctional and has to go.  The TV industry needs to embrace social media’s world-wide philosophy of sharing your knowledge with others — not holding on to your tools and hoarding your wares.  The open source system has been life-changing.  One cannot but appreciate Google and Wikipedia. They’ve brought so much into our lives.

Even Bart Simpson Gets It!

So if I was Media King for a day, that’s what I’d do. I’d remove all network celebrity restrictions and would not fear that I would lose tune-in by doing so. In fact, I think I’d gain audience share by practicing good will and trusting that I am producing a good product.  Life is about competition. That’s a certain.   But, why do companies have to remain in fear and paranoia of not providing their customers with the best content possible?

Wouldn’t the world truly be a better place?

I’d love to hear your thoughts about these restrictions. Also, tell me what celebrity would you like to see on a competing network show.

One can dream.

Cindy

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