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For the first time in the 11-year history of the Television Critics Association’s Outstanding Achievement in Reality Television award, there are two winners in the category, because there was an actual tie.

BothNetflix’sDeaf U andShowtime’sCouples Therapy won TCA Awards; it was the first time each show was nominated, and they were up againstsix other excellent reality TV shows.

Nyle DiMarco, an executive producer ofDeaf U and formerAmerica’s Next Top Model winner, said in a video message, “This is a historic moment for our Deaf community. Besides the fact that Deaf U broke the mold by showcasing that deaf people are not a monolithic group, over 50 percent of our crew members were deaf. Deaf talent on screen and behind the camera is a rare combination, and I’m optimistic that we can be a symbol for change and further inclusion.”

The 200+ members of the TCA vote for both nominees and, later, winners, and because of the relatively small number of voters, votes are often very close, and ties have happened in the past. For example, in 2010, the drama award went to both AMC’sBreaking Bad and ABC’sLost.

The FX documentaryFraming Britney Spears won the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement In News and Information.

As if those outstanding unscripted shows winning TCA Awards wasn’t good enough news,The Golden Girls won the TCA’s heritage award, and that’s perfect timing, considering how much Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White kept me company and made me laugh these past 18 months.

Winners in scripted TV categories include the individual achievement in drama award going to Michaela Coel forI May Destroy You; Jean Smart winning the individual achievement in comedy award forHacks, and the TCA’s lifetime achievement award; plus three awards forTed Lasso.

The full list of winners is below, and you can see some of them talk about their awards here, in this virtual backstage video:

Full disclosure: I am a voting member of the TCA, and as secretary of the organization, I help administer the awards. But like all members, I get just one vote.

2021 TCA Award winners

Heritage Award

• “The Golden Girls” – NBC

Career Achievement

• Jean Smart

Individual Achievement in Drama

• Winner: Michaela Coel, “I May Destroy You” – HBO
• Ethan Hawke, “The Good Lord Bird” – Showtime
• Thuso Mbedu, “The Underground Railroad” – Amazon
• Elizabeth Olsen, “WandaVision” – Disney+
• Mj Rodriguez, “Pose” – FX
• Omar Sy, “Lupin” – Netflix
• Anya Taylor-Joy, “The Queen’s Gambit” – Netflix
• Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown” – HBO

Individual Achievement in Comedy

• Bo Burnham, “Bo Burnham: Inside” – Netflix
• Kaley Cuoco, “The Flight Attendant” – HBO Max
• Maya Erskine, “Pen15” – Hulu
• Renee Elise Goldsberry, “Girls5Eva” – Peacock
• Charlotte Nicdao, “Mythic Quest” – Apple TV+
• Winner: Jean Smart, “Hacks” – HBO Max
• Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
• Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+

Outstanding Achievement in News and Information

• “Allen v. Farrow” – HBO
• “City So Real” – NatGeo
• Winner: “Framing Britney Spears” – FX/FX On Hulu
• “Frontline” – PBS
• “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” – HBO
• “Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special” – CBS
• “The Rachel Maddow Show” – MSNBC
• “60 Minutes” – CBS

Outstanding Achievement in Reality Television

• Winner:Couples Therapy, Showtime
• Winner:Deaf U, Netflix
• The Great Pottery Throw Down, HBO Max
• Legendary, HBO Max
• Nailed It! Double Trouble, Netflix
• The Real World Homecoming: New York, Paramount+
• Taste the Nation, Hulu
• Top Chef: Portland, Bravo

Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming

• Winner: “The Baby-Sitters Club” – Netflix
• “Bluey” – Disney Jr.
• “Donkey Hodie” – PBS Kids
• “Emily’s Wonder Lab” – Netflix
• “Odd Squad” – PBS Kids
• “Sesame Street” – HBO
• “Waffles + Mochi” – Netflix
• “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum” – PBS Kids

Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, or Specials

• “Bo Burnham: Inside” – Netflix
• “The Good Lord Bird” – Showtime
• “I May Destroy You” – HBO
• “It’s a Sin” – HBO Max
• Winner: “Mare of Easttown” – HBO
• “The Queen’s Gambit” – Netflix
• “The Underground Railroad” – Amazon
• “WandaVision” – Disney+

Outstanding Achievement in Drama

• “Bridgerton” – Netflix
• Winner: “The Crown” – Netflix
• “For All Mankind” – Apple TV+
• “The Handmaid’s Tale” – Hulu
• “Lovecraft Country” – HBO
• “The Mandalorian” – Disney+
• “Pose” – FX
• “P-Valley” – Starz

Outstanding Achievement in Comedy

• “The Flight Attendant” – HBO Max
• “Girls5Eva” – Peacock
• “Hacks” – HBO Max
• “Mythic Quest” – Apple TV+
• “Pen15” – Hulu
• “Superstore” – NBC
• Winner: “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
• “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” – NBC

Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk, or Sketch

• “The Amber Ruffin Show” – Peacock
• “A Black Lady Sketch Show” – HBO
• “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Comedy Central
• “Desus & Mero” – Showtime
• Winner: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” – HBO
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” – NBC
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” – CBS
• “Saturday Night Live” – NBC
• “Ziwe” – Showtime

Outstanding New Program

• “Bridgerton” – Netflix
• “The Flight Attendant” – HBO Max
• “Hacks” – HBO Max
• “I May Destroy You” – HBO
• “Mare of Easttown” – HBO
• “P-Valley” – Starz
• Winner: “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
• “WandaVision” – Disney+

Program of the Year

• “Bridgerton” – Netflix
• “Hacks” – HBO Max
• “I May Destroy You” – HBO
• “Mare of Easttown” – HBO
• “The Queen’s Gambit” – Netflix
• Winner: “Ted Lasso” – Apple TV+
• “The Underground Railroad” – Amazon
• “WandaVision” – Disney+

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