"Mad Men" Vs. "The Wire": TCA Announces Nominees and A Few (Pleasant) Surprises

It's that time of year again as the Television Critics Association has announced their nominations for the TCA Awards, which will be handed out on July 19th in Beverly Hills.

Making headlines: AMC's Mad Men has tied HBO's The Wire with the top number of nominations. (For those of you looking for a sign that critics are clearly behind the itty-bitty cabler and the recent Golden Globe winner for Best Drama, there you go.)

This year's group of nominees are quite exciting choices (as seen from the full list below), with some of Televisionary's favorite programs represented, including multiple nominations for Damages, 30 Rock, Lost, Pushing Daisies, and Flight of the Conchords, to name but a few.

The full list of nominees for the TCA Awards is as follows:

Program of the Year:
John Adams Lost Mad Men Ken Burns' The War The Wire

Comedy:
30 Rock The Colbert Report The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Flight of the Conchords The Office

Drama:
Damages Friday Night Lights Lost Mad Men The Wire

Movies, Miniseries, and Specials:
John Adams Masterpiece: Cranford Masterpiece: The Complete Jane Austen Ken Burns' The War A Raisin in the Sun

New Program:
Breaking Bad Damages Flight of the Conchords Mad Men Pushing Daisies

Individual Achievement in Comedy:
Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Ray Wise (Reaper)

Individual Achievement in Drama:
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Paul Giamatti (John Adams)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
David Simon (The Wire)

Children's Programming:
Curious George Hannah Montana Word Girl Yo Gabba Gabba

News and Information:
Alive Day Memories This American Life Frontline Nimrod Nation Ken Burns' The War

Heritage Award:
M*A*S*H Roots Saturday Night Live Sesame Street The Wire

Which programs are you rooting for to take home the top prize? And who do you think will win in the nomination showdown between The Wire and Mad Men... and who should? Discuss.