A&E received quite a few nods–22 in total, the most in the network’s 18-year history. Topping the list is the network’s original movie Shackleton, which received seven nominations, including one for best miniseries and one for Kenneth Branagh for lead actor in a miniseries or movie category.
The A&E Network In Concert Special Sting in Tuscany followed with six nominations, including one in the individual performance in a variety or music program category. Also nominated in this category is the A&E In Concert Special Billy Joel: In His Own Words.
Showtime received a total of 10 nominations this year–but the network received the same amount if nominations last year and walked away with zero wins. The strongest contender is Anne Rice’s The Feast of all Saints: Part 1, which is nominated for best costume, hairstyling and sound editing for a miniseries, movie or a special. Last Call and Wild Iris both received two nods, followed by Things Behind the Sun, Stargate SG-1: Enemies and Stargate SG-1: Revelations with one nomination each.
TNT’s The Mists of Avalon and James Dean both received eight nominations apiece. Unfortunately, they will be competing against each other since they are in the same categories half the time.
The Lifetime network received a total of three nominations, all for We Were the Mulvaneys, a drama about a close-knit family living in an idyllic small town whose lives are forever changed by the shocking rape of their only daughter. The movie received nods for lead actor, lead actress and music composition in a miniseries or movie categories.
The FX network also received three nomination, all for the controversial cop drama The Shield. The show–whose lead character is a corrupt Los Angeles detective who plays as dirty as the crooks, drug dealers and murderers he busts–has often been criticized for its vulgarity. In fact, The Shield‘s future was called into question in April when at least 11 advertisers, including Burger King, Subaru and Office Depot, backed out because of the show’s degree of violence and sexual content. FX went ahead and greenlighted the series for a second cycle of 13 hour-long episodes anyway.
The nomination for that show’s star, Michael Chiklis, for lead actor in a drama series–one of TV’s toughest tickets–comes as somewhat of a surprise, but it would be nice to see the actor rewarded for his standout performance. The Shield: Pilot is also nominated for direction and writing in a drama series.
