"Creed" tops movie tally with six nods
By Derrik J. Lang, Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --“Empire” leads the television nominees at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Image Awards.
The musical drama is up for 12 trophies at the ceremony honoring diversity in the arts, including acting nominations for Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Bryshere Y. Gray, Jussie Smollett and Grace Gealey.
“Empire” will face off at the NAACP Image Awards against “Being Mary Jane,” ‘’How to Get Away with Murder,” ‘’Power” and “Scandal” for in the outstanding TV drama category.
“black-ish” followed behind “Empire” with 10 nominations in the TV honors. The family comedy will compete against “House of Lies,” ‘’Key & Peele,” ‘’Orange Is the New Black” and “Survivor’s Remorse” in the outstanding TV comedy category.
“Rocky” sequel “Creed” was king of the ring with six nods in the film categories. Other nominees up for the outstanding motion picture prize are “Beasts of No Nation,” ‘’Concussion,” ‘’Dope” and “Straight Outta Compton.”
“Creed” star Michael B. Jordan is also up for the ceremony’s entertainer of the year, nominated alongside Misty Copeland, Pharrell Williams, Shonda Rhimes and Viola Davis.
The awards will be presented in a Feb. 6 ceremony airing on the TV One channel.
Here’s a rundown of TV, Film and Music category nominations:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Michael B. Jordan
Misty Copeland
Pharrell Williams
Shonda Rhimes
Viola Davis
TELEVISION
Outstanding Comedy Series
• “black-ish” (ABC)
• “House of Lies” (Showtime)
• “Key & Peele” (Comedy Central)
• “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
• “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
• Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX)
• Anthony Anderson – “black-ish” (ABC)
• Don Cheadle – “House of Lies” (Showtime)
• Dwayne Johnson – “Ballers” (HBO)
• RonReaco Lee – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
• Gina Rodriguez – “Jane The Virgin” (The CW)
• Loretta Devine – “The Carmichael Show” (NBC)
• Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish” (ABC)
• Uzo Aduba – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
• Wendy Raquel Robinson – “The Game” (BET)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
• David Alan Grier – “The Carmichael Show” (NBC)
• Laurence Fishburne – “black-ish” (ABC)
• Mike Epps – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)
• Miles Brown – “black-ish” (ABC)
• Terry Crews – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
• Anna Deavere Smith – “Nurse Jackie” (Showtime)
• Danielle Brooks – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
• Laverne Cox – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
• Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)
• Tichina Arnold – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)
Outstanding Drama Series
• “Being Mary Jane” (BET)
• “Empire” (FOX)
• “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
• “Power” (Starz)
• “Scandal” (ABC)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
• LL Cool J – “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS)
• Morris Chestnut – “Rosewood” (FOX)
• Omari Hardwick – “Power” (Starz)
• Terrence Howard – “Empire” (FOX)
• Wesley Snipes – “The Player” (NBC)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
• Gabrielle Union – “Being Mary Jane” (BET)
• Kerry Washington – “Scandal” (ABC)
• Nicole Beharie – “Sleepy Hollow” (FOX)
• Taraji P. Henson – “Empire” (FOX)
• Viola Davis – “How to Get Away With Murder” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Alfred Enoch – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
• Bryshere Y. Gray – “Empire” (FOX)
• Guillermo Diaz – “Scandal” (ABC)
• Joe Morton – “Scandal” (ABC)
• Jussie Smollett – “Empire” (FOX)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• Cicely Tyson – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
• Danai Gurira – “The Walking Dead” (AMC)
• Grace Gealey – “Empire” (FOX)
• Naturi Naughton – “Power” (Starz)
• Regina King – “American Crime” (ABC)
Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• “American Crime” (ABC)
• “Bessie” (HBO)
• “Luther” (BBC America)
• “The Book of Negroes” (BET)
• “The Wiz Live!” (NBC)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Cuba Gooding, Jr. – “The Book of Negroes” (BET)
• David Alan Grier – “The Wiz Live!” (NBC)
• David Oyelowo – “Nightingale” (HBO)
• Idris Elba – “Luther” (BBC America)
• Michael Kenneth Williams – “Bessie” (HBO)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
• Angela Bassett – “American Horror Story: Hotel” (FX Networks)
• Aunjanue Ellis – “The Book of Negroes” (BET)
• Jill Scott – “With this Ring” (Lifetime)
• LaTonya Richardson Jackson – “Show Me a Hero” (HBO)
• Queen Latifah – “Bessie” (HBO)
Outstanding News/ Information – (Series or Special)
• “Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm” (ABC)
• “News One Now” (TV One)
• “Oprah Prime: Celebrating Dr. King and the Selma Marches 50 Years Later” (OWN)
• “Oprah: Where Are They Now?- Civil Rights Special” (OWN)
• “Unsung” (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series
• “Melissa Harris-Perry” (MSNBC)
• “Steve Harvey” (Syndicated)
• “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
• “The Talk” (CBS)
• “The Wendy Williams Show” (Syndicated)
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series
• “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC)
• “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN)
• “Shark Tank” (ABC)
• “The Voice” (NBC)
• “Welcome to Sweetie Pies” (OWN)
Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
• “Black Girls Rock!” (BET)
• “Family Feud” (Syndicated)
• “Oprahs Master Class” (OWN)
• “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
• “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Children’s Program
• “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
• “Dora and Friends” (Nickelodeon)
• “K.C. Undercover” (Disney Channel)
• “Little Ballers” (Nickelodeon)
• “Project MC2” (Netflix)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series)
• Hudson Yang – “Fresh Off The Boat” (ABC)
• Marcus Scribner – “black-ish” (ABC)
• Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)
• Miles Brown – “black-ish” (ABC)
• Skai Jackson – “Jessie” (Disney Channel)
Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety (Series or Special)
• “Family Feud” – Steve Harvey (Syndicated)
• “Melissa Harris-Perry” – Melissa Harris-Perry (MSNBC)
• “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel “ – Bryant Gumbel (HBO)
• “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
• “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” – Larry Wilmore (Comedy Central)
RECORDING
Outstanding New Artist
• Andra Day (Warner Bros. Records)
• Judith Hill (NPG Records)
• Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records)
• The Weeknd (Republic Records)
• Yazz (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
• Charlie Wilson (RCA Records)
• Kendrick Lamar (Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope)
• Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER)
• The Weeknd (Republic Records)
• Tyrese Gibson (Voltron Recordz)
Outstanding Female Artist
• Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
• Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)
• Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
• Lalah Hathaway (Hathaway Entertainment/Entertainment One)
• Lauryn Hill (RCA Records)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
“Conqueror” – Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records)
“Hamilton: An American Musical” – Original Broadway Cast (Atlantic Records)
“No Sleeep” – Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“One Man Can Change The World” – Big Sean feat. Kanye West and John Legend (G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings)
“Sound & Color” – Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)
Outstanding Jazz Album
“BrotherLEE Love: Celebrating Lee Morgan” – Terell Stafford Quintet (Capri Records)
“Dee Dee’s Feathers” – Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (Okeh)
“Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4” – Miles Davis (Columbia/Legacy Recordings)
“The Complete Concert By The Sea” – Erroll Garner (Legacy Recordings/Octave Music Publishing Corporation)
The Epic” – Kamasi Washington (Brainfeeder)
Outstanding Gospel Album – (Traditional or Contemporary)
• “A Different Place” – Kim Burrell (Shanachie Entertainment)
• “It’s Personal” – Tina Campbell (Gee Tree Creative)
• “Losing My Religion” – Kirk Franklin (RCA Inspiration)
• “The Gospel According To Jazz – Chapter IV” – Kirk Whalum (Mack Avenue Records, Rendezvous, Top Drawer Records)
• “You Shall Live” – Marvin Sapp (RCA Inspiration)
Outstanding Music Video
• “Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd (Republic Records)
• “Freedom” – Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER)
• “No Sleeep” – Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
• “Shame” – Tyrese Gibson (Voltron Recordz)
• “Sound & Color” – Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)
Outstanding Song – Traditional
• “Back Together” – Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
• “Everytime I’m With You” – Seal (Reprise Records)
• “Feeling Good” – Lauryn Hill (RCA Records)
• “Goodnight Kisses” – Charlie Wilson (RCA Records)
• “Let It Burn” – Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)
Outstanding Album
“Beauty Behind the Madness” – The Weeknd (Republic Records)
“Empire (Original Soundtrack from Season One)” – Empire Cast (Columbia Records)
“Forever Charlie” – Charlie Wilson (RCA Records)
“Unbreakable” – Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“Woman” – Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Song – Contemporary
“Conqueror” – Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett (Columbia)
“Freedom” – Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER)
“No Sleeep” – Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“Unbreakable” – Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“You’re So Beautiful” – Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz (Columbia Records)
MOTION PICTURE
Outstanding Motion Picture
• “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
• “Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
• “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
• “Dope” (Open Road Films)
• “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Abraham Attah – “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
Chiwetel Ejiofor – “Secret in Their Eyes” (STX Entertainment)
Michael B. Jordan – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Michael Ealy – “The Perfect Guy” (Screen Gems)
Will Smith – “Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
• Lauren ‘Keke’ Palmer – “Brotherly Love” (Flavor Unit)
• Sanaa Lathan – “The Perfect Guy” (Screen Gems)
• Teyonah Parris – “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions)
• Viola Davis – “Lila and Eve” (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
• Zoe Saldana – “Infinitely Polar Bear” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
• Chiwetel Ejiofor – “The Martian” (20th Century Fox)
• Corey Hawkins – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
• Forest Whitaker – “Southpaw” (The Weinstein Company)
• Idris Elba – “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
• O’Shea Jackson, Jr. – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Angela Bassett – “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – “Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Jennifer Hudson – “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions)
Phylicia Rashad – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Tessa Thompson – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
• “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
• “Brotherly Love” (Flavor Unit)
• “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions)
• “Infinitely Polar Bear” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• “Secret in Their Eyes” (STX Entertainment)
DOCUMENTARY
Outstanding Documentary – (Film)
“Amy” (A24)
“Dreamcatcher” (Rise Films, Green Acres Films & Vixen Films in association with Impact Partners and Artemis Rising Foundation)
“In My Fathers House” (Break Thru Films)
“The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” (PBS Distribution/Firelight Films)
“What Happened, Miss Simone?” (A Radical Media Production in Association with Moxie Firecracker for Netflix)
Outstanding Documentary – (Television)
• “August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand” (PBS)
• “Belief” (OWN)
• “Kareem: Minority of One” (HBO)
• “Light Girls” (OWN)
• “Muhammad Ali: The Peoples Champ” (BET)
WRITING
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
• Alan Yang, Aziz Ansari – “Master of None” – Parents (Netflix)
• Jennie Snyder Urman – “Jane The Virgin” – Chapter Twenty-Three (The CW)
• Jill Soloway – “Transparent” – Kina Hora (Amazon Video)
• Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Jay Martel, Ian Roberts, Rebecca Drysdale, Colton Dunn, Phil Augusta Jackson, Alex Rubens, Charlie Sanders, Rich Talarico – “Key & Peele” – Y’all Ready For This? (Comedy Central)
• Kenya M. Barris – “black-ish” – The Word (ABC)
Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series
Erika Green Swafford, Doug Stockstill – “How to Get Away with Murder” – Mama’s Here Now (ABC)
John Ridley – “American Crime” – Episode 1 (ABC)
LaToya Morgan – “TURN: Washingtons Spies” – False Flag (AMC)
Lee Daniels, Danny Strong – “Empire” – Pilot (FOX)
Mara Brock Akil, Jameal Turner, Keli Goff – “Being Mary Jane” – Sparrow (BET)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture – (Television)
• Dee Rees – “Bessie” (HBO)
• Lawrence Hill, Clement Virgo – “The Book of Negroes” (BET)
• Michael S. Bandy, Eric Stein – “White Water” (TV One)
• Nzingha Stewart – “With this Ring” (Lifetime)
• Shem Bitterman – “Whitney” (Lifetime)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)
Andrea Berloff, Jonathan Herman – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois, Grant Thompson – “McFarland USA” (Walt Disney Pictures)
Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley – “Inside Out” (Disney/Pixar)
Rick Famuyiwa – “Dope” (Open Road Films)
Ryan Coogler, Aaron Covington – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer Pictures)
DIRECTING
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Aziz Ansari – “Master of None” – Parents (Netflix)
Brad Silberling – “Jane The Virgin” – Chapter Twenty-Three (The CW)
Don Cheadle – “House of Lies” – The Urge to Save Humanity is Almost Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule (Showtime)
Peter Atencio – “Key & Peele” – The End (Comedy Central)
Stan Lathan – “Real Husbands of Hollywood” – Cabin Pressure (BET)
Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series
• Ernest Dickerson – “Hand of God” – Welcome the Stranger (Amazon Video)
• John Ridley – “American Crime” – Episode 1 (ABC)
• Lee Daniels – “Empire” – Pilot (FOX)
• Millicent Shelton – “American Crime” – Episode Ten (ABC)
• Salim Akil – “Being Mary Jane” – Sparrow (BET)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)
• Christine Swanson – “For the Love of Ruth” (TV One)
• Dee Rees – “Bessie” (HBO)
• Nzingha Stewart – “With this Ring” (Lifetime)
• Rusty Cundieff – “White Water” (TV One)
• Salim Akil – “The Start Up” (BET)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture – (Film)
• Alfonso Gomez-Rejon – “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” (Fox Searchlight Pictures / Rhode Island Ave)
• Charles Stone, III – “Lila and Eve” (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
• F. Gary Gray – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
• Rick Famuyiwa – “Dope” (Open Road Films)
• Ryan Coogler – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
ANIMATED/CGI
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – (Television or Film)
• Aisha Tyler – “Archer” (FX Networks)
• Audra McDonald – “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
• Jeffrey Wright – “The Good Dinosaur” (Disney/Pixar)
• Loretta Devine – “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Channel)
• Wanda Sykes – “Penn Zero” (Disney XD)
After 20 Years of Acting, Megan Park Finds Her Groove In The Director’s Chair On “My Old Ass”
Megan Park feels a little bad that her movie is making so many people cry. It's not just a single tear either โ more like full body sobs.
She didn't set out to make a tearjerker with "My Old Ass," now streaming on Prime Video. She just wanted to tell a story about a young woman in conversation with her older self. The film is quite funny (the dialogue between 18-year-old and almost 40-year-old Elliott happens because of a mushroom trip that includes a Justin Bieber cover), but it packs an emotional punch, too.
Writing, Park said, is often her way of working through things. When she put pen to paper on "My Old Ass," she was a new mom and staying in her childhood bedroom during the pandemic. One night, she and her whole nuclear family slept under the same roof. She didn't know it then, but it would be the last time, and she started wondering what it would be like to have known that.
In the film, older Elliott ( Aubrey Plaza ) advises younger Elliott ( Maisy Stella ) to not be so eager to leave her provincial town, her younger brothers and her parents and to slow down and appreciate things as they are. She also tells her to stay away from a guy named Chad who she meets the next day and discovers that, unfortunately, he's quite cute.
At 38, Park is just getting started as a filmmaker. Her first, "The Fallout," in which Jenna Ortega plays a teen in the aftermath of a school shooting, had one of those pandemic releases that didn't even feel real. But it did get the attention of Margot Robbie 's production company LuckyChap Entertainment, who reached out to Park to see what other ideas she had brewing.
"They were very instrumental in encouraging me to go with it," Park said. "They're just really even-keeled, good people, which makes... Read More