Showtime Networks Leads Nominations for 13th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards

Showtime Networks Leads Nominations for 13th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards

Record Number 37 Networks Garner Nominations

FX Networks' 'The Shield' Tops All Programs With 4 Nods

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations for the 13th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards were announced today by the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC). A record number 37 networks received nominations for the only entertainment industry award honoring outstanding achievements in original, multi-ethnic cable programming. Showtime Networks led all with 9 nominations for the 2007 presentation scheduled for March 27, 2007 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060705/NYW092LOGO )

A total of 73 nominations were presented in the 15 award categories, which include newly established honors for Animation, Music Video and Original Movie and/or Special. Additionally, the performance categories have been expanded this year to include awards for the best actors and actresses in the genres of comedy and drama.

"Since 2004, the number of nominated networks has increased year over year, which is indicative of cable's commitment to multi-ethnic, culturally diverse programming," said Kathy Johnson, president, NAMIC. "In turn, the NAMIC Vision Awards continue to be the leading platform for recognizing these achievements."

MTV Networks received 8 nominations, which included nods for Comedy Central, Logo, Nickelodeon, TV Land and VH1. Disney Channel, FX Networks, and Turner Network Television received 6 nominations each. The network recognized in the largest number of categories was HBO with 5 nominations, which includes nods in Children's, Documentary, Drama, and Original Movie and/or Special.

FX Networks' "The Shield" was the top nominated program with 4 nods. The critically acclaimed original series was recognized in the Best Actor-Drama category with nominations going to Forest Whitaker and Benito Martinez. Additionally, nominations for "The Shield" included a nod for Best Drama and a Best Actress-Drama nomination for CCH Pounder. Other programs receiving multiple nominations in the drama categories include "Sleeper Cell" (Showtime Networks) and "The Closer" (Turner Network Television).

In the comedy categories, Showtime's "Weeds" received 3 nods for Best Comedy and nominations for Romany Falco (Best Actor -- Comedy) and Tonye Patano (Best Actress -- Comedy) in the performance categories. Comedy Central's "Mind of Mencia" received 2 nominations including Best Comedy and Carlos Mencia for Best Actor -- Comedy. BET also received multiple nominations in the comedy categories with a Best Comedy nod for "Comic View" and a Best Actress -- Comedy nod for comedienne Sheryl Underwood, the show's host.

Warner Bros. is a lead sponsor of the 2007 NAMIC Vision Awards. Ticket and corporate sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Danny McGlone, Director of Development, 212-594-5985.

A complete list of nominees for the 13th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards follows. For more information on the 13th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards visit www.namic.com or call the NAMIC national headquarters at 212-594-5985.

About NAMIC

NAMIC is the premier organization focusing on multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Founded in 1980 as a non-profit trade association, today NAMIC is comprised of nearly 2,000 professionals belonging to a network of chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that focus on education, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC champions equity and inclusion in the workforce, with special attention given to ensuring that the leadership cadres of our nation's communications industry giants reflect the multi-ethnic richness of the populations they serve.

13th Annual NAMIC Vision Awards Nominees:

Animation
The Backyardigans, "Mission to Mars" MTV Networks: Nickelodeon
Handy Manny, "Sinko de Mayo" Disney Channel
American Dragon: Jake Long, "Bring it On" Disney Channel
The Boondocks Turner Broadcasting System,
Inc.
Todd World, "Colorless Todd" Discovery Channel

Best Actor -- Comedy
Carlos Mencia Mind of Mencia MTV Networks: Comedy Central
Romany Malco Weeds Showtime Networks
Damon Wayans The Underground Showtime Networks
Dule' Hill Psych "Spellingg Bee" USA Networks

Best Actor -- Drama
Forest Whitaker The Shield, "Kavanaugh" FX Networks
Benito Martinez The Shield, "Man Inside" FX Networks
Andre Braugher Thief, "Pilot" FX Networks
Michael Ealy Sleeper Cell Showtime Networks
Ernie Hudson The Ron Clark Story Turner Network Television
Corey Reynolds The Closer, "Slippin" Turner Network Television

Best Actress -- Comedy
Tonye Patano Weeds Showtime Networks
Sheryl Underwood Comic View BET
Angela Malhotra Unacceptable Behavior Si TV
Mo'Nique Mo'Nique's F.A.T. Chance Oxygen Media

Best Actress -- Drama
Lauren Velez Dexter Showtime Networks
Gina Ravera The Closer Turner Network Television
CCH Pounder The Shield FX Networks
Jennifer Beals The L Word Showtime Networks
Gwendoline Yeo Broken Trail AMC

Children's
Lisa Knight and the Roundtable Black Family Channel
The Music in Me HBO
Modern African Art and Artisans Discovery Channel
Ithuteng (Never Stop Learning) HBO
Just for Kicks, "Boys Do Cry?" MTV Networks: Nickelodeon
That's So Raven, "The Four Aces" Disney Channel

Comedy
Mind of Mencia MTV Networks: Comedy Central
Comic View with Sheryl Underwood BET
Weeds Showtime Networks
Unacceptable Behavior Si TV
Robert Townsend's Partners In Crime ...
The Next Generation Black Family Channel

Documentary
First to Fight: The Black Tankers of WWII The History Channel
Honor Deferred The History Channel
ESPN Sportscenter - Lady Caliphs ESPN
When The Levees Broke:
A Requiem in Four Acts HBO
Yo Soy Boricua, Pa'que Tu Lo Sepas!
(I'm Boricua, Just So You Know!) Independent Film Channel
ESPN Sportscenter -- Hines Ward ESPN
Biography: Barack Obama The Biography Channel

Drama
Sleeper Cell Showtime Networks
Dexter Showtime Networks
The Shield "Postpartum" FX Networks
The Wire: Boys of Summer HBO
The Closer, "Slippin" Turner Network Television
Saved, "Pilot" Turner Network Television

Foreign Language
El Reto Final Nissan Fox Sports en Espanol
Sabor a Beisbol ESPN Deportes
Montate -- Cabalgata 2006 TuTv / Bandamax
Del Norte Pa'rriba Villa del Oeste TuTv / Bandamax

Music Video
"Strut" - The Cheetah Girls 2 Disney Channel
"Do Your Own House" -- Choo Choo Soul Disney Channel

News and Information
Race & Hollywood: Black Images on Film Turner Classic Movies
Eye on Africa: A Continent of Possibilities CNN International
CNN Connects: The New South Africa CNN International
Review Philippines GMA Network Inc./Pinoy TV
Student News: Honoring Hispanic
Heritage Series CNN
Immigration Rights Mun2/Telemundo/NBC Universal

Original Movie and/or Special
Tsunami, The Aftermath HBO
Moments That Changed Us: Diahann Carroll AmericanLife TV Network
Knights of the South Bronx A&E Networks
Shock to The System: A Donald Strachey
Mystery Here! Networks
For One Night Lifetime Television
The Black Movie Awards 2006 --
A Celebration of Black Cinema:
Past, Present & Future Turner Network Television
High School Musical Disney Channel

Reality
Mo'Nique's F.A.T. Chance Oxygen Media
Hair Trauma WE tv
ICE-T's Rap School MTV Networks: VH1
Keisha Cole BET
Black.White, "Hour 1" FX Networks
Rags to Riches: Snoop Dogg MTV Networks: VH1
Coming Out Stones: Xavior "Son of
the Islands" MTV Networks: Logo

Variety and/or Talk Show
That's What I'm Talking About MTV Networks: TV Land
TV One on One with Cathy Hughes TV One
Get the Hook Up TV One
Spoken Black Family Channel
BET Celebration of Gospel 2006 BET
Cinema AZN: Riding the Korean Wave AZN Television
American Latino TV Si TV (AIM TV)

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060705/NYW092LOGO
Source: NAMIC

CONTACT: Charmaine Chapman, of BTB Communications, +1-310-242-8407,
char@btbcommunications.com, for NAMIC

Web site: http://www.namic.com/

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