Networks Facing Cable, Syndication Emmy Challenge

A cable TV special, “The Josephine Baker Story,” dramatized the new challenge to the networks when it almost upstaged leading vote-getters “Cheers,” “L.A. Law” and “Murphy Brown” in prime-time Emmy nominations announced Thursday.

HBO’s story of Baker, the flamboyant and controversial American entertainer who dazzled Paris in the 1920s, earned 12 nominations. NBC’s “Cheers” and “L.A. Law” and CBS’ “Murphy Brown” were only one ahead with 13.

But the 13 for “Cheers” made it the most-nominated series in the history of the Emmy Awards, which will be broadcast on Fox TV Aug. 25. “Cheers” now has 101 nominations, surpassing “MASH,” which had 99, and “Hill Street Blues,” which earned 94.

Another alternative to network viewing, the syndicated series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” also demonstrated the challenge of new TV options by placing third in the voting with 10 nominations.

The dearth of successful new series on the networks, which are steadily losing viewers to cable, was illustrated as Emmy voters fell back on the established hits of traditional TV. “L.A. Law,” “Cheers” and “Murphy Brown” have all won Emmy Awards.

Only CBS’ acclaimed “Northern Exposure,” which stars Rob Morrow as a New York doctor transplanted to a small town in Alaska, broke through among new entries to make the list of programs nominated for best drama series--even though it is really more of a human comedy.

Criticism of the networks’ new cynicism toward serious drama series and innovation was made clear when Emmy voters gave a total of 23 nominations to four high-profile ABC shows that have been canceled--”China Beach,” “thirtysomething,” “Twin Peaks” and “Cop Rock.”

Cable TV, meanwhile, collected 40 nominations, its highest total ever in Emmy competition and almost half as many as leader NBC, which earned 86. ABC had 84, CBS 69, PBS 27 and Fox Broadcasting 11.

John Leverence, awards director of the TV academy, said that “The Josephine Baker Story” collected more nominations than any non-network show in the history of the Emmys.

“It feels very good,” said Lynn Whitfield, who was nominated as a best actress for her portrayal of Baker. “It’s wonderful to be nominated for something that’s important--Josephine Baker’s life. It means a lot to me that the story of a black woman has received this kind of validation.

“Eighteen million people saw the show. So people are interested in black subject material and in black-women subject material.”

Whitfield was also delighted because her husband, Brian Gibson, whom she met while making “The Josephine Baker Story,” was nominated for his direction of the show.

A rival version of the Baker story, starring Diana Ross, has been announced by the TNT cable service. TNT executive Scott Sassa said Thursday that “we’re still in development on the project” despite the triumph by Whitfield and the HBO production.

Gene Roddenberry, who created both the original “Star Trek” series--which was premiered 25 years ago--and its current TV version, said that despite the show’s cult appeal, “There were years in the past when I thought it was gone. I figured a show doesn’t come back, but ‘Star Trek’ did.”

Two other programs that helped break the hold on viewers of traditional networks--PBS “The Civil War” and Fox’s “The Simpsons”--were also nominated in key categories. “The Civil War,” a brilliant multi-part documentary that captivated America last fall and cut sharply into the ratings of the Big Three networks, was nominated as best informational series.

“The Simpsons,” which competed effectively with the blockbuster smash “The Cosby Show” in head-on competition during the past season, was nominated for best animated show. To the displeasure of many, however, it is forbidden by the rules of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences from competing for best comedy series because it is animated.

“Murphy Brown” continues to draw the admiration of academy voters and the public, although it may be taking a bit of risk with its ratings next season because its single heroine (Candice Bergen) discovered in the final segment of the past season that she is pregnant.

Both “L.A. Law” and “Cheers” could join the ranks of the most-honored Emmy-winning series ever when the statuettes are presented next month at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

If “L.A. Law” wins as best drama series, it will tie “Hill Street Blues,” which is the all-time winner in the category with four Emmys. If “Cheers” wins as best comedy series, it will tie “All in the Family” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” who are the all-time winners in that category with four each.

One of last season’s great critical and ratings hits, “Sarah, Plain and Tall,” earned nine nominations for its story of a Maine spinster who, in 1910, answers a newspaper ad for a wife from a Kansas farmer with two children. Predictably, Glenn Close was nominated for her starring role in the CBS drama and will probably battle it out with Whitfield for best lead actress in a miniseries or special.

Eight nominations apiece went to “thirtysomething” and NBC’s “Quantum Leap,” the time travel series with social messages. And seven nominations were collected by the ABC miniseries “Separate but Equal,” which starred Sidney Poitier and Burt Lancaster in a docudrama about the Supreme Court’s 1954 decision to desegregate schools.

Poitier was nominated for his portrayal of Thurgood Marshall, then a lawyer for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Marshall, who later became a Supreme Court justice, recently announced his resignation from the bench.

Richard Kiley was nominated in a supporting role for “Separate but Equal” for his portrayal of Chief Justice Earl Warren.

Six nominations apiece went to “China Beach,” “The Golden Girls” and “Decoration Day,” an NBC drama that starred James Garner as a retired Southern judge who re-evaluates his feelings about life and friendship when his black, former boyhood friend refuses to accept the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II.

Garner was also nominated for his performance.

Robert Cooper, senior vice president of HBO Pictures, said the nominations for “The Josephine Baker Story” were “more precious than ever before because just a few years ago the academy didn’t even look to us for quality.”

Leverence noted that although the number of nominations for syndicated programs declined slightly from last year, “shows that were syndicated are now going to cable.”

In the past, he said, the networks “used to have some huge 800-pound gorilla like ‘Hill Street Blues’ ” that collected large numbers of nominations. But “it appears there is no 800-pound gorilla at the networks as this year’s superstar,” Leverence said.

Said “China Beach” co-creator John Sacret-Young, whose series dramatized the Vietnam War through vivid characters and stories: “The significance (of the nominations) is that you’re looking at a lot of good stuff that’s going away, that’s disappearing.”

“China Beach” was nominated as best drama series, along with “L.A. Law,” “Northern Exposure,” “thirtysomething” and “Quantum Leap.”

But academy voters continued to give the back of their hand to Roseanne Barr, whose new married name is Roseanne Arnold; they failed again to nominate her as best actress in a comedy series despite the success of her show.

The 1990-91 Prime-Time Emmys: The Nominees Are . . .

Here is a complete list of nominees for the 43rd anual nighttime Emmy Awards, announced Thursday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:

* Comedy series: “Cheers,” NBC; “Designing Women,” CBS; “The Golden Girls,” NBC; “Murphy Brown,” CBS; “The Wonder Years,” ABC.

* Drama series: “China Beach,” ABC; “L.A. Law,” NBC; “Northern Exposure,” CBS; “Quantum Leap,” NBC; “thirtysomething,” ABC.

* Drama/comedy special and miniseries: “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Decoration Day,” NBC; “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; “Paris Trout,” Showtime; “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall,” CBS; “Separate But Equal,” ABC; “Switched at Birth,” NBC.

* Variety, music or comedy program: “The 63rd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC; “In Living Color,” Fox; “The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts,” CBS; “Late Night With David Letterman,” NBC; “The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson,” CBS; “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” NBC.

* Classical program in the performing arts: “Carnegie Hall: Live at 100,” PBS; “American Playhouse: Into the Woods,” PBS; “Live From Lincoln Center: A Little Night Music,” “Live From Lincoln Center: Pavarotti Plus!,” PBS; “Gala From Leningrad: Tchaikovsky 150th Birthday,” PBS.

* Children’s program: “Avonlea,” Disney; “Earth to Kids: A Guide to Products for a Healthy Planet,” HBO; “Newton’s Apple,” PBS; “What’s Up Doc? A Salute to Bugs Bunny,” TNT; “You Can’t Go Home Again: A 3-2-1 Contact Extra,” PBS.

* Information special: “All in the Family 20th Anniversary Special,” CBS; “The Barbara Walters Special With Whoopie Goldberg, Jeremy Irons and Sophia Loren,” ABC; “Cheers 200th Anniversary Special,” NBC; “American Masters: Edward R. Murrow--This Reporter.” PBS; “The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show,” CBS.

Informational series: “The Astronomers,” PBS; “The Civil War,” PBS; “Entertainment Tonight,” syn.; “Smithsonian World,” PBS; “Unsolved Mysteries,” NBC.

Animated program: “Garfield Gets a Life,” CBS; “The Simpsons,” Fox; “Tiny Toon Adventures: The Looney Beginning,” CBS; “Will Vinton’s Claymation Comedy of Horrors,” CBS.

Lead actor, comedy series: Ted Danson, “Cheers,” NBC; Craig T. Nelson, “Coach,” ABC; Richard Mulligan, “Empty Nest,” NBC; Burt Reynolds, “Evening Shade,” CBS; John Goodman, “Roseanne,” ABC.

Lead actor, drama series: Peter Falk, “Columbo,” ABC; James Earl Jones, “Gabriel’s Fire,” ABC; Michael Moriarty, “Law & Order,” NBC; Scott Bakula, “Quantum Leap,” NBC; Kyle MacLachlan, “Twin Peaks,” ABC.

Lead actor, miniseries or special: James Garner, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Decoration Day,” NBC; Dennis Hopper, “Paris Trout,” Showtime; Christopher Walken, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall,” CBS; Sidney Poitier, “Separate but Equal,” ABC; John Gielgud, “Masterpiece Theatre: Summer’s Lease,” PBS.

Lead actress, comedy series: Kirstie Alley, “Cheers,” NBC; Blair Brown, “The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd,” Lifetime; Delta Burke, “Designing Women,” CBS; Betty White, “The Golden Girls,” NBC; Candice Bergen, “Murphy Brown,” CBS.

Lead actress, drama series: Dana Delany, “China Beach,” ABC; Angela Lansbury, “Murder, She Wrote,” CBS; Patricia Wettig, “thirtysomething,” ABC; Sharon Gless, “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill,” CBS.

Lead actress, miniseries or special: Lynn Whitfield, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; Suzanne Pleshette, “Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean,” CBS; Lee Purcell, “Long Road Home,” NBC; Barbara Hershey, “Paris Trout,” Showtime; Glenn Close, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall,” CBS.

Supporting actor, comedy series: Woody Harrelson, “Cheers,” NBC; Jerry Van Dyke, “Coach,” ABC; Jonathan Winters, “Davis Rules,” ABC; Michael Jetter, “Evening Shade,” CBS; Charles Durning, “Evening Shade,” CBS.

Supporting actor, drama series: Jimmy Smits, “L.A. Law,” NBC; Richard Dysart, “L.A. Law,” NBC; Dean Stockwell, “Quantum Leap,” NBC; David Clennon, “thirtysomething,” ABC; Timothy Busfield, “thirtysomething,” ABC.

Supporting actor, miniseries or special: James Earl Jones, “Heatwave,” TNT; Ruben Blades, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; David Dukes, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; Leon Russom, “Long Road Home,” NBC; Richard Kiley, “Separate but Equal,” ABC.

Supporting actress, comedy series: Rhea Perlman, “Cheers,” NBC; Bebe Neuwirth, “Cheers,” NBC; Elizabeth Ashley, “Evening Shade,” CBS; Estelle Getty, “The Golden Girls,” NBC; Faith Ford, “Murphy Brown,” CBS.

Supporting actress, drama series: Marg Helgenberger, “China Beach,” ABC; Madge Sinclair, “Gabriel’s Fire,” ABC; Diana Muldaur, “L.A. Law,” NBC; Melanie Mayron, “thirtysomething,” ABC; Piper Laurie, “Twin Peaks,” ABC.

Supporting actress, miniseries or special: Ruby Dee, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Decoration Day,” NBC; Elaine Stritch, “An Inconvenient Woman,” ABC; Olympia Dukakis, “Lucky Day,” ABC; Doris Roberts, “American Playhouse: The Sunset Gang,” PBS; Vanessa Redgrave, “Young Catherine,” TNT.

Guest actor, comedy series: Sheldon Leonard, “Cheers: Grease,” NBC; Tom Poston, “Coach: Diamond’s Are a Dentist’s Best Friend,” ABC; Danny Thomas, “Empty Nest: The Mentor,” NBC; Alan Oppenheimer, “Murphy Brown: Strike Two,” CBS; Jay Thomas, “Murphy Brown: Gold Rush,” CBS.

Guest actor, drama series: Peter Coyote, “Avonlea: Old Quarrels, Old Love,” Disney; Dabney Coleman, “Columbo: Murder of a Rock Star,” ABC; David Opatoshu, “Gabriel’s Fire: A Prayer for the Goldsteins,” ABC; John Glover, “L.A. Law: God Rest Ye Murray Gentleman,” NBC.

Guest actress, comedy series: Sada Thompson, “Cheers: Honor Thy Mother,” NBC; Frances Sternhagen, “Cheers: Ma Always Liked You Best,” NBC; Whoopi Goldberg, “A Different World: If I Should Die Before I Wake,” NBC; Brenda Vaccaro, “The Golden Girls: Ebbtide’s Revenge,” NBC: Colleen Dewhurst, “Murphy Brown: Bob and Murphy and Ted and Avery,” CBS.

Guest actress, drama series: Colleen Dewhurst, “Avonlea: The Materializing of Duncan McTavish,” Disney; Penny Fuller, “China Beach: Fever,” ABC; Eileen Brennan, “thirtysomething: Sifting the Ashes,” ABC; Peggy McCay, “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill: State of Mind,” CBS.

Individual performance, variety or music program: Billy Crystal, “The 63rd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC; Keenen Ivory Wayans, “In Living Color,” Fox; Damon Wayans, “In Living Color,” Fox; Dana Carvey, “Saturday Night Live,” NBC; Harry Connick Jr., “Great Performances: Swinging Out With Harry,” PBS.

Writing, comedy series: Jay Tarses, “The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd: Here’s a Little Touch of Narry in the Night,” Lifetime; Gary Dontzig, Steven Peterman, “Murphy Brown: Jingle Hell, Jingle Hell, Hingle All the Way,” CBS; Diane English, “Murphy Brown: On Another Plane,” CBS; Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, “Seinfeld: The Pony Remark,” NBC; Larry David, “Seinfeld: The Deal,” NBC.

Writing, drama series: Judith Feldman, Sarah Woodside Gallagher, “L.A. Law: Lie Harder,” NBC; David E. Kelley, Patricia Green, Alan Brennert, “L.A. Law: Mutinies on the Banzai,” NBC; David E. Kelley, “L.A. Law: On the Toad Again,” NBC; Joshua Brand, John Falsey, “Northern Exposure (Pilot),” CBS; Ann Lewis Hamilton, “thirtysomething: Second Look,” ABC.

Writing, variety or music program: Hal Kantor, Buz Kohan, Billy Crystal, David Steinberg, Bruce Vilanch, Robert Wuhl, “The 63rd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC; Keenen Ivory Wayans, Fax Bahr, Kim Bass, Les Firestein, Greg Fields, Becky Hartman, J.J. Paulsen, Adam Small, Steve Tompkins, Pam Veasey, Damon Wayans, “In Living Color,” Fox; Stephen M. O’Donnell, Rob Burnett, Spike Feresten, Larry Jacobson, David Letterman, Gerard Mulligan, Maria Pope, Paul Simms, Steven Young, “Late Night With David Letterman,” NBC; Jerry Juhl, Sara Lukinson, Bill Prady, “The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson,” CBS; A. Whitney Brown, Tom Davis, James Downey, Al Franken, Jack Handey, Lorne Michaels, Conan O’Brien, Bob Odenkirk, Andrew Robin, Adam Sandler, Herb Sargent, Rob Schneider, Robert Smigel, David Soade, Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Christine Zander, “Saturday Night Live,” NBC.

Writing, miniseries or special: Robert W. Lenski, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Decoration Day,” NBC; Andrew Davies, “Masterpiece Theatre: House of Cards,” PBS; Pete Dexter, “Paris Trout,” Showtime; Patricia MacLachlan, Carol Sobieski, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall,” CBS; George Stevens Jr., “Separate but Equal,” ABC.

Individual achievement--informational programming: Linda Feferman, director, “The Astronomers,” PBS; Geoffrey C. Ward, Ric Burns, Ken Burns, writers, “The Civil War,” PBS; Christian Blackwood, director, “Motel,” PBS; David Grubin, director, “The Powers of the Past With Bill Moyers: Florence,” PBS; Todd McCarthy, writer, “American Masters: Preston Sturges--The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer,” PBS; Peter Gelb, Susan Froemke, Albert Maysles, Bob Eisenhardt, directors, “Soldiers of Music: Rostropovich Returns to Russia,” PBS.

Individual achievement--classical music/dance: Siegfried Jerusalem, as Siegfried and Loge, “The Ring of Nibelung,” PBS; Kurt Moll, as Hunding, “The Ring of Nibelung,” PBS; Yo-Yo Ma, performer, “Tchaikovsky 150th Birthday Gala From Leningrad”; PBS; Yo-Yo Ma, performer, “Gala From Leningrad: Tchaikovsky 150th Birthday,” PBS; Itzhak Perlman, performer, “Gala From Leningrad: Tchaikovsky 150th Birthday,” PBS.

Directing, comedy series: James Burrows, “Cheers: Woody Interruptus,” NBC; Jay Tarses, “The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd: Here’s a Little Touch of Harry in the Night,” Lifetime; Barnet Kellman, “Murphy Brown: On Another Plane,” CBS; Tom Cherones, “Seinfeld: The Pony Remark,” NBC; Peter Baldwin, “The Wonder Years: The Ties That Bind--Thanksgiving,” ABC.

Directing, drama series: Mimi Leder, “China Beach: You, Babe,” ABC; Gregory Hoblit, “Cop Rock (Pilot),” ABC; Thomas Carter, “Equal Justice: In Confidence,” ABC; Tom Moore, “L.A. Law: God Rest Ye Murray Gentleman,” NBC.

Directing, variety or music program: Jeff Margolis, “The 63rd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC; Dwight Hemion, “The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts,” CBS; Hal Gurnee, “Late Night With David Letterman,” NBC.

Directing, miniseries or special: Gilbert Cates, “Absolute Strangers,” CBS; Robert Markowitz, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Decoration Day,” NBC; Brian Gibson, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; Glenn Jordan, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall,” CBS.

Editing, series--single camera production: Joe Ann Fogle, “Cop Rock” (pilot),” ABC; Dann Cahn, “DEA,” Fox; Marco Zappia, “Dinosaurs: The Mighty Megalosaurus,” ABC; Jonathan Pontell, “L.A. Law: God Rest Ye Murray Gentleman,” NBC.

Editing, miniseries or special--single-camera production: Eric Sears, Bob Wyman, “The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson,” TNT; Robert Florio, “Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes,” NBC; John Wright, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall,” CBS; John W. Wheeler, “Separate But Equal--Part 1,” ABC; Robert F. Shugrue, David Blangsted, “Stephen King’s It--Part 1,” ABC.

Editing, series--multi-camera production: Andy Ackerman, “Cheers: The Days of Wine and Neuroses,” NBC; Sheila Amos, “Cheers: Rat Girl,” NBC; Andy Chulack, “Coach: The Break-Up,” ABC; Tucker Wiard, “Murphy Brown: On Another Plane,” CBS.

Editing, miniseries or special--multi-camera production: Robert P. Schneider, Mark West, “The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic,” ABC; Andy Ackerman, “Cheers 200th Anniversary Special,” NBC; Ray Miller, George Verschoor, Tony Teresi, “The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express,” CBS; David Gumpel, Girish Bhargava, “The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson,” CBS; David Fairfield, Harry Arends, Booey Kober, Bruce Motyer, “Red, Hot & Blue,” ABC.

Cinematography, series: Michael Watkins, “Quantum Leap: The Leap Home--Part 2,” NBC; Marvin Rush, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: Family,” syn.; Jack Priestley, “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill: Starting Over,” CBS.

Cinematography, miniseries or special: Michael Margulies, “The Haunted,” Fox; Gayne Rescher, “Jackie Collins’ Lucky/Chances--Part 1,” NBC; Isidore Mankofsky, “Love, Lies and Murder--Part 1,” NBC; Jonathan M. West, “The Whereabouts of Jenny,” ABC.

Art direction, series: John C. Mula, Brian Savegar, “Dinosaurs: The Magic Dance,” ABC; Hub Braden, Robb Wingo, “Murder, She Wrote: Murder Plain and Simple,” CBS; Roy Christopher, Steve Rostine, “Murphy Brown: Retreat,” CBS; Camerone Birnie, Robert Zilliox, “Quantum Leap: The Boogieman,” NBC; Richard D. James, Jim Mees, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best of Both Worlds--Part 2,” syn.

Art direction, variety or music program: Raymond Klausen, Keaton S. Walker, “The 63rd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC; David Sackeroff, Portia Iverson, “Carol & Company: Spudnik,” NBC; John Shaffner, Joe Stewart, “The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express,” CBS.

Art direction, miniseries or special: Dean Mitzner, Jeanette Gunn, “The Flash (Pilot),” CBS; Stephen Storker, Mimi Gramatky, Sharon Viljoen, “An Inconvenient Woman--Part 1,” ABC; Jozsef Romvari, Dean Tschetter, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; Ed Wittstein, Robert Checchi, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall,” CBS.

Music composition, series (dramatic underscore): Bruce Babcock, “Father Dowling Mysteries: The Consulting Detective Mystery,” ABC; Joel Rosenbaum, “Jake and the Fatman: God Bless the Child,” CBS; Don Davis, “My Life and Times: The Collapse of ‘98,” ABC; Dennis J. McCarthy, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: Half a Life,” syn.; John Debney, “The Young Riders: Kansas,” ABC.

Music composition, miniseries or special (dramatic underscore): Patrick Williams, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Decoration Day,” NBC; Chris Boardman, “Johnny Ryan,” NBC; James Pasquale, “The Killing Mind,” Lifetime; Don Davis, “Lies Before Kisses,” CBS; Richard Bellis, “Stephen King’s It--Part I,” ABC.

Music direction: Bill Conti, Julie Giroux, Jack Eskew, Ashley Iwin, Dennis McCarthy, Marc Shaiman, “The 63rd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC; Ralph Burns, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; Larry Grossman, James Lawrence, Paul McKibbins, Torrie Zito, “The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson,” CBS; Elliot Lawrence, Torrie Zito, Lanny Meyers, James Lawrence, “The 1990 Tony Awards,” CBS; Ian Fraser, Bill Byers, Chris Boardman, J. Hill, “The Walt Disney Company Presents the American Teacher Awards,” Disney.

Music and lyrics: Ron Boustead, Gregg Edmonson, “Nowhere to Go, Nothin’ to Do” on “Cop Rock: Oil of Ol’Lay,” ABC; Randy Newman, “He’s Guilty!” on “Cop Rock: (Pilot),” ABC; Craig Safan, Mark Mueller, “Bittersweet Waltz” on “Life Goes On: Corky’s Travels,” ABC; Mark Snow, Glynn Snow, “I Didn’t Hear You” on “The Lost Capone,” TNT; Dick De Benedictis, “Love and Justice” on “Matlock: The Critic,” NBC.

Main title theme music: Lee Holdridge, “ABC World of Discovery,” ABC; Thomas Newman, “Against the Law,” Fox; Michael Skloff, “Dream On,” HBO; Stanley Clarke, Lawrence Edwards, Kenny Ortega, Peggy Holmes, “Hull High,” NBC; Ray Colcord, “Singer and Sons,” NBC.

Choreography: Lester Wilson, “America’s Dance Honors,” ABC; George Faison, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; Debbie Allen, “Motown 30: What’s Goin’ On!: African American Odyssey” (dance number), CBS.

Costuming, series: Paula Kaatz, Le Dawson, “China Beach: Juice,” ABC; Shelly Levine, Loree Parral, Elena Del Rio, “L.A. Law: God Rest Ye Murray Gentleman,” NBC; Marti M. Squyres, “Married . . . With Children: Married With Aliens,” Fox; Patrick R. Norris, Linda Serijan-Fasmer, “thirtysomething: A Wedding,” ABC.

Costuming, miniseries or special: Buffy Snyder, Jane Janiger, Michelle Kurpaska, “Jackie Collins’ Lucky/Chances--Part 1,” NBC; Michael T. Boyd, Cathy A. Smith, Bud Clark, “Son of the Morning Star--Part 2,” ABC.

Costume design, series: Rosalie Samplin Wallace, “Dark Shadows: Episode 6,” NBC; Clifford L. Chally, “Designing Women: Keep the Home Fires Burning,” CBS; Bill Hargate, “Murphy Brown: Eldin Imitates Life,” CBS; Jean-Pierre Dorleac, “Quantum Leap: Glitter Rock,” NBC; Robert Blackman, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: Devil’s Due,” syn.

Costume design, miniseries or special: Noel Taylor, “Ironclads,” TNT; Maria Hruby, Gyorgyi Vidak, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; May Routh, “Lucy and Desi: Before the Laughter,” CBS; Van Broughton Ramsey, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall,” CBS; Larissa Konnikova, “Young Catherine--Part 2,” TNT.

Costume design, variety or music program: Ret Turner, Bob Mackie, “Carol & Company: That Little Extra Something,” NBC; Ret Turner, Michael Schmidt, Bob Mackie, “Cher . . . at the Mirage,” CBS; Michelle Cole, “In Living Color,” Fox.

Lighting direction (electronic), comedy series: Alan Walker, “The Golden Girls: The Bloom is Off the Rose,” NBC; George Spiro Dibie, “Growing Pains: Happy Halloween--Parts 1 and 2,” ABC; Charles L. Barbee, “Night Court: Hey Harry, F’Cryin’ Out Loud, It Is a Wonderful Life . . . Sorta,” NBC; Mark J. Levin, “Who’s the Boss?: Starlight Memories,” ABC.

Lighting direction (electronic), drama series, variety series, miniseries or special: Jeffrey M. Engel, Marc Palius, “The 63rd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC; Jeff Ravitz, Jeff Johnson, Tim Phelps, Marty Callner, “Cher . . . at the Mirage,” CBS; William M. Klages, “The 33rd Annual Grammy Awards,” CBS; Bob Dickinson, “The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express,” CBS; William Merrill, “Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” NBC.

Makeup, series: Margaret Beserra-Prentice, Fred Blau Jr., “Beauty and the Beast: In the Forests of the Night,” CBS; Thomas R. Burman, Bari Dreiband-Burman, Leigh Mitchell, Darrell McIntyre, Ken Diaz, “L.A. Law: God Rest Ye Murray Gentleman,” NBC; Gerald Quist, Michael Mills, Jeremy Swan, Doug Kelley, “Quantum Leap: The Leap Home--Part 1,” NBC; Michael G. Westmore, June Abston Haymore, Gerald Quist, Michael Mills, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: Brothers,” syn.; Michael G Westmore, Gerald Quist, June Haymore, Edward French, Jill Rockow, Gil Mosko, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: Identity Crisis,” syn.

Makeup, miniseries or special: Todd Masters, Pamela Peitzman, “Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes,” NBC; Marie Carter, Julia Fenyvesi, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; Joe McKinney, Hank Edds, Paul Sanchez, T.C. Williams, “Son of the Morning Star--Part 2,” ABC.

Hairstyling, series: Joanne Harris, Gus Le Prey, Peggy Shannon, “Anything But Love: Long Days Journey Into . . . What?,” ABC; Dee Dee Petty, “Dark Shadows: Episode No. 8,” NBC.

Hairstyling, miniseries or special: Anthony Esposito, “An Inconvenient Woman--Part 2,” ABC; Carolyn Elias, Barbara Lampson, “Jackie Collins’ Lucky/Chances--Part 1,” NBC; Aldo Signoretti, Ferdinando Merolla, Katalin Kajtar, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; Jeffrey Sacino, “Lucy and Desi: Before the Laughter,” CBS; Marsha Lewis, Jennifer Bell, Casey Camp-Horinek, Beth Miller, “Son of the Morning Star--Part 2,” ABC.

Graphic design and title sequences: Steve Martino, Jeff Doud, Jon Townley, Thomas Barham, “ABC World of Discovery,” ABC; Edward Sullivan, Ron Crabb, Jeff Boortz, “American Dreamer,” NBC; Edward Sullivan, Jeff Boortz, Scott Milne, “Shannon’s Deal,” NBC; William Pittard, Jeff Boortz, “Sunday Best,” NBC.

Sound editing, series: Gonzo Cervantes, James Koford, Greg Stacy, Kerry Williams, Warren Smith, Ken Burton, Michael Goodman, Tom Milano, “The Flash: The Trickster,” CBS; Paul Clay, Susan Kurtz, Greg Schorer, Carin Rogers, William Williams, Ernesto Mas, Donald Woods, “Quantum Leap: Black on White on Fire,” NBC; William Wistrom, James Wolvington, Mace Matiosian, Wilson Dyer, Tomi Tomita, Dan Yale, Gerry Sackman, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best of Both Worlds--Part 2,” syn.; Richard Taylor, Patrick McCormick, Richard Davis, Tom DeGorter, Albert Lord, Lori Eschler, “Twin Peaks: Episode No. 25,” ABC.

Sound editing, miniseries or special: Burton M. Weinstein, Stephen Grubbs, Clark Conrad, Craig Otte, Terence Thomas, Randal S. Thomas, Andre Caporaso, Philip Jamtaas, Brian Risner, James Wolvington, Lori Slomka, “Ironclads,” TNT; Dave Weathers, Matthew Sawelson, Jim Hebenstreit, Brad Sherman, Adam Sawelson, Ralph Osborn, Brian Thomas Nist, Frank Fuller, John Bonds, Peter Bergren, Bruce Michaels, Irma Levin, “Paris Trout,” Showtime; David Hankins, Brian Thomas Nist, John Haeny, Peter Bergren, Ralph Osborn, Joe Earle, John Bonds, Brad Sherman, Adam Sawelson, Matthew Saelson, Frank Fuller, Bruce Michaels, Joanie Diener, “Separate But Equal,” ABC; G. Michael Graham, Joseph A. Melody, Rick Steele, Mark Steele, Gary Macheel, Charles Beith Jr., Mark Friedgen, Dan Luna, Mike Wright, Bob Costanza, Chris Assells, Sound McMoyler, Bill Bell, Scot Tinsley, Philip Jamtaas, Andre Caporaso, Steve Grubbs, Kristi Johns, John Caper, “Son of the Morning Star,” ABC.

Sound mixing, comedy series or special: Robert Crosby Jr., Sam Black, Thomas J. Huth, Robert Douglass, “Cheers: The Days of Wine and Neuroses,” NBC; Joe Kenworthy, Dean Okrand, William Thiederman, Michael Getlin, “Doogie Howser, M.D.: Doogenstein,” ABC; John Hicks, Rick Himot, David E. Fluhr, “Murphy Brown: On Another Plane,” CBS; Brad Brock, Gary Montgomery, James Fitzpatrick, Brad Sherman, “The Simpsons: Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment,” Fox; Agamemnon Andrianos, David J. West, Nello Torri, John L. Mack, “The Wonder Years: Little Debbie,” ABC.

Sound mixing, variety or music series or special: Lee De Carlo, Ron Cronkhite, Zolly Osaze, Clark Germaine, “The 63rd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC; Edward J. Greene, Terry Kulchar, “Carnegie Hall: Live at 100” PBS; Carroll Pratt, Ed Greene, Paul Sandweiss, Don Worsham, Randy Ezratty, “The 33rd Annual Grammy Awards,” CBS; Robert Eldez, Edward J. Greene, John Bickelhaupt, “Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts,” CBS; Don Worsham, Kooster McAllister, “Welcome Home Heroes With Whitney Houston,” HBO.

Sound mixing, drama series: Mark S. Server, Robert Appere, Ron Estes, Gary Rogers, “Cop Rock: Oil of Ol’Lay,” ABC; David Schneiderman, Robert Appere, Ron Estes, Gary D. Rodgers, “L.A. Law: God Rest Ye Murray Gentleman,” NBC; Glenn Micallef, Dean Okrand, William Thiederman, Michael Getlin, “Northern Exposure: Aurora Borealis--A Fairy Tale for Big People,” CBS; Alan Bernard, Doug Davey, Chris Haire, Richard Morrison, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best of Both Worlds--Part 2,” syn.; Don Summer, Gary Alexander, Adam Jenkins, “Twin Peaks,” ABC.

Sound mixing, drama miniseries or special: Ken Ross, Tim Philben, Scott Mllan, George Groves Jr., “Ironclads,” TNT; Janos Reti, Hugh Strain, Olive Pendry, “The Josephine Baker Story,” HBO; Jacob Goldstein, Grover Helsley, Rogbert W. Glass Jr., Richard D. Rogers, “Hallmark Hall of Fame: Sarah, Plain and Tall,” CBS; Ed Novic, Gary Alexander, Adam Jenkins, Dennis Kirk, “Separate But Equal,” ABC; Nelson Stoll, Thomas J. Huth, Sam Black, Anthony Costantini, “Son of the Morning Star,” ABC.

Special visual effects: Martin Gutteridge, “Ironclads,” TNT; Don Wayne, Tim White, Chris Wilson, “The Magic of David Copperfield XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express,” CBS; Gary Hutzel, Robert Legato, David Takemura, Michael Okuda, Don Greenberg, Erik Nash, Steve Price, Syd Dutton, Robert Stromberg, Bill Taylor, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best of Both Worlds--Part 1,” syn.; Robert Legato, Gary Hutzel, David Takemura, Pat Clancey, Steve Price, Michael Okuda, Erik Nash, Syd Dutton, Bill Taylor, “Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Best of Both Worlds--Part 2,” syn.

Technical direction/camera/video, series: Kenneth Tamburri, Ritch Kenney, Jack Chisholm, Steve Jones, Dave Heckman, John O’Brien, “Empty Nest,” NBC; Ken Tamburri, Stephen A. Jones, David Heckman, Chester Jackson, Ritch Kenney, Randy Johnson, “The Golden Girls,” NBC; Bob Crump, Art La Combe, Charlie Henry, Guy Casagrande, Harriet Uhl, Chuck Pharis, “Into the Night Starring Rick Dees,” ABC; Jerry Weiss, Marty Brown, Dave Owen, Marvin Shearer, Mark Warshaw, Rich Rose, “Married People,” ABC; Ray Figelski, Kurt Tonnessen, Don Barker, Brook McKusick, Harold C. Ingels, “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” NBC.

Technical direction/camera/video, miniseries or special: Jim Ralston, Averill Perry, Bill Pope, D.J. Diomedes, Ron Brooks, Dale Walsh, Blair White, Bud Holland, Ralph Alcocer, Ed Payne, Ed Rajme, Sal Folino, Don Langford, Warren Cress, Larry Stenman, Barry Kirstein, Chuck Pharis, John Monteleon, “The 63rd Annual Academy Awards,” ABC; Frank O’Connell, Micahel Lieberman, John Feher, Manuel Gutierrez, Larry Solomon, William Akerlund, Jim Covello, David Smith, Miguel Armstrong, Jill Bowers, Michael Jarocki, Jay Millard, Ron Smith, Billy Steinberg, “Carnegie Hall: Live at 100,” PBS; Keith Winikoff, Sam Drummy, Dave Levisohn, Bill Philbin, Hector Ramirez, “The Magic of David Copperfieod XIII: Mystery on the Orient Express,” CBS; Gene Crowe, Donna J. Quante, Larry Heider, Ken Patterson, Charlie Huntley, John Burdick, Ron Smith, Keith Winkkoff, “Sinbad: Brain Damaged,” HBO; Roz Storey, Sam Drummy, Tom Geren, Pat Gleason, Jim Goldsmith, Ed Fussel, Larry Heider, Charlie Huntley, Dave Levison, Rich McVicar, Ken Patterson, Bill Philbin, Dave Plakos, Joe Puthoff, Hector Ramirez, Ron Sheldon, Mark Sanford, “Welcome Home Heroes With Whitney Houston,” HBO.

Emmys at a Glance

MOST NOMINATIONS

“Cheers” 13

“L.A. Law” 13

“Murphy Brown” 13

“Josephine Baker” 12

“Star Trek” 10

COMEDY SERIES

“Cheers”

“Designing Women”

“The Golden Girls”

“Murphy Brown”

“The Wonder Years”

DRAMATIC SERIES

“China Beach”

“L.A. Law”

“Northern Exposure”

“Quantum Leap”

“thirtysomething”

Note: Complete list of nominees on F24.