Of the four major networks last year, ABC trailed in third place behind Fox and NBC with 10 wins. That number wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for ABC’s whopping 63 nominations in 2001. That number has been cut in half this year, with the network receiving a total of 35 nominations.
While ABC earned most of its nods last year from miniseries, movies or special (remember Life With Judy Garland: Me and my Shadow and Anne Frank?), the network did away with many highly praised TV series, including Once and Again and Gideon’s Crossing, which could explain the steep decline in nominations.
The legal drama The Practice, which picked up seven nods last year, only received two this year, and while NYPD Blue nabbed 27 nominations in its 1993-94 heyday, it received no nods at all this year.
ABC, however, did pick up some nominations for Alias in the lead actress and supporting actor categories and a nod for outstanding miniseries for Dinotopia. Jennifer Garner–who won a Golden Globe for best performance by an actress for her role as Sydney Bristow on Alias–faces stiff competition from Allison Janney on NBC’s The West Wing and Rachel Griffiths and Frances Conroy of HBO’s Six Feet Under, but could also give them a surprising run for their money.
