Vote for the Best Character in a Procedural!

The Yahooies, Yahoo TV’s awards for the best of the 2014-’15 TV season including summer shows, continues today with a category honoring those characters in procedurals who keep us tuning in.

And the nominees for Best Character in a Procedural are…

Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel), Bones

Talk about a beautiful mind. Temperance “Bones” Brennan is brilliant and blunt — and we seriously couldn’t love her more. Socially awkward and unintentionally funny (she thinks Jersey Shore is a documentary about the “Guido Tribe”), this hyper-intelligent FBI forensic anthropologist lacks the ability to understand social cues, perhaps as a result of her traumatic past. Still, Brennan stood by her hot hubby Seeley Booth (played by David Boreanaz) after weathering a gambling storm and later followed him out the door of the Jeffersonian. Sure, she analyzes everything, but this logical leading lady is unlike any female nerd we’ve ever seen on TV. —Victoria Leigh Miller

Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), Castle

After seven seasons (going on eight), Richard Castle is still cocky, immature, and often downright ridiculous, but that’s just what makes him so lovable. He brings sunshine to the otherwise serious and tortured Kate Beckett… and to our hearts. Always. —Breanne L. Heldman

Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), Criminal Minds

With a crazy high IQ and an eidetic memory, Dr. Spencer Reid is the youngest and smartest FBI Supervisory Special Agent. An eccentric supergenius with an ever-changing ‘do, Reid has been shot, poisoned, tortured, and drugged, and he’s even been held hostage by ‘90s heartthrobs-turned bad guys James Van Der Beek and Luke Perry. It also doesn’t hurt that in addition to being a braniac, he’s really easy on the eyes, so consider him our official Criminal Minds crush. —VLM

Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), Law and Order: SVU

For 16 seasons, Mariska Hargitay has played sex crimes cop Det. Olivia Benson, who is hands down the best female detective in the business. A passionate victims’ advocate who makes short work of creeps on the street, this tough cookie is so good at her job she was promoted to sergeant in Season 15 of the NBC drama, but she’s still nurturing enough to take in a foster child. No wonder fans call her Badass Benson. —VLM

Trudy Platt (Amy Morton), Chicago, P.D.

She might not be the biggest character on this Dick Wolf series, but she might be its most beloved. The Desk Sergeant hurls sarcastic insults at her charges — especially Burgess — but, without fail, we eventually learn they come from a place of love and support. She’s sharp, protective, proud, yet surprisingly filled with insecurities. We both fear her and want to give her a big hug. And don’t even get us started on her adorable relationship with Chicago Fire’s Mouch. —BLH

Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), NCIS

How can you not love a girl who sleeps in a coffin? Abby is not your run-of-the-mill forensic scientist. A happy-go-lucky goth, this alt-techie wears black and sports tats, but she’s also smart, sensitive, fearless and, yes, pretty freaking adorable (especially when she warms the heart of Mark Harmon’s Gibbs). Perrette plays Abby to perfection, and the quirky character provides an interesting alternative to a typical science geek. —VLM

Winners will be announced the week of Sept. 14.