As a possible early indication of who and what will win big at the Emmys, the Television Critics Association handed out its 2019 awards with season 2 of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag taking home multiple trophies. The annual event was held during the TCA summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, where past winners have included Carrie Coon, Elisabeth Moss, Donald Glover, as well as series like The Americans and Atlanta.
In 2019, though, it seems that Waller-Bridge and her long-awaited return to Fleabag left the biggest impression on the members of the TCA, as the writer and actor took home three awards including Individual Achievement in Comedy, Outstanding Achievement in Comedy, and Program of the Year. It’s not often that one program so dominates a single awards show, but Fleabag’s standing is, if nothing else, indication of just how good the second season was.
The night honored other shows, too, like the acclaimed HBO and SKY miniseries Chernobyl, as well as Netflix’s clever, time-loopy Russian Doll, which took home the award tor Outstanding new Program. As always, the awards were capped off with the Lifetime Achievement Honoree and the Heritage Award, both of which went to Deadwood and its creator David Milch. For the rest of the awards, check out the complete list below:
2019 TCA Award recipients are as follows:
Individual Achievement in Drama: Michelle Williams (FOSSE/VERDON, FX)
Individual Achievement in Comedy: Phoebe Waller-Bridge (FLEABAG, Amazon)
Outstanding Achievement in News and Information: LEAVING NEVERLAND (HBO)
Outstanding Achievement in Reality Programming: QUEER EYE (Netflix)
Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming: ARTHUR (PBS Kids)
Outstanding Achievement in Sketch/Variety Shows: LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER (HBO)
Outstanding New Program: RUSSIAN DOLL (Netflix)
Outstanding Achievement in Movie Or Miniseries: CHERNOBYL (HBO)
Outstanding Achievement in Drama: BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC)
Outstanding Achievement in Comedy: FLEABAG (Amazon)
Program of the Year: FLEABAG (Amazon)
Lifetime Achievement Honoree: David Milch
Heritage Award: DEADWOOD (HBO)
All in all, it looks as though the 2019 TCA Awards may provide some insight into where the Emmys are headed. Michelle Williams’s win for Fosse/Verdon seems most likely to carry over to the big award ceremony next month, while Chernobyl is likely a good bet for miniseries. As for the rest, it will be interesting to see if the Emmy voters are as smitten with Waller-Bridge as the TCA are.
