Community TV dramas stay immensely well-liked on the small display into the 2025 TV schedule, however anyone who stays tuned into the awards circuit is aware of that the large wins normally go to both streaming or premium cable reveals that do not produce 20+ episodes in a season. (Outlander is a notable exception because it’s often robbed on the award circuit.) CBS’ Matlock received a giant win on the long-delayed Critics Selection Awards, nevertheless, with Kathy Bates beating out a competitor from Shōgun, which in any other case swept the main drama classes.
Provided that the CCAs occurred shortly after I spoke with Discovered‘s Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar about their nominations for his or her community TV present, I’ve to surprise: are community dramas making a comeback in relation to essential recognition and awards?
Matlock’s Huge Win
At present in its first season on CBS (obtainable streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), Matlock earned two nominations for the 2025 Critics Selection Awards: Kathy Bates for Finest Actress in a Drama Collection and Skye P. Marshall for Finest Supporting Actress in a Drama. Whereas Marshall misplaced to Moeka Hoshi for Shōgun, Bates beat out the competitors to take the highest prize for dramatic TV actresses. It is no surprise that the community was fast to have fun the victory after the CCAs!
And so far as I recall, it’s been some time since a community TV drama was producing the type of buzz to win a significant class at a mainstream awards present. This Is Us was scooping up the trophies in its heyday, however that seems like fairly a very long time in the past at this level. I’m after all not suggesting that streaming and premium cable reveals don’t deserve recognition. I used to be blissful to see Shōgun doing so effectively after its Golden Globes wins again in January.
However dang it, as any person who watches and writes about community tv frequently, I can’t assist however be excited to see these reveals getting some love, and I shared exactly that lately with the celebs of NBC’s Discovered.
How Shanola Hampton And Mark-Paul Gosselaar Really feel About Their CCA Nominations
Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar star within the second season of Discovered, the extreme NBC drama that earned the post-Regulation & Order: SVU time slot this season to exchange Regulation & Order: Organized Crime. I used to be lucky sufficient to talk with the solid on the pink carpet of SCAD TVfest in Atlanta, shortly earlier than the Critics Selection Awards occurred. The Shameless alum was up for Finest Actress reverse Kathy Bates, whereas the Pitch vet was within the working for the Finest Supporting Actor trophy that went to Shōgun’s Tadanobu Asano.
The 2 Discovered stars play characters with a dynamic that’s difficult, to say the least, with Hampton’s Gabi searching for vengeance in opposition to Gosselaar’s Sir, who had kidnapped her when she was a teen. Gabi additionally makes use of her expertise (and Sir’s experience as her basement captive in Season 1) to search out lacking individuals as an grownup, and it’s a compelling sufficient present that I used to be excited to see it getting some awards consideration, even when not the win. Plus, witnessing the banter between the 2 stars was proof sufficient that they’re nice actors to painting a a lot darker relationship on display.
So, once I spoke with the pair at TVfest, I requested: How did it really feel to get that type of recognition when community TV doesn’t get the entire awards adore it deserves? Shanola Hampton weighed in:
Say it loud for the individuals within the scene! The reality of the matter is, once we began doing this challenge, by no means did we see that this might be due to community TV and what’s occurred with streaming and [premium cable] getting all of the awards consideration. It wasn’t one thing that we deliberate, so to be acknowledged for the work that we’re doing on Discovered and it being an NBC present, I feel says so much about NBC and the danger that they took with placing a present that was so related on the air and hiring some rattling good actors to play these roles. it is very nice.
Kathy Bates getting a win on CBS doesn’t precisely translate to the Discovered stars getting the promotion from NBC, however the nominations for Finest Actress and Finest Supporting Actor had been optimistic indicators that recognition isn’t inconceivable simply because a present doesn’t launch on a streamer or air on a big-budget premium cable community for shorter seasons. Community TV dramas that mix procedural instances with serialized storytelling getting noms? I take it as an excellent signal for all dramas, and particularly Discovered, after the Critics Selection Awards.
As for Mark-Paul Gosselaar, he echoed his co-star’s ideas about their recognition, full with a joke on the very finish:
Identical factor. All the pieces she stated, I agree. [to Shanola] You’re welcome.
Fortuitously, Discovered Season 2 isn’t almost over but, and the upcoming episode on February 13 must be a juicy one for each Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar because it turns again the clock to disclose precisely what occurred in these first days after Gabi captured Sir and trapped him in her basement. The truth is, Hampton advised me that Episode 12 on February 13 was her “favourite episode to shoot,” so followers will wish to tune in at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. And, for those who’re behind and must catch up, simply try each episode up to now with a Peacock subscription!
Apparently, Matlock and Discovered each air on Thursday nights, though circuitously in competitors with each other. Matlock airs forward of Carrie Preston’s Elsbeth on CBS, whereas Discovered airs after Mariska Hargitay’s Regulation & Order: SVU on NBC.