SHORT TAKES : Cable Star Leaves Award Race

Lucy Webb, star of “Not Necessarily The News” on cable TV, has withdrawn from consideration as a comic actress nominee in this year’s Academy of Cable Excellence awards, her publicist said.

Webb has won the ACE award for “Best Actress in a Comedy Series” for the past five years, and wants to give others a chance, publicist Monique Moss said.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the Academy’s generous acknowledgement of my work on ‘NNTN,’ ‘ Webb said. “It’s meant more to me than I can say, but there comes a time when you have to pass the baton.”

Webb has been working on an HBO special tentatively scheduled for late 1990. The untitled show was created and co-written by Webb and Dava Savel.