“Creed” and “Straight Outta Compton” led the 47th NAACP Image Awards nominations on the film front, while “Empire” and “Black-ish” dominated the TV categories.
The nominees were announced Tuesday at a press conference held at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills.
“Creed” and “Compton” both scored outstanding motion picture noms, along with “Beasts of No Nation,” “Concussion” and “Dope.” Both dramas were also recognized in the supporting actor/actress fields (“Compton’s” Corey Hawkins and O’Shea Jackson, Jr. for outstanding supporting actor, and “Creed’s” Phylicia Rashad and Tessa Thompson for outstanding supporting actress), writing (Andrea Berloff and Jonathan Herman for “Compton,” and Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington for “Creed”) and directing (F. Gary Gray for “Compton” and Ryan Coogler for “Creed”). “Creed” topped “Compton” by a single nomination (for a total of six) with a nom for Michael B. Jordan for outstanding actor in a motion picture.
Jordan is also in the running for entertainer of the year alongside Misty Copeland, Pharrell Williams, Shonda Rhimes and Viola Davis.
“Empire” led the TV shows with 12 noms thanks to several in the recording categories. The Fox ratings powerhouse is up for outstanding drama series with BET’s “Being Mary Jane,” ABC’s “How to Get Away With Murder,” Starz’s “Power” and ABC’s “Scandal.”
Actors Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson are nominated for outstanding actor and outstanding actress in a drama series, respectively, while Bryshere Y. Gray, Jussie Smollett and Grace Gealey received supporting noms. It’s also up for writing (Lee Daniels, Danny Strong) and directing prizes (Daniels).
“Black-ish” also ruled with 10 noms — the most in the TV-only categories. The ABC sitcom is in contention for outstanding comedy series alongside Showtime’s “House of Lies,” Comedy Central’s “Key & Peele,” Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black” and Starz’s “Survivor’s Remorse.”
Anthony Anderson, who will host the NAACP Image Awards for at least the next two years, and Tracee Ellis Ross are nominated for outstanding actor and outstanding actress in a comedy series, respectively. Laurence Fishburne, Miles Brown and Marsai Martin were recognized in the supporting acting fields. Three of the show’s other stars, Marcus Scribner, Marsai Martin and Miles Brown, are up for outstanding performance by a youth. “Black-ish” is also nominated for a writing prize for Kenya M. Barris.
ABC and BET had the most nominees in the TV categories with 28 and 13 noms, respectively, followed by Fox with 12. Warner Brothers led with 6 nominations, while Universal Pictures and Netflix both received 5 noms in the motion picture fields.
The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in television, music, literature and film. Winners will be announced during a two-hour event, which will be broadcast live on TV One on Feb. 5. A one-hour red carpet will precede the ceremony.
Variety
