Today the NAACP announced this year's nominees for the Image Awards, and
they feature many of the nominees you might expect. The sad truth is
that there is still a lack of diversity on television, and these
nominations only serve to highlight that by nominating nearly every
African-American actor on TV, regardless of actual quality.
However, there are alsoa few omissions and weird nominees. Below you can find a list of the major TV and film nominations, but first, allow me to walk through the 10 strangest nominations (or lack thereof( at this year's NAACP Image Awards.
Modern FamilyI guess Sofia Vergara's appearance counts as ethnic diversity, but I've seen every episode and I can't remember a single African-American character. As great as
Modern Family is, I'm not sure it deserves to be nominated for Best Comedy.
Tracy MorganI love Tracy Morgan, but how is he nominated as a supporting actor when people like Dule Hill and Vanessa Williams are nominated as lead actors? The category placement is what I find strange, not the actual nominations.
Chandra WilsonSpeaking of strange category placement, Wilson is nominated as a lead actress while Sandra Oh and Sara Ramirez are listed as supporting actresses. Ignoring the fact that neither Oh nor Ramirez are black, there's no way anyone who watches the show can think Wilson is more of a lead than either of the other two actresses, both of whom have had more screentime and bigger storylines over the past year.
TremeI'm thrilled that
Treme is nominated for Best Drama, but how on Earth are none of its actors nominated? The show has the strongest African-American ensemble on TV. It was a crime that Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters and Khandi Alexander were all ignored at the Emmys, but to get shut out at the Image Awards is ridiculous.
Boris KodjoeGugu Mbatha-Raw got nominated for the NBC series
Undercovers, but Kodjoe, who is every bit as good, was not. I love Blair Underwood too, but
The Event is terrible and Kodjoe was robbed.
Lifetime Original MoviesIn the categories for Best TV Movie, Actor and Actress, 10 of the nominees come from Lifetime Original Movies, including eight of the 10 acting nominations. Do I even need to explain why that's absurd?
Tia and Tamara MowryIn perhaps my favorite category, twin sisters Tia and Tamara Mowry are nominated against one another for the TV movie
Double Wedding. It would be hilarious if one of them won.
Jaden SmithIn the movie category, Will Smith's son is nominated for Best Actor, next to stars like Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. That makes me die a little inside.
For Colored GirlsThe film nominees for Best Supporting Actress feature four women from this film, which seems a bit excessive to me. But if you're going to do it, why not just pick all five nominees from the one movie?
Justin TimberlakeI saved the strangest and craziest for last. For Best Supporting Actor in a Film, the nominees are Idris Elba, Michael Ealy, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle and ... Justin Timberlake? I know he's super cool and I understand why the African-American community wants to claim him as one of their own, but the guy is white and he starred in a movie about a bunch of nerds creating Facebook. Why is he even remotely eligible for this award?
Those are my favorite weird nominations, but here's the list to see for yourself.
TELEVISIONOutstanding Comedy Series30 Rock
Are We There Yet?
Glee
Modern Family
Tyler Perry's House of PayneOutstanding Actor in a Comedy SeriesDavid Mann,
Tyler Perry's Meet the BrownsDule Hill,
PsychLaVan Davis,
Tyler Perry's House of PaynePhil Morris,
Love That Girl!Terry Crews,
Are We There Yet?Outstanding Actress in a Comedy SeriesCassi Davis,
Tyler Perry's House of PayneEssence Atkins,
Are We There Yet?Salli Richardson-Whitfield,
EurekaTatyana Ali,
Love That Girl!Vanessa Williams,
Desperate HousewivesOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesCraig Robinson,
The OfficeIce Cube,
Are We There Yet?Lamman Rucker,
Tyler Perry's Meet the BrownsLance Gross,
Tyler Perry's House of PayneTracy Morgan,
30 RockOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesAmber Riley,
GleeAnna Deavere Smith,
Nurse JackieKeshia Knight Pulliam,
Tyler Perry's House of PayneSofia Vergara,
Modern FamilyViola Davis,
United States of TaraOutstanding Drama SeriesDetroit 1-8-7
Grey's Anatomy
HawthoRNe
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TremeOutstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesAnthony Anderson,
Law & OrderBlair Underwood,
The EventHill Harper,
CSI: NYLaurence Fishburne,
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationLL Cool J,
NCIS: Los AngelesOutstanding Actress in a Drama SeriesChandra Wilson,
Grey's AnatomyGugu Mbatha-Raw,
UndercoversJada Pinkett Smith,
HawthoRNeRegina King,
SouthlandWendy Davis,
Army WivesOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesAndre Braugher,
Men of a Certain AgeGiancarlo Esposito,
Breaking BadJames Pickens, Jr.,
Grey's AnatomyNelsan Ellis,
True BloodTerrence Howard,
Law & Order: Los AngelesOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesAlfre Woodard,
Memphis BeatSandra Oh,
Grey's AnatomySara Ramirez,
Grey's AnatomyS. Epatha Merkerson,
Law & OrderVanessa Bell Calloway,
HawthoRNeOutstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialAmerica: The Story of Us (Part 4)
Filling the Gap
Luther
Sins of the Mother
The Wronged ManOutstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialBenito Martinez,
Lies in Plain SightIdris Elba,
LutherJon Seda,
The PacificMahershalalhashbaz Ali,
The Wronged ManMichael Jai White,
One Angry JurorOutstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialJill Scott,
Sins of the MotherLucy Liu,
Marry MeRosie Perez,
Lies in Plain SightTamera Mowry,
Double WeddingTia Mowry,
Double WeddingOutstanding Reality SeriesAmerican Idol
America's Next Top Model
Dancing with the Stars
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Sunday BestOutstanding Children's ProgramBrave New Voices 2010
Dora the Explorer
The Backyardigans
True Jackson, VP
Wizards of Waverly PlaceOutstanding Performance in a Youth/ Children's Program (Series or Special)Keke Palmer,
True Jackson, VPLance Robertson,
Yo Gabba Gabba: BabyNick Cannon,
TeenNick Halo Awards 2010
Selena Gomez,
Wizards of Waverly PlaceVictoria Justice,
VictoriousMOVIESOutstanding Motion PictureFor Colored Girls
Just Wright
The Book of Eli
The Kids Are Alright
Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?Outstanding Actor in a Motion PictureAnthony Mackie,
Night Catches UsCommon,
Just WrightDenzel Washington,
The Book of EliJaden Smith,
The Karate KidMorgan Freeman,
RedOutstanding Actress in a Motion PictureHalle Berry,
Frankie & AliceJanet Jackson, T
yler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?Kerry Washington,
Night Catches UsQueen Latifah,
Just WrightZoe Saldana,
The LosersOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureDon Cheadle,
Brooklyn's FinestIdris Elba,
TakersJustin Timberlake,
The Social NetworkMichael Ealy,
For Colored GirlsSamuel L. Jackson,
Mother and ChildOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion PictureAnika Noni Rose,
For Colored GirlsKimberly Elise,
For Colored GirlsPhylicia Rashad,
For Colored GirlsJill Scott,
Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?Whoopi Goldberg,
For Colored GirlsClick HERE for a complete list of nominees.(Image courtesy of ABC)