Last year, for the first
time in my career of examining awards shows, I took a fairly deep dive into the
NAACP Image Nominations as they pertained to television. I had been aware of
them for more than a decade but for reasons that should be obvious (particularly
if you’ve looked at the picture in my profile) I didn’t quite feel fit to
evaluate them. More to the point, quite a few of the series even then I had not
watched more due to my not receiving the cable services that cover them. So I
was prepared to ignore them yet again – and then I actually looked at the
actors and series they nominated.
And I was impressed. Not
just because they were recognizing series I have worshipped but the Emmys
pretty much ignored – black-ish, This is Us, Insecure – as well as actors
whose work I’ve admired for years – Regina Hall, Angela Bassett, Forest
Whitaker – but because they were nominated the kind of series you’d think the
Emmys should have been nominating for a while. It’s kind of bad form to pretend
that series like the Power franchise and All-American don’t exist
mainly because you seem to be ignoring the networks they appear on, especially when
the Emmys just fine acknowledging series that don’t appear on television in the
traditional sense of the word anymore. Starz did better in one year than they’ve
ever done in over a decade of looking at the Emmys critically and that’s even
if you want to only consider the monochrome series such as Outlander, Magic
City or Gaslit. Not that they’d
have to try that hard, but they keep making you look bad.
So I decided to take a
look at this year’s nominations, expecting that given the rise of so many
minority based programs, the Images might do an even better job. Good thing I
got there before they actually air next Saturday. Here are my reactions,
starting with drama:
Outstanding Drama Series
I guess I shouldn’t be
shocked to see Euphoria and Bridgerton here. I am happier to see P-Valley
getting recognized because that’s a tougher market. Queen Sugar has
been a constant, and give them credit for acknowledging Bel-Air. I won’t
deny I’m sad not to see either This is Us or Snowfall here, but
one can you do.
Outstanding Actor in a
Drama Series
Sterling Brown back for
one last right, maybe he’ll win. Most of the leads are good candidates, especially
Damson Idris for Snowfall and Nicco Annan for P-Valley. Sole disappointment:
no Forest Whitaker.
Outstanding Actress in a
Drama Series
I shouldn’t be surprised
Zendaya is here, so I’ll settle for evaluating her competition. I am glad to
see Queen Latifah and Angela Bassett present, and glad to see P-Valley and
Queen Sugar in the ranks. I think we all know who the winner will be.
Outstanding Supporting
Actor in a Drama
Now I’m disappointed not
to see Giancarlo Esposito present (though he did get nominated later on) or
Andre Braugher. That said, I am glad to see Caleb McLaughin get recognized for Stranger
Things. I’ll withhold comment on the rest.
Outstanding Supporting Actress
in A Drama
Thrilled to see Susan Kelechi
Watson back one last time, and I’ve always admired both Loretta Devine and
Bianca Lawson. Will leave the rest alone.
As for Directing and
Writing, well I’m happier. I’m thrilled to see The Good Fight recognized
twice in writing and Women in the Movement deserves all the nominations
in gets in both categories. (I am thrilled it was recognized in Drama. Glad to
see Esposito acknowledged for directing Better Call Saul and a huge fan
of Kasi Lemmons, glad she was nominated too. Credit for Ptolemy Grey who
deserved more love.
On to comedy where I’m
much happier.
Outstanding Comedy Series
My sole question is black-ish’s
presence when it concluded in early February. Otherwise no complaints. No one
will argue with Abbott Elementary or Atlanta; I’m thrilled to see
The Wonder Years here, and I have no, well, sh!t about Rap Shit.
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy
No complaints here
either. Anthony Anderson, Donald Glover, and Dule Hill more than earned it, few
would question the presence of Cedric the Entertainer and I’m fine with Mike
Epps for The Upshaws.
Outstanding Actress in a
Comedy
No one would dare
question Quinta Brunson or Tracee Ellis Ross, Maya Rudolph is a national
treasure and I’m fine with Tichina Arnold being here. Is there a law that says
Loretta Devine must always be nominated? Oh well.
Outstanding Supporting
Actor in a Comedy
And I still have
no problems. I would never question the presence of Bryan Tyree Henry, Kenan Thompson
or Tyler James Williams, I’m more than happy to see William Stanford Davis get
recognized here and I never have an issue with Deon Cole getting nominated for
anything.
Outstanding Supporting Actress
in a Comedy
Slight problem here. No
problem with Janelle James or Sheryl Lee Ralph. Marsai Martin and Jenifer Lewis
are trickier but I get it. But why was Wanda Sykes nominated over Ayo Edebiri
for The Bear or Zazie Beetz for Atlanta? Was it because their work
was not quite considered comedy? Just asking.
Outstanding Writing No Problem
with any of them really, though I’m slightly disappointed not to see Atlanta
here. Still if they’re going to nominate Hacks and The Bear, I’m
fine. And they did nominate Atlanta for directing and were good enough
to nominate Black Lady Sketch Show and Flight Attendant.
I’m actually happier with
many of the TV movies Limited Series Nods, so I’ll go into them here.
I was glad to see Women
of The Movement get the recognition it deserved as well as The Last Days
of Ptolemy Grey. Did they go a bit overboard with Best Man: Final chapters?
Perhaps, but I’m not in their audience and I never have a problem with
Regina Hall, Terrence Howard or Morris Chestnut getting nominated for anything.
I was glad to see somebody acknowledge Viola Davis for The First Lady and
glad to see Glynn Turman get recognized for his superb work on Women in the
Movement. And I’m thrilled to see Niecy Nash-Betts get her due for Dahmer,
and I kind of hope she wins.
As for other nominations,
I expect to see Colman Domingo triumph for his work on Euphoria as he
did at the Emmys this September. And I would be grateful if Elisha Williams
wins for Best Performance by a Youth for The Wonder Years. (By the way
ABC when does Season 2 premiere? Starting to get nervous.). And as we all know
Quinta Brunson will triumph for Breakthrough Creative on Television as she has
every other awards show this year. I also hope W. Kamau Bell gets a prize for
making us talk about Cosby.
In two weeks, I will deal
with the winners and my reactions, but expect my predictions for the SAG awards
first. There I think I’m on firmer ground.
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