THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 9, 1995 TAG: 9509080086
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
YOU'VE HEARD IT A million times, I'm sure. An artist who is up for an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy or Tony says it would be great to win but, hey, win, lose or draw, it means a lot just to be nominated.
Yeah, sure.
Do you believe that?
I never did until a few weeks ago when I crossed paths with Dennis Franz of ``NYPD Blue'' at the semi-annual gathering of the Television Critics Association in Pasadena, Calif.
Franz, an Emmy award winner last year and a nominee again in 1995, sounded as if he really, really meant it when he said that being nominated as outstanding lead actor in a drama series was honor enough for him.
He had something to prove, said Franz, reflecting on the day in 1994 when he asked to compete in the lead actor category. He went against the wishes of the show's producers, who preferred to nominate him in a supporting role (possibly making it easier for David Caruso, also of ``NYPD Blue,'' to be nominated as lead actor).
In fact, both actors were nominated for outstanding lead actor in 1994.
And what exactly did Franz have to prove by going after the lead actor nomination so fiercely?
``That my contribution to the series has been more than a supporting role. That I could be recognized for carrying a television series. That the industry would accept me as an actor who is the leading character. Last year, I was really striving for that nomination,'' said Franz.
Last year, it was mission accomplished. He was nominated, and also won.
This year he is again recognized as an outstanding lead actor in a series, competing against Mandy Patinkin of ``Chicago Hope,'' Anthony Edwards and George Clooney of ``ER'' and Jimmy Smits also of ``NYPD Blue'' who has seven nominations on his resume.
They'll be opening the envelopes and passing out the neat-looking statuettes on Fox Sunday night starting at 8. Next year, ABC will produce the award show followed in 1997 and 1998 by CBS and NBC.
Can't wait until 8? Note this:
On Sunday at 6 p.m., E! Entertainment Television signs on with ``E!'s Live Emmy Awards Pre-Show '95'' co-hosted by Joan and Melissa Rivers. See the stars arrive at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Hear Joan Rivers comment on what they are wearing. E! digs deeply into the Emmys tonight at 8 with ``Primetime's Brightest: The 1995 Emmy Awards.'' Steve Kmetko hosts.
Out of a total of 354 nominations, including 23 for NBC's ``ER,'' there were none for ``Melrose Place,'' just one for ``Beverly Hills 90210,'' zilch for ``Sisters.''
Let's face it, said William Devane of the new ABC drama ``The Monroes,'' and formerly of ``Knots Landing'' on CBS, the Emmy voters are snobs. They turn away from the nighttime soaps no matter how popular they become, suggested Devane.
``I feel there is a certain prejudice against this kind of a series,'' Devane said when he met TV writers who were previewing ``The Monroes,'' a series about sex and politics featuring Virginia locations, which will air on ABC Thursdays at 9 p.m.
``Are you going to tell me that the acting on `Falcon Crest' or `Knots Landing' was not as good as it is on some of the shows nominated this year?''
Who would dare start an argument with this tough guy?
For whatever it's worth, Bill, be advised that a nighttime soap, ``Beverly Hills 90210,'' this year was honored with a prestigious nomination - outstanding guest actor in a drama, to Milton Berle for his role as an aging entertainer trying to cope with senility.
Hosting the 47th annual Emmy awards will be Jason Alexander of ``Seinfeld'' (five nominations in his career, zero wins) and Cybill Shepherd of ``Cybill'' (two nominations in her career, zero wins).
Would you believe that Paul Reubens, Pee-wee Herman himself, has been nominated for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for his role on ``Murphy Brown''? That Clooney's aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney, is up for the Emmy in the outstanding-guest-actress-in-a-drama series category? Or that Roseanne has been nominated a fourth time as outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, but her show was ignored in the voting for best comedy series?
Franz, the Manhattan cop who is tough as nails on the outside but all marshmallow on the inside, sounds as if he means it when he says it's OK with him if Smits wins this year. ``If they call his name when it's time to give out the award, I will be just as happy if they had called my name. I mean that from the heart.''
Franz and Smits. Are they close?
``Buddies,'' said Franz.
``Very much so.''
And what of Franz and Caruso before Caruso left his role as Detective John Kelly to work in feature films?
``It wasn't the same way with David and me as it is with me and Jimmy. David and I worked together, and it was never more than that. We never went out of our way to be more than co-workers.'' Now that Franz's Detective Andy Sipowicz character is married, what's next for him? ``I don't want for him to go soft and lose his edge,'' said Franz.
Franz's two Emmy nominations put him just 26 nominations behind Alan Alda, who holds the record. Ed Asner has less nominations than Alda but more wins (seven) than any other male performer.
Most Emmys won by a female performer? It's eight, an honor shared by Dinah Shore and Mary Tyler Moore, who returns to series TV this season on CBS in ``New York News.'' Moore's 1970s sitcom on CBS holds the record for most Emmys won by a series - 29.
You're going to make it after all, Mary. ILLUSTRATION: ABC photo
Dennis Franz, who won an Emmy last year for best actor in a drama
series for ``NYPD Blue,'' is up for the same award this year.
by CNB