WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) – 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.
“I gotta win! I gotta win for history!” an exuberant Henson said when asked about the prospect during an “Empire” panel in May.
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.