Black Reel TV Awards Unveils 2024 Nominees: Nat Geo’s ‘Genius: MLK/X’ Tops The Crop With 14
The nominations for the eighth annual Black Reel Television Awards are out. Topping the list is Genius: MLK/X, Season 4 of National Geographic’s biographical series, and Abbott Elementary is next with 12.
Amazon’s Prime Video leads all networks with 19 noms, fueled Gen V, I’m a Virgo, Them: The Scare and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The streamer edged rival Netflix, which received 19 nominations. But Netflix claimed the most nominated shows, with 11 titles receiving recognition vs. Prime Video’s four.
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See the full list below. The Black Reel TV Awards will be handed out
Mr. and Mrs. Smith star Donald Glover nabbed four individual nominations, achieving a trifecta by being nominated for lead performance, directing and writing (twice). Michelle Buteau received nominations for comedic writing and acting in the freshman year of her Netflix dramedy Survival of the Thickest.
BET+ was the breakout network this year, garnering its first two series nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series for The Ms. Pat Show and Diarra From Detroit. Another big first is for series X-Men ’97 becoming the first animated series to receive nominations for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Writing, and Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.
“This year’s Black Reel Television Awards marks a significant changing of the guard, as many landmark shows transition, making way for the next generation of Black creatives,” said Black Reel Awards founder, Tim Gordon. “As beloved series conclude their impactful runs, we’re excited for new voices and fresh talent are stepping into the spotlight, eager to continue the legacy of excellence and representation in television.”
Here are the nominees for the 2024 Black Reel Television Awards:
Outstanding Lead Performance in a 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
Renee 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
Outstanding Drama Series
Black Cake – HULU | Marissa Jo 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 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
Renee 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
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
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 Adbua | 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
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
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
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