TCA casts most ballots for 'West Wing,' 'Malcolm'

The Hollywood Reporter - June 6, 2000
By Cynthia Littleton

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- In what could well be a preview of next month's Primetime Emmy nominations, NBC's "The West Wing" and Fox's "Malcolm in the Middle" lead the pack of nominees for the 16th annual Television Critics Assn. Awards.

The White House drama "West Wing" is the pole winner with six TCA noms. The haul for the acclaimed Warner Bros. TV show comprises bids for best drama series, new program, program of the year and individual drama achievement for stars Martin Sheen and Allison Janney and creator Aaron Sorkin.

"Malcolm," the hit family comedy from Regency TV, snared mentions for comedy series, new program and individual comedy achievement for stars Frankie Muniz and Jane Kaczmarek. NBC, buoyed by the outpouring for "West Wing," leads the network field with a dozen nominations.

HBO's "The Sopranos," last year's TCA favorite, pulled nominations for drama series, program of the year and individual drama achievement for star James Gandolfini. NBC sitcom "Will & Grace" and ABC drama "Once and Again" also earned three mentions each. HBO's "Sex and the City," the WB Network's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," CBS' "Everybody Loves Raymond" and NBC's canceled "Freaks & Geeks" garnered two nominations apiece.

The biggest sensation of the 1999-2000 season, ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," is not among the best new program candidates, but the quiz show earned a mention for program of the year.

The contenders in the career achievement category are Mary Tyler Moore, Aaron Spelling, Dick Van Dyke, Mike Wallace and Dick Wolf.

The TCA Awards, determined by a survey of more than 220 North American print journalists, will be presented July 15 at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena.

A complete list of nominees follows.

Comedy series

"Everybody Loves Raymond" (CBS); "Frasier" (NBC); "Malcolm in the Middle" (Fox); "Sex and the City" (HBO); "Will & Grace" (NBC)

Drama series

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (WB Network); "Freaks & Geeks" (NBC); "Once and Again" (ABC); "The Sopranos" (HBO); "The West Wing" (NBC); "The Practice" (ABC)

Movie, miniseries OR special

"Annie" (ABC); "Arabian Nights" (ABC); "The Corner" (HBO); "Fail-Safe" (CBS); "Jesus" (CBS)

New program

"Freaks & Geeks" (NBC); "Judging Amy" (CBS); "Malcolm in the Middle" (Fox); "Once and Again" (ABC); "The West Wing" (NBC)

Individual achievement, comedy

Sean P. Hayes ("Will & Grace"); Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm in the Middle"); Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace"); Frankie Muniz ("Malcolm in the Middle"); Ray Romano ("Everybody Loves Raymond")

Individual achievement, drama

James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos"); Allison Janney ("The West Wing"); Martin Sheen ("The West Wing"); Aaron Sorkin ("The West Wing"); Sela Ward ("Once and Again")

Children's program

"Arthur" (PBS); "Bear in the Big Blue House" (Disney Channel); "Between the Lions" (PBS); "Blue's Clues" (Nickelodeon); "Sesame Street" (PBS)

News and information Program

"ABC Millennium Special" (ABC); "The American Presidents" (PBS); "Frontline" (PBS); "60 Minutes" (CBS); "Walking With Dinosaurs" (Discovery)

Program of the year

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (WB Network); "Sex and the City" (HBO); "The Sopranos" (HBO); "The West Wing" (NBC); "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (ABC)

Career achievement

Mary Tyler Moore; Aaron Spelling; Dick Van Dyke; Mike Wallace; Dick Wolf


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