Emmy nominations show wealth of diverse talent

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – The Emmys, television’s highest-profile awards, could have seized the moment with Thursday’s nominations to fully acknowledge the wealth of diverse talent adding to the medium’s vibrancy and relevance.

There was recognition of stellar actresses Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis. Henson, who plays the sexy, formidable matriarch on hip-hop drama “Empire” and Davis, a brilliantly cutthroat attorney on “How to Get Away with Murder,” are competing for drama series actress honors.

The nominations set up the possibility of a history-making outcome: It’s one of the few top acting categories that has only been awarded to white actresses.

But there were glaring omissions as well – including a shut-out in major awards for “Empire,” a breakout hit that makes a black family the rare focus of a TV drama, other than Henson’s bid.

Academy voters also snubbed Latina actresses Gina Rodriguez, a Golden Globe winner for “Jane the Virgin,” and Sofia Vergara, a four-time nominee for “Modern Family.”

Queen Latifah is in the running for her compelling portrayal of blues singer Bessie Smith in the film “Bessie.” Its 12 nominations included best TV movie and acting nods for Mo’Nique and Michael Kenneth Williams.

“This is what it’s supposed to be like. You should recognize actors and creative people in this industry from every level of all colors who do great work,” Latifah said.

The realm of gender identity also received some attention, with “Transparent” and star Jeffrey Tambor’s transsexual portrayal earning best comedy series and acting bids.

“Any light of recognition and acceptance by the academy and the community is so important for our show because we are still the little engine that could,” Tambor said. “And the subject matter is so important. So this is really, really a bright, bright day.”

For the overall top nominee, the nominations were a rerun of last year. “Game of Thrones” repeated as the top nominee, with 24 bids. The series is a contender again for top drama honors, an award that has eluded it since it debuted in 2011.

Other top awards are “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” with 19 nominations; TV movie “Olive Kitteridge” with 13 nominations; and “House of Cards,” “Mad Men” and “Transparent” with 11 nominations.

David Letterman, who retired from “Late Show,” and Stephen Colbert, who left “The Colbert Report” to succeed Letterman this fall, both received variety talk show nominations for their former shows.