No 2009 Emmy Wins for Leading African American Actresses

Where is my love and respect? Some acting nominees may ask.

A top award for small screen performances of excellence has the whole world of acting including some veteran actors and actresses hoping and praying for a win, which is some form of gratitude for work and international recognition. The Emmy is the golden symbol award of high achievement. There were many funny moments in at this year's Emmy show.

I'd trade this to look like him," Alec Baldwin said, after accepting his award. He was referring to actor Rob Loweof Brothers & Sisters.

During the 61^st Primetime Emmy Awards, CBS, 8 p.m. broadcast tonight from Nokia Theatre from Los Angeles millions watched the stars who walked the red carpet for the television show or got updates from viewers and Ryan Seacrest via the Twitter social-networking site. The show was hosted by actor Neil Patrick Harris. Drama enthusiasts eagerly anticipated the lone winner's name among six nominees (formerly there were five) in certain acting categories as the show was broadcast. The awards ceremony was a little more than three hours long.

There seemed to be a big initial underground push this year for an African American woman to win in the category of Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Some critics have decried the Emmys because of the lack of African American women who have given stellar performances on television, only to not receive an Emmy win in that prestigious category.

Chandra Wilson was nominated for an Emmy award this year for the fourth time. She was nominated in two categories including Outstanding Supporting Actress for Grey's Anatomy and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie with Accidental Friendship. Vanessa Williams of Ugly Betty received a nomination nod but was not a winner. Millicent Shelton was nominated for directing while Cicely Tyson was nominated for being a supporting actress in this year's awards ceremony. C.C.H. Pounder was nominated tonight as well.

And the winner for the category of Lead Actress in a Drama Series was Glenn Close (Damages). There were contrasting moments of humor and crying. "I don't know why I'm crying," Kristin Chenoweth said. Then she added, "I'm unemployed now, and I'd like to be on Mad Men. I also like The Office and '24'."

This year was not the charm for some. Actress Angela Bassett (ER), singer and actress Jill Scott (HBO's The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency) and Regina King (Southland) were mentioned in earlier news reports this year as deserving of recognition as lead actress.

In the last 14 years, there have been four African American women nominated as lead actresses, in what some consider the most prestigious category. The last nominations in that category were in the 1990s; Regina Taylor of I'll Fly Away was nominated twice and Tyson.

African American women who have won an Emmy include: Isabel Sanford, Jackee Harry, Alfre Woodward, Madge Sinclair, Halle Berry, Whoopi Goldberg, Lynn Whitfield, Cicely Tyson and Mary Alice.

Actresses who were nominated by the Academy for the category of Lead Actress in a Drama Series include: Holly Hunter (Saving Grace) and Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order: Special Victims Unit). Kyra Sedgwick, Elisabeth Moss and Sally Field were also nominees.