‘Genius: MLK/X,’ ‘Abbott Elementary’ Lead 8th Black Reel Television Awards Nominations

The fourth season of the National Geographic limited series Genius, MLK/X, which explores the lives, legacies and dueling philosophies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, is the most-nominated program from the Black Reel Television Awards, the org announced today. The series was nominated for Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series for both Aaron Pierre, who portrays Malcolm X, and Kelvin Harrison Jr., who plays King.

ABC’s Abbott Elementary followed closely with 12 as the most-nominated comedy series while drama series nominations were led by HBO’s now cancelled Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty with seven.

The Black Reel TV Awards, or “Bolts TV,” is an annual awards ceremony hosted by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF) to recognize television excellence of African-Americans and those of the African Diaspora, as assessed by the Foundation’s voting membership. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially called the “Bolt”. The awards, first presented in 2017 in Washington, D.C., are overseen by FAAAF.

Winners will be announced Tuesday, August 13. Here is the complete list of nominations.

Comedy

Outstanding Comedy Series

“Abbott Elementary” – ABC | Quinta Brunson, showrunner
“Diarra from Detroit” – BET+ | Diarra Kilpatrick, showrunner
“The Ms. Pat Show” – BET+ | Jordan E. Cooper, showrunner
“Rap Sh!t” – MAX | Syreeta Singleton, showrunner
“Survival of the Thickest” – Netflix | Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, showrunner

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson | “Abbott Elementary” – ABC
Michelle Buteau | “Survival of the Thickest” – Netflix
Ayo Edebiri | “The Bear” – FX on HULU
Renée Elise Goldsberry | “Girls5Eva” – Netflix
Jharrel Jerome | “I’m a Virgo” – Amazon Prime Video
Diarra Kilpatrick | “Diarra from Detroit” – BET+
Anthony Mackie | “Twisted Metal” – Peacock
Maya Rudolph | “Loot” – Apple TV+
Jaz Sinclair | “Gen V” – Amazon Prime Video
Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams | “The Ms. Pat Show” – BET+

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series

Tone Bell | “Survival of the Thickest” – Netflix
Lionel Boyce | “The Bear” – FX on HULU
Giancarlo Esposito | “The Gentlemen” – Netflix
Janelle James | “Abbott Elementary” – ABC
Danielle Pinnock | “Ghosts” – CBS
Sheryl Lee Ralph | “Abbott Elementary” – ABC
Tami Roman | “The Ms. Pat Show” – BET+
JB Smoove | “Curb Your Enthusiasm” – HBO
Vince Swann | “The Ms. Pat Show” – BET+
Tyler James Williams | “Abbott Elementary” – ABC

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

“Chasing Ghosts” (Diarra from Detroit) | Chioke Nassor, director – BET+
“Clueless” (Loot) | Kevin Bray, director – Apple TV+
“Guardians of Godolkin” (Gen V) – Sanaa Hamri, director – Amazon Prime Video
“Party” (Abbott Elementary) – Ken Whittingham, director – ABC
“You a Big Muthaf*cka” (I’m a Virgo) – Boots Riley, director – Amazon Prime Video

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

“Career Day, Part 1” (Abbott Elementary) | Quinta Brunson, writer – ABC
“Honeydew” (The Bear) | Stacy Osei-Kuffour, writer – FX on HULU
“Keep Your Plants Watered, Bitch” (Survival of the Thickest) | Michelle Buteau & Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, writers – Netflix
“Librarian” (Abbott Elementary) | Morgan Murphy, writer – ABC
“You a Big Muthaf*cka” (I’m a Virgo) | Boots Riley, writer – Amazon Prime Video

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series

Erika Alexander | “Run the World” – Starz
Tatyana Ali | “Abbott Elementary” – ABC
Garcelle Beauvais | “Survival of the Thickest” – Netflix
Jordan E. Cooper | “The Ms. Pat Show” – BET+
Keegan-Michael Key | “Abbott Elementary” – ABC
Sanaa Lathan | “Curb Your Enthusiasm” – HBO
Da’Vine Joy Randolph | “Only Murders in the Building” – HULU
Phylicia Rashad | “Diarra From Detroit” – BET+
Cree Summer | “Abbott Elementary” – ABC
Robert Townsend | “The Bear” – FX on HULU

Drama

Outstanding Drama Series

“Black Cake” – HULU | Melissa Ho Cerar, showrunner
“The Equalizer” – CBS | Andrew Marlowe and Terri Miller, showrunners
“Lupin” – Netflix | George Kay, showrunner
“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” – Amazon Prime Video | Francesca Sloane, showrunner
“X-Men ‘97” – Disney+ | Beau DeMayo, showrunner

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series

Rosario Dawson | “Ahsoka” – Disney+
Idris Elba | “Hijack” – Apple TV+
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor | “Justified: City Primeval” – FX on HULU
Giancarlo Esposito | “Parish” – AMC
Donald Glover | “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” – Amazon Prime Video
Quincy Isaiah | “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers” – HBO
Sonequa Martin-Green | “Star Trek: Discovery” – Paramount+
Queen Latifah | “The Equalizer” – CBS
Zoe Saldana | “Special Ops: Lioness” – Paramount+
Omar Sy | “Lupin” – Netflix

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series

Joey Bada$$ | “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” – Starz
Malcolm Barrett | “Average Joe” – BET+
Nicole Beharie | “The Morning Show” – Apple TV+
Colman Domingo | “Fear the Walking Dead” – AMC
Gugu Mbatha-Raw | “Loki” – Disney+
Audra McDonald | “The Gilded Age” – HBO
Wunmi Mosaku | “Loki” – Disney+
DeVaughn Nixon | “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” – HBO
Karen Pittman | “The Morning Show” – Apple TV+
Lynn Whitfield | “The Chi” – Showtime

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

“A Breakup” (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) | Donald Glover, director – Amazon Prime Video
“BEAT L.A.” (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty) | Salli Richardson-Whitfield, director – HBO
“Eleanor” (Black Cake) | Natalia Leite, director – HULU
“Pilot” (Average Joe) | Eric Dean Seaton, director – BET+
“Tolerance Is Extinction, Part 1” (X-Men ‘97) | Chase Conley, director – Disney+

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

“A Breakup” (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) | Francesca Sloane & Donald Glover, writers – Amazon Prime Video
“Close Enough to Touch” (The Gilded Age) | Julian Fellowes & Sonja Warfield, writers – HBO
“First Date” (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) | Francesca Sloane & Donald Glover, writers – Amazon Prime Video
“Remember It” (X-Men 97’) | Beau Mayo, writer – Disney+
“What We” (The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live) | Danai Gurira, writer – AMC

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series

Michael Braugher | “The Gilded Age” – HBO
Michaela Coel | “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” – Amazon Prime Video
Loretta Devine | “Kingdom Business” – BET+
Taye Diggs | “All American” – CW
Lisagay Hamilton | “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” – HBO
Rashida Jones | “Silo” – Apple TV+
Rob Morgan | “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” – HBO
Wendell Pierce | “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” – Starz
CCH Pounder | “3 Body Problem” – Netflix
Susan Kelechi Watson | “Will Trent” – ABC

TV Movie/Limited Series

Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series

“Genius: MLK/X” – National Geographic | Raphael Jackson Jr. & Damione Macedon, showrunners
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” – Paramount+ | Chad Feehan, showrunner
“The Other Black Girl” – HULU | Gus Hickey & Jordan Reddout, showrunners
“Them: The Scare” – Amazon Prime Video | Little Marvin, showrunner
“True Detective” – HBO | Issa Lopez, showrunner

Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series

Uzo Aduba | “Painkiller” – Netflix
Deborah Ayorinde | “Them: The Scare” – Amazon Prime Video
Zazie Beetz | “Black Mirror” – Netflix
Kelvin Harrison Jr. | “Genius: MLK/X” – National Geographic
Carl Lumbly | “The Fall of the House of Usher” (Netflix)
Ashleigh Murray | “The Other Black Girl” – HULU
Leslie Odom Jr. | “Great Performances: Purlie Victorious” – PBS
David Oyelowo | “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” – Paramount+
Aaron Pierre | “Genius: MLK/X” – National Geographic
Courtney B. Vance | Heist 88 – Showtime

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie or Limited Series

Jelani Alladin | “Fellow Travelers” – Showtime
Don Cheadle | “Secret Invasion” – Disney+
Luke James | “Them: The Scare” – Amazon Prime Video
Pam Grier | “Them: The Scare” – Amazon Prime Video
Jharrel Jerome | “Full Circle” – MAX
Ron Cephas Jones | “Genius: MLK/X” – Amazon Prime Video
Aja Naomi King | “Lessons in Chemistry” – Apple TV+
Lamorne Morris | “Fargo” – FX on HULU
Kali Reis | “True Detective” – HBO
Noah J. Ricketts | “Fellow Travelers” – Showtime

Outstanding Directing in a TV Movie or Limited Series

“CH3COOH” (Lessons in Chemistry) | Millicent Shelton, director – Apple TV+
“Graduation” (Genius: MLK/X) | Channing Godfrey Peoples, director – National Geographic
“One of Us Is Gonna Die Tonight” (Them: The Scare) | Little Marvin, director – Amazon Prime Video
“Saddlebags” (A Man In Full) | Regina King, director – Netflix
“To Be Young, Gifted and Broke” (The Other Black Girl) | Mariama Diallo, director – HULU

Outstanding Writing in a TV Movie or Limited Series

“Are You Scared?” (Them: The Scare) | Little Marvin, writer – Amazon Prime Video
“Graduation” (Genius: MLK/X) | Jeff Steson, writer – National Geographic
“Matriarchs” (Genius: MLK/X) | Sigrid Gilmer, writer – National Geographic
“Part V” (Lawmen: Bass Reeves) | Terence Anthony, writer – Paramount+
“White Nights” (Fellow Travelers) | Brandon K. Hines & Ron Nyswaner, writers – Showtime

Variety / Sketch / Talk

Outstanding Variety, Sketch or Talk – Series or Special

A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop – CBS
The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher – CBS
Great Performances: Purlie Victorious – PBS
“The Jennifer Hudson Show” – Syndication
Trevor Noah: Where I Was – Netflix

Documentary

Outstanding Documentary

“Black Twitter: A People’s History” | Prentice Penny, director – HULU
The Greatest Night in Pop | Bob Nguyen, director – Netflix
“Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop” | Giselle Bailey, Hannah Beachler, Dream Hampton & Resham Nijohon, directors – Netflix
MoviePass, MovieCrash | Muta’Ali, director – MAX
“STAX: Soulsville, U.S.A.” | Jamila Wignot, director – MAX

Music

Outstanding Musical Score

“Genius: MLK/X” | Terence Blanchard, composer – National Geographic
“Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop” | Rodney Chrome, composer – Netflix
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” | Chanda Dancy, composer Paramount+
“Run the World” | Robert Glasper, composer – Starz
“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” | Robert Glasper & Jeff Beal, composers – HBO

Outstanding Music Supervision

“The Chi” | Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton, music supervisor – Showtime
“Genius: MLK/X” | Amani K. Smith, music supervisor – National Geographic
“Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop” | Tamar Davis, Ashley Dvis, Lana Bui & Tim Bjorkman, music supervisors – Netflix
“Run the World” | Morgan Rhodes, music supervisor – Starz
“Swagger” | Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton, music supervisor – Apple TV+

Outstanding Original Song
-awarded to the performer(s) and writer(s)

“Back to Love” (Run the World) – Starz
Robert Glasper, SiR, Alex Isley, performers
Robert Glasper, SiR & Alexandra Isley, writers

“Change the World” (Genius: MLK/X) – National Geographic
Aloe Blacc & Blu, performers
Aloe Blacc & Blu, writers

“Grace Amazing” (Kingdom Business) – BET+
Yolanda Adams, performer
Kirk Franklin, writer

“We Family” (Kingdom Business) – BET+
Yolanda Adams, Chaundre Broomfield & Kiandra Richardson, performers
Kirk Franklin, writer

“Win” (Swagger) – Apple TV+
IDK, performer
Jason Mills, writer

Professional Categories

Outstanding Cinematography

“Black Cake” | Richard J. Vialet, cinematographer – HULU
“The Chi” | Nathan Ray Salter, cinematographer – Showtime
“The Equalizer” | Terrence Laron Burke, cinematographer – CBS
“Genius: MLK/X” | Joe ‘Jody’ Williams, cinematographer – National Geographic
“Kings from Queens: The Run DMC Story” | Darius Lyles & Yves Wilson, cinematographers – Peacock

Outstanding Costume Design

“I’m a Virgo” | Deidra Elizabeth Govan, costume designer – Amazon Prime Video
“Genius: MLK/X” | Mercedes Cook, costume designer – National Geographic
“Power Book III: Raising Kanan” | Tsigie White Robinson, costume designer – Starz
“Run the World” | Dyshaun Burton, costume designer – Starz
The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Starring Usher | Tanja Caldwell, costume designer – CBS

Outstanding Editing

“Genius: MLK/X” | Libya El-Amin, editor – National Geographic
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” | Michael Schultz, editor – Paramount+
“Special Ops: Lioness” | Sushila Love, editor – Paramount+
“Swagger” | Angela Latimer, editor – Apple TV+
“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers” | Felicia Mignon Livingston, editor – HBO

Outstanding Makeup & Hairstyling

“Abbott Elementary” | Constance Foe & Moira Fraizer – ABC
“I’m a Virgo” | Yolanda Mercadel & LeDiedra Richard-Baldwin – Amazon Prime Video
“Genius: MLK/X” | Jeremy Dell & Jessi Dean – National Geographic
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” | Kelley Curry – Paramount+
“Power Book III: Raising Kanan” | Anita Gibson & Erin Hicks – Starz

Outstanding Production Design

“BMF” | Nate Jones, production designer – Starz
“Iwaju” | Hamid Ibrahim, production designer – Disney+
“Lawmen: Bass Reeves” | Wynn Thomas, production designer – Paramount+