Black Entertainment Television notched a cable network-high six 2009 NAMIC Vision Awards nominations, the diversity-oriented organization announced Thursday.
CNN, HBO and TBS earned five nominations a piece and ABC Studios garnered four nods in the first year of broadcast network eligibility for the NAMIC Vision Awards, which honors achievements in television programming diversity.
The 15th annual event, hosted by Access Hollywood on-air personality Shaun Robinson, will be held April 17 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif.
A total of 248 entries were received in 16 award categories, including two new categories in digital media -- for long- and short-form content.
"As the face of America continues to change, NAMIC will continue to support and encourage those entities that remain committed to producing multi-ethnic, original programming," said NAMIC president Kathy Johnson in a statement. "By expanding the Vision Awards competition to ensure greater inclusiveness, our goal is to honor the growing number of creators fostering diversity across digital entertainment platforms."
BET earned its six nominations, including nods in the comedy category for its first original scripted series Somebodies, as well as in the reality category for College Hill: Interns.
TBS' Tyler Perry's House of Payne drew four out of five nods in best performance - comedy category, as well as a nomination for best comedy.
ABC Studios drew nominations in the drama category for Grey's Anatomy, Lost and Private Practice, as well as a best comedy bid for Ugly Betty.
Networks under MTVN and TBS collectively garnered 12 nominations each.
The full list of NAMIC Vision Awards nominees is as follows:
Animation
Handy Manny -- Disney Channel
Soy Mono: Words -- MTV TR3S
El Tigre "The Grave Escape -- Nickelodeon
Best Performance -- Comedy
Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock -- NBC
LaVan Davis, Tyler Perry's House of Payne -- TBS
Demetria McKinney, Tyler Perry's House of Payne -- TBS
Keshia Knight Pulliam, Tyler Perry's House of Payne -- TBS
Larramie Doc Shaw, Tyler Perry's House of Payne -- TBS
Best Performance -- Drama
Benito Martinez, The Shield -- FX
Felicia Pearson, The Wire -- HBO
Tristan Wilds, The Wire -- HBO
Raymond Cruz, The Closer -- TBS
Robert Gossett, The Closer -- TBS
Children's
Wizards of Waverly Place -- Disney Channel
Ni Hao, Kai-La -- Nickelodeon
Go, Diego, Go -- Nickelodeon
Dora The Explorer -- Nickelodeon
Degrassi: The Next Generation -- The N
Comedy
Ugly Betty -- ABC Studios
Somebodies -- BET
The Game -- CBS Paramount Network
Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger -- HBO
Tyler Perry's House of Payne -- TBS
Digital Media - Long Form
Americlef - MTV ON Air Productions
Time Warner Cable's Futbol Mania - Time Warner Cable
Digital Media - Short Form
Ugly Betty Presents: Mode After Hours - ABC.com
MTVU's Stand In: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf -- MTVU
DIG: Lyrics Born -- MYX-ABS CBN International
Extra on Essence -- Telepictures Productions & Time Inc.'s Essence Communications
Yes We Can -- Essence Election '08 -- Telepictures Productions & Time Inc.'s
Essence Communications
Documentary
Nanking - Cinemax Reel life
CNN Presents: Black in America -- CNN
Fuga De Las FARC - Discovery Networks Latin America
Joe Louis: America's Hero...Betrayed - HBO
VH1 Rock Doc: The Night James Brown Saved Boston - VH1
Drama
Lincoln Heights - ABC Family
Grey's Anatomy - ABC Studios
Lost - ABC Studios
Private Practice - ABC Studios
In Plain Sight - USA Network
Foreign Language
Time Warner Cable's Futbol Mania - Time Warner Cable
Sucker Free Latino Unscripted: Wisin y Yandel - MTV Tr3s
Asi Paso -- ESPN
Lifestyle
Fashion Blackout - BET News
National Body Challenge: Twins Edition -- Discovery Health Channel
World in America -- Ebru TV
Down Home With The Neelys - Pass It On - Scripps Networks / Food Network
Deserving Design -- Scripps Networks / HGTV
News/Informational
Black in America: Suicide Survivor -- CNN
Anderson Cooper 360: Race in America -- CNN
CNN Special Projects: To The Top -- CNN
Showbiz Tonight: Black in Hollywood -- CNN
In Conversation: The Michelle Obama Interview -- TV One
Original Movie/Special
The Best Shorts - BET J
Cheetah Girls: One World - Disney Channel
The Africa Channel Presents: A Night of Tribute - Africa Channel
Reality
College Hill: Interns - BET
Spring Break Diaries: Spellman College - BET News
The mun2 Hook Up: Frankie J - Mun2
Student Body - The N
VH1's The Cho Show -- VH1
Sports
C. Vivian Stringer's Big Ten Legacy - Big Ten Network
ESPN Outside the Lines: Dodgertown -- ESPN
The Secret Game -- ESPN
Our Heroes: A Black History Month Special -- Fox Sports North
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel - HBO
Variety/Talk Show
The BET Honors - BET
Harlem to Hollywood: Diddy -- BET
Hip Hop vs. America -- BET
Sunday Best -- BET
TV One on One: Tyler Perry -- TV One
