Pamela Adlon and Ramy Youssef now have two more things in common. This week, both:
– Had their shows – “Better Things” (shown here) and “Ramy” – renewed for another season; and
– Received Television Critics Association nominations. In fact, Adlon received two.
These two are from different generations, different backgrounds. Youssef is 29, Egyption-American and Muslim, a fresh force as a comedian turned actor; Adlon is 54 and Jewish, with a whole previous life as a child star and voice actor.
But both have mastered the new trend: Create subtle comedy-dramas close to your real life. Have low quantity – just 10 half-hours a season – and high quality, with a personal touch. Both produce, co-write and star in their shows; Youssef directs some of his episodes, Adlon directs all of hers.
Now they’ll be back for new seasons – the third for Youssef and the fifth for Adlon, whose deal also has her possibly doing other projects for FX and Disney.
And now they’re both nominated in the TCA’s individual comedy category. In addition, Adlon’s “Better Things” is nominated in the comedy show category. The nominees are:
– PROGRAM OF THE YEAR: “Better Call Saul,” AMC; “Mrs. America,” FX on Hulu; “Schitt’s Creek,” Pop TV; “Succession,” HBO; “Unbelievable,” Netflix; “Watchmen,” HBO,
– COMEDY (show): “Better Things,” FX; “Dead to Me,” Netflix; “The Good Place,” NBC; “Insecure,” HBO; “Schitt’s Creek,” Pop TV; “What We Do in the Shadows,” FX.
– COMEDY (individual): Pamela Adlon, “Better Things,” FX; Christina Applegate, “Dead to Me,” Netflix; Elle Fanning, “The Great,” Hulu; Catherine O’Hara, “Schitt’s Creek,” Pop TV; Issa Rae, “Insecure,” HBO; Ramy Youssef, “Ramy,” Hulu.
– DRAMA (show):“Better Call Saul,” AMC; “The Crown,” Netflix; “Euphoria,” HBO; “The Good Fight,” CBS All Access; “Pose,” FX; “Succession,” HBO.
– DRAMA (individual):: Cate Blanchett, “Mrs. America,” FX on Hulu; Kaitlyn Dever, “Unbelievable,” Netflix; Regina King, “Watchmen,” HBO; Mark Ruffalo, “I Know This Much Is True,” HBO; Rhea Seehorn, “Better Call Saul,” AMC; Jeremy Strong, “Succession,” HBO; Merrit Wever, “Unbelievable,” Netflix.
– MOVIE OR MINISERIES: “Little Fires Everywhere,” Hulu; “Mrs. America,” FX on Hulu; “Normal People,” Hulu; “The Plot Against America,” HBO; “Unbelievable,” Netflix; “Watchmen,” HBO.
– SKETCH/VARIETY: “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” HBO; “The Daily Show,” Comedy Central; “Saturday Night Live,” NBC; and the shows of Samantha Bee (TBS), Seth Meyers (NBC) and John Oliver (HBO).
– NEW SHOW: “The Great,” Hulu; “The Mandalorian,” Disney+; “The Morning Show,” AppleTV+; “Never Have I Ever,” Netflix; “Watchmen,” HBO; “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” NBC.
– NEWS AND INFORMATION: “60 Minutes,” CBS; “Frontline,” PBS; “Hillary,” Hulu; “The Last Dance,” ESPN; “McMillions,” HBO; “The Rachel Maddow Show,” MSNBC.
– REALITY: “Cheer,” Netflix; “Encore!” Disney+; “Holey Moley,” ABC; “Making It,” NBC; “Top Chef All-Stars L.A.,” Bravo; “We’re Here!” HBO,
– YOUTH: “Carmen Sandiego,” Netflix; “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” PBS; “Molly of Denali,” PBS; “Odd Squad,” PBS; “Wild Kratts,” PBS; “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum,” PBS.