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ABC Gets Most Globe Nods Among Broadcast Networks

Dec 14, 2006  •  Post A Comment

“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Ugly Betty” helped ABC secure the most Golden Globe nominations among broadcast television networks, while HBO’s movies and miniseries again propelled it to the top of the pile in total nods.

HBO reeled in 14 nominations and ABC produced 12 contenders, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Thursday morning. Among series, ABC’s “Grey’s” and Showtime’s “Weeds” garnered the most nominations, with four apiece.

For best drama series, the nominees are Fox’s “24,” HBO’s “Big Love,” ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” NBC’s “Heroes” and the defending winner, ABC’s “Lost.” HBO’s “The Sopranos,” which some critics chided for having a sluggish season, and HBO critical favorites “Deadwood” and “The Wire,” were passed over.

For best comedy series, last year’s winner, ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” was recognized. HBO’s “Entourage,” Showtime’s “Weeds,” “Ugly Betty,” and NBC’s “The Office” also received nods.

NBC’s “Heroes” and “Betty” were among freshman shows in the running for honors in top categories, receiving both best series and acting nods.

Nominations in acting categories went to “Ugly Betty” star America Ferrera, Masi Oka from “Heroes,” “30 Rock’s” Alec Baldwin, “Dexter” star Michael C. Hall and Sarah Paulson from “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.”

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which runs the Globes, has established a reputation for recognizing edgy shows and breakout talent more than the Academy of Television Arts and Science, which hands out Emmy Awards. A Globes honor still can boost a show’s chances for Emmy recognition.

“I was especially jazzed by the nominations for Michael C. Hall, Alec Baldwin, America Ferrera and ‘Ugly Betty,’ as well as Masi Oka,” said TV Guide critic Matt Roush. “[But] I wish the Globes had discovered ‘Battlestar Galactica’ this year instead of ‘Heroes,’ which, with apologies to ‘Heroes,’ is the best sci-fi/fantasy of this year, this decade, and, quite possibly, of all time.”

The 64th annual Golden Globes will be handed out in Beverly Hills on Jan. 15.

Another network winner this year is Showtime, which earned a channel-record of six nominations.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association snubbed a couple of NBC’s critically acclaimed new dramas, “Studio 60” and “Friday Night Lights.” But the network’s nominations for “Heroes,” “30 Rock” and an acting nomination for “Studio 60″ adds luster to the network’s fall slate. While NBC’s other behind-the-scenes chronicle of a sketch-comedy program,”30 Rock” and CBS’s “The New Adventures of Old Christine” didn’t get nods in the best series categories, both managed to receive actor nods.

For best actor in a drama, the nominees included Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s”), Mr. Hall (“Dexter”), Hugh Laurie (Fox’s “House”), Bill Paxton (“Big Love”) and Kiefer Sutherland (“24”).

Of the five best actress in a drama nominations announced last year, only two were eligible this year. This year’s contenders are Kyra Sedgwick (TNT’s “The Closer”), Patricia Arquette (NBC’s “Medium”), Edie Falco (HBO’s “The Sopranos”), Evangeline Lilly (“Lost”) and Ellen Pompeo (“Grey’s”).

NBC took four of the five nominations for best actor in a comedy: “30 Rock” star Alec Baldwin, “Scrubs” lead Zach Braff, Steve Carell of “The Office” and “My Name Is Earl” star Jason Lee. Tony Shalhoub of USA’s “Monk” is the other contender.

The best actress in a comedy category included nominations for Ms. Ferrera for “Betty,” Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman for “Housewives,” Mary-Louise Parker (“Weeds”) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“New Adventures of Old Christine”).

The nomination for best supporting actress in a television program are Emily Blunt (“Gideon’s Daughter”), Toni Collette (“Tsunami, The Aftermath”), Katherine Heigl (“Grey’s), Sarah Paulson (“Studio 60”) and Elizabeth Perkins (“Weeds”).

The best supporting actor nods went to Thomas Haden Church (“Broken Trail”), Jeremy Irons (“Elizabeth I”), Justin Kirk (“Weeds”), Masi Oka (“Heroes”) and Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”).

(Editor: Baumann)