`Northern Exposure' Leads The Way In Emmy Nominations

LOS ANGELES - CBS' quirky drama series "Northern Exposure" was nominated 16 times today, leading all competitors in the 44th primetime Emmy Awards.

NBC was the top network nominee with 100 bids.

CBS was second with 70, followed by ABC 63, Home Box Office 24 and Fox Broadcasting Co. 12.

Nominations for "Northern Exposure" included lead actor for Rob Morrow and supporting actor for John Corbett, who plays disc jockey Chris Stevens. The series also was nominated for outstanding drama, along with "I'll Fly Away," "L.A. Law" and "Law & Order," all on NBC.

Best comedy series nominations were NBC's "Cheers," the network's new hit "Seinfeld," CBS' "Murphy Brown" and "Brooklyn Bridge" and ABC's "Home Improvement."

Recommendations for best actress in a drama series went to Dana Delany in ABC's "China Beach," Regina Taylor of NBC's "I'll Fly Away," Kate Nelligan of The Disney Channel's "Avonlea," Shirley Knight of NBC's "Law & Order," Angela Lansbury of CBS' "Murder, She Wrote" and Sharon Gless of CBS' "The Trials of Rosie O'Neill."

In the outstanding drama actor category were Christopher Lloyd from The Disney Channel's "Avonlea," Sam Waterston of NBC's "I'll Fly Away," Michael Moriarty of NBC's "Law & Order," Harrison Page of NBC's "Quantum Leap," Scott Bakula of the same series and Kirk Douglas of Home Box Office's "Tales From the Crypt."

Nominated for lead actress in a comedy series were Marion Ross of CBS' "Brooklyn Bridge," Kirstie Alley of NBC's "Cheers," Betty White of NBC's "The Golden Girls," Candice Bergen of CBS' "Murphy Brown," Roseanne Arnold for ABC's "Roseanne" and Tyne Daly of NBC's "Wings."

In the comedy actor category was Ted Danson of NBC's "Cheers," Craig T. Nelson of ABC's "Coach," last year's winner Burt Reynolds of CBS' "Evening Shade," John Goodman of ABC's "Roseanne," Jerry Seinfeld of NBC's "Seinfeld" and Kelsey Grammer for a guest spot on NBC's "Wings."

"The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" was nominated for outstanding variety, music or comedy program. It was a sure and sentimental nomination; Carson retired in May after 30 years on the job.

Hundreds of shows contended for nominations in 75 categories.

The Television Critics Association also honored "Northern Exposure" yesterday, naming it as program of the year.

The annual critics awards package otherwise had a definite NBC cast, with Carson selected for his career achievements (the voting took place before NBC revealed he was going to be back in harness soon for still-unspecified projects), "I'll Fly Away" named as best drama and "Seinfeld" chosen as best comedy.

Previously announced primetime Emmy awards for this year include a trophy to John Ashlee Prat for outstanding individual achievement in animation. Also honored earlier was CBS' "A Claymation Easter," which was broadcast April 18.

Other Emmy nominations:

Miniseries: "Cruel Doubt," NBC; "Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel," NBC; "In a Child's Name," CBS; "Scott Turow's The Burden of Proof," ABC; "A Woman Named Jackie," NBC.

Variety, Music or comedy program: "Cirque Du Soleil II: A New Experience," HBO; "Comic Relief V," HBO; "In Living Color," Fox; "Late Night With David Letterman," NBC; "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," NBC; "Unforgettable, With Love: Natalie Cole Sings the Songs of Nat King Cole," PBS.

Supporting actress, miniseries or special: Bibi Mesch, "Doing Time on Maple Drive," Fox; Amanda Plummer, "Miss Rose White" ("Hallmark Hall of Fame"), NBC; Maureen Stapleton, "Miss Rose White" ("Hallmark Hall of Fame"), NBC; Penny Fuller, "Miss Rose White" ("Hallmark Hall of Fame")," NBC; Anne Bancroft, `"eil Simon's `Broadway Bound,' " ABC.

Outstanding informational series: "Entertainment Tonight," syndicated; "Later . . . With Bob Costas," NBC; "MGM: When the Lion Roars," TNT; "Siskel & Ebert," syndicated; "Unsolved Mysteries," NBC.

Supporting actor, drama series: Jimmy Smits, "L.A. Law," NBC; Richard Dysart, "L.A. Law," NBC; John Corbett, "Northern Exposure," CBS; Dean Stockwell, "Quantum Leap," NBC; Richard Kiley, "The Ray Bradbury Theater," USA; Ed Asner, "The Trials of Rosie O'Neill," CBS.

Supporting actress, drama series: Marg Helgenberger, "China Beach," ABC; Mary Alice, "I'll Fly Away," NBC; Conchata Ferrell, "L.A. Law," NBC; Barbara Barrie, "Law & Order," NBC; Valerie Mahaffey, "Northern Exposure," CBS; Cynthia Geary, "Northern Exposure," CBS; Kay Lenz, "Reasonable Doubts," NBC.

Supporting actor, comedy series: Harvey Fierstein, "Cheers," NBC; Jerry Van Dyke, "Coach," ABC; Michael Jeter, "Evening Shade," CBS; Charles Durning, "Evening Shade," CBS; Jay Thomas, "Murphy Brown, CBS; Jason Alexander, "Seinfeld," NBC.

Supporting actress, comedy series: Frances Sternhagen, "Cheers," NBC; Alice Ghostley, "Designing Women," CBS; Estelle Getty, "The Golden Girls," NBC; Faith Ford, "Murphy Brown," CBS; Laurie Metcalf, "Roseanne," ABC; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Seinfeld," NBC.