Wendi McLendon-Covey On Hosting the TCA Awards, Which Returns In-Person For the First Time in Five Years: ‘No Pressure!’

It’s been quite a long wait, but the Television Critics Association’s annual TCA Awards returns to an in-person event this year for the first time since 2019. After the COVID-19 pandemic and last year’s Hollywood strikes turned everything virtual for five years, the 40th annual TCA Awards takes place at the Langham Pasadena on July 12, during the half-way point of this summer’s TCA press tour.

And looking to get things back on track is host and critics’ fave Wendi McLendon-Covey.

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“No pressure,” she jokes. “But my God, it’s going to feel good to actually get to be in person again have that return to normalcy. I love the TCAs, I love meeting everybody.  Maybe I’m a nerd, but I’m looking forward to it.”

McLendon-Covey, who was part of the team scoring an Emmy nom in 2022 for the TV movie “Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon,” is also known for her long-running stint on ABC’s “The Goldbergs” and is next in the new NBC comedy “St. Denis Medical,” with David Alan Grier and Allison Tolman.

That new series, from the team behind “Superstore,” just landed an order for five additional episodes, on top of its initial 13 — which means she’ll still be in production when TCA arrives. “We’re having a blast with it, and I’m so glad I don’t have to pack up my trailer and say goodbye to everybody,” she says. “It’s great we get to keep going for a little bit.”

When it comes to this year’s TCA Awards, Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” and “Ripley,” as well as FX’s “Shogun,” lead the nominations, with five apiece. FX and Netflix both scored 16 nods overall, leading all outlets.

The TCA Awards bestows honors in comedy, drama, movies/miniseries/specials, news and information, variety/talk/sketch, reality, family programming and children’s programming. It also awards non-gendered prizes for individual achievements in comedy and drama.

And then there’s the top award, for program of the year. This year’s contenders include “Baby Reindeer,” “Ripley” and “Shogun,” as well as FX’s “The Bear” and “Reservation Dogs,” and Max’s “Hacks.”

“What a delicious treat ‘Shogun’ is,” McLendon-Covey says. “It’s so great. I voted ‘Shogun’ across the board for Emmys. And ‘Fargo’ was absolutely terrifying.”

Perhaps showcasing the confusing nature of categories and genre, “Baby Reindeer,” “Fargo” and “Ripley” all received nominations in both the drama and movie/miniseries/specials categories. In drama, they’re up against “Shogun,” Prime Video’s “Fallout” and HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country.” In movies/minis/specials, they face Netflix’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” Showtime’s “Fellow Travelers” and HBO’s “The Sympathizer.”

In comedy, McLendon-Covey notes, “I think ‘Hacks’ will do really well. And I absolutely respect ‘Abbott Elementary.’ Quinta Brunson is fantastic.” “Abbott,” which won the comedy award in 2022, is up against 2023 winner “The Bear,” as well as “Hacks,” “Reservation Dogs,” Netflix’s “Girls5eva” and Peacock’s “We Are Lady Parts.”

McLendon-Covey notes that she’s not too experienced with hosting awards events — but unlike most shows, the TCA Awards are casual — and the audience of reporters and winners know the results beforehand, so it’s a stress-free evening.

“I want to keep it light,” she says. “I want to keep it positive. I do feel that there is a way that can be done. I think people are sick to death of bad news, politics and all of that shit. Pardon my French! There is a way and a need to keep things fun and focus on the fact that we are back together after five years. How lucky we are to have jobs where we can celebrate all these things! So that’s what I really want to concentrate on.”

Here are this year’s nominees:

Program of the Year
“Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
“The Bear” – FX
‘Hacks” – HBO | Max
“Reservation Dogs” – FX
“Ripley” – Netflix
“Shōgun” – FX
 
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
“Abbott Elementary” – ABC (2022 Winner in Category)
“The Bear” – FX (2023 Winner in Category)
“Girls5eva” – Netflix
“Hacks” – HBO | Max
“Reservation Dogs” – FX
“We Are Lady Parts” – Peacock
 
Outstanding Achievement in Drama
“Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
“Fallout” – Prime Video
“Fargo” – FX
“Ripley” – Netflix
“Shōgun” – FX
“True Detective: Night Country” – HBO | Max
 
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries or Specials
“Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
“The Fall of the House of Usher” – Netflix
“Fargo” – FX
“Fellow Travelers” – Showtime
“Ripley” – Netflix
“The Sympathizer” – HBO | Max
 
Outstanding New Program
“Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
“Fallout” – Prime Video
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” – Prime Video
“Ripley” – Netflix
“Shōgun” – FX
“X-Men ’97” – Disney+
 
Individual Achievement in Drama
Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country” – HBO | Max
Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer” – Netflix
Hiroyuki Sanada, ”Shōgun” – FX
Anna Sawai, “Shōgun” – FX
Andrew Scott, “Ripley” – Netflix
Juno Temple, “Fargo” – FX
 
Individual Achievement in Comedy
Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary” – ABC (2022 Winner in Category)
Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear” – FX
Renée Elise Goldsberry, “Girls5eva” – Netflix
Devery Jacobs, “Reservation Dogs” – FX
Jean Smart, “Hacks” – HBO | Max (2021 Winner in Category)
Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear” – FX
 
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information
“America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston” – PBS
“Frontline” – PBS (Eight-time Winner in Category)
“The Jinx: Part Two” – HBO | Max
“Queens” – Nat Geo
“Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” – ID
“Telemarketers” – HBO | Max
 
Outstanding Achievement in Variety, Talk or Sketch
“The Daily Show” – Comedy Central (2004 Winner in News & Information ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” – ABC
“John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA” – Netflix
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” – HBO | Max (2021, 2019 & 2018 Winner in Category, and in 2015 Winner in News & Information)
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” – NBC
“Saturday Night Live” – NBC
 
Outstanding Achievement in Reality
“The Amazing Race” – CBS (2011 & 2022 Winner in Category)
“Conan O’Brien Must Go” – HBO | Max
“Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show” – HBO | Max
“The Traitors” – Peacock
“Top Chef” – Bravo
“We’re Here” – HBO | Max
“Welcome to Wrexham” – FX
 
Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming
“Doctor Who” – Disney+
“Heartstopper” – Netflix
“My Adventures with Superman” – Adult Swim
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” – Disney+
“Renegade Nell” – Disney+
“X-Men ’97” – Disney+
 
Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming
“Bluey” – Disney+ (2023 Winner in Category)
“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” – PBS KIDS (2016 Winner in Youth Category)
“Frog and Toad” – Apple TV+
“Pokémon Concierge” – Netflix
“Sesame Street” – HBO | Max (2018, 2011 & 2001 Winner in Youth Category)
“Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin” – Apple TV+

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