‘Boomerang’ Gets Four Image Award Nominations

“Boomerang,” the Eddie Murphy romantic comedy with a mostly black cast, led the movie category in the 25th annual NAACP Image awards announced Monday in Los Angeles with four nominations. Besides getting a nod for outstanding picture, Murphy who plays a dashing executive who gets his just deserts from a woman executive, was nominated for outstanding actor. Co-stars Halle Berry and Robin Givens were nominated as outstanding actresses.

“Grand Canyon,” about a turbulent pre-riot Los Angeles that dealt with racial divisions and friendships, drew three nominations, for picture and actor (Danny Glover) and actress (Alfre Woodard).

“Sister Act” and Whoopi Goldberg drew nominations for picture and actress. Also drawing two apiece were “Mississippi Masala,” for picture and Denzel Washington as actor, and “White Men Can’t Jump” with acting nominations for Wesley Snipes and Rosie Perez.

“Roc,” “A Different World” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” drew several nominations in comedy while “I’ll Fly Away,” “In the Heat of the Night” and “L.A. Law” drew several nods in drama.

New artists dominate the music nominations, with Atlanta-based Arrested Development’s five nods--including a best album nomination for the earthy rap of its debut “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of . . .”--leading the way. Multiple nominations also went to rookie acts Kris Kross, Jodeci and Mary J. Blige, while veterans Michael Jackson and En Vogue also were named in three categories.

The nominations in 27 categories awarded by the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People are:

Outstanding Motion Picture: “Boomerang,” “Daughters of the Dust,” “Grand Canyon,” “Mississippi Masala,” “Sister Act.”

Actor, Motion Picture: Danny Glover, “Grand Canyon”; Denzel Washington, “Mississippi Masala”; Eddie Murphy, “Boomerang”; Larry Fishburne, “Deep Cover”; Wesley Snipes, “White Men Can’t Jump.”

Actress, Motion Picture: Alfre Woodard, “Grand Canyon”; Halle Berry, “Boomerang”; Robin Givens, “Boomerang”; Rosie Perez, “White Men Can’t Jump”; Whoopi Goldberg, “Sister Act.”

Comedy Series, TV: “A Different World,” “Martin,” “Roc,” “The Cosby Show,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Actor, Comedy Series: Charles Dutton, “Roc”; Kadeem Hardison, “A Different World”; Martin Lawrence, “Martin”; Rocky Carroll, “Roc”; Will Smith, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Actress, Comedy Series: Ella Joyce, “Roc”; Jasmine Guy, “A Different World”; Karyn Parsons, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”; Patti La Belle, “A Different World”; Tisha Campbell, “Martin.”

Drama Series, TV Movie or Miniseries: “Different World”; “I’ll Fly Away”; “In the Heat of the Night”; “L.A. Law”; “Stompin at the Savoy.”

Actor, Drama Series, TV Movie or Miniseries: Blair Underwood, “L.A. Law”; Cuba Gooding Jr., “Murder Without Motive: The Edmund Perry Story”; Dick Anthony Williams, “Homefront”; Dorian Harewood, “I’ll Fly Away”; Mario Van Peebles, “Stompin at the Savoy.”

Actress, Drama Series, TV Movie or Miniseries: Denise Nicholas, “In the Heat of the Night”; Lynn Whitfield, “Stompin at the Savoy”; Regina Taylor, “I’ll Fly Away”; Vanessa Williams, “Stompin at the Savoy”; Whoopi Goldberg, “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

Variety Series: “Fade to Black,” “In Living Color,” “It’s Showtime at the Apollo,” “Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam,” “The Arsenio Hall Show.”

Variety Special: “A Party for Richard Pryor”; “Great Performances: Natalie Cole--Unforgettable With Love”; “Muhammad Ali 50th Birthday Celebration”; “The AFI Salute to Sidney Poitier”; “The Essence Awards.”

News, Talk, or Information Series/Special: “A Conversation With Magic Johnson”; “ABC News Nightline Special--Moment of Crisis: Anatomy of a Riot”; “Dialogue With Black Filmmakers”; “Home”--’Women of Distinction: Katherine Dunham’ ”; “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Daytime Drama: “All My Children”; “General Hospital”; “One Life to Live”; “The Bold and the Beautiful”; “The Young and the Restless.”

Actor in Daytime Drama: Dondre T. Whitfield, “All My Children”; Kristoff St. John, “The Young and the Restless”; Randy Brooks, “The Young and the Restless”; Richard Lawson, “All My Children”; William Christian, “All My Children.”

Actress in Daytime Drama: Shari Headley, “All My Children”; Stephanie Williams, “General Hospital”; Tonya Lee Williams, “The Young and the Restless”; Tonya Pinkins, “All My Children”; Victoria Rowell, “The Young and the Restless.”

Youth Actor/Actress (under age 18): Jaleel White, “Family Matters”; Keshia Knight Pulliam, “The Cosby Show”; Rae’ven Kelly, “I’ll Fly Away”; Raven-Symone, “The Cosby Show”;Tatyana M. Ali, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

New Artist or Group: Arrested Development, “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of . . .”; Jodeci, “Forever My Lady”; Kris Kross, “Totally Krossed Out”; Mary J. Blige, “What’s the 411?” TLC, “Ooooooohhh . . . on the TLC Tip.”

Gospel Artist or Group: Al Green, “Love Is Reality”; Arrested Development, “Tennessee”; Be Be and Ce Ce Winans, “Different Lifestyles”; Hammer, “Do Not Pass Me By”; Shirley Caesar, “He’s Working It Out for You.”

Jazz Artist or Group: Al Jarreau, “Heaven and Earth”; Fourplay, “Fourplay”; Najee, “Just an Illusion”; Patti Austin, “Carry On”; Wynton Marsalis, “Blue Interlude.”

Rap Artist or Group: Arrested Development, “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of . . .”; Heavy D and the Boyz, “Don’t Curse/You Can’t See”; Kris Kross, “Totally Krossed Out”; Queen Latifah, “Nature of the Sista”; Shabba Ranks, “Rough and Ready Vol. 1.”

World Music Artist or Group: Maxi Priest “Best of Me”; Sergio Mendes “Brasileiro”; Shabba Ranks, “Rough and Ready Vol. 1”; Third World, “Committed”; Youssou N’Dour, “Eyes Open.”

Male Artist: Baby Face, “Give U My Heart”; Gerald Levert, “Private Line”; Michael Jackson, “Dangerous”; Stevie Wonder, “These Three Words”; Tevin Campbell, “T.E.V.I.N.”

Female Artist: Chaka Khan, “The Woman I Am”; Gladys Knight, “Good Woman”; Mary J. Blige, “What’s the 411?”; Patti La Belle, “Burnin’ ”; Vanessa Williams, “Save the Best for Last.”

Vocal Group: After 7, “Takin’ My Time”; Boyz II Men, “End of the Road”; En Vogue, “Funky Divas”; Jodeci, “Forever My Lady”; TLC, “Ooooooohhh . . . On the TLC Tip.”

Outstanding Music Video: “Black or White,” Michael Jackson; “End of the Road,” Boyz II Men; “Jump,” Kris Kross; “My Lovin’ (Never Gonna Get It),” En Vogue; “Tennessee,” Arrested Development.

Outstanding Album: “3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of . . . ,” Arrested Development; “Boomerang,” various artists; “Dangerous,” Michael Jackson; “Diamonds & Pearls,” Prince & the N.P.G.; “Funky Divas,” En Vogue.

Outstanding Literary Work: “Jazz,” Toni Morrison; “Possessing the Secret of Joy,” Alice Walker; “The Measure of Our Success,” Marian Wright Edelman; “Thurgood Marshall--Justice for All,” Roger Goldman and David Gallen; “Waiting to Exhale,” Terry McMillan.