Naacp Image Awards

Nia Long is here. Nia Long is there. Nia Long is everywhere. Recently named one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people, the 29-year-old actress has appeared in several films this year, including "Boiler Room," HBO's "If These Walls Could Talk 2" and "'Held Up" with Jamie Foxx. In her newest film, the Martin Lawrence comedy "Big Momma's House," which opens Friday, Long plays Sherry, the former flame of a bank robber (Terrence Howard) who escapes from prison.

TELEVISION Kelley Left Out: HBO's "Sex and the City" scored two of five nominations for the best-written comedy series episode in the annual Writers Guild Awards announced Tuesday. Conspicuously absent from the TV and radio nomination list was writer-producer David E. Kelley, whose "The Practice" (ABC) and "Ally McBeal" (Fox) won Emmys in September for best drama and comedy series, respectively. Other comedy series nominees were NBC's "Frasier" and "Friends" and ABC's "Dharma & Greg."

Comedian Sinbad, former U.S. Rep. Ron Dellums (D-Oakland) and other community leaders will be recognized Wednesday during the annual Freedom Fund Awards sponsored by the NAACP's San Fernando Valley branch. In the CSUN-hosted ceremony that serves to spotlight significant contributions toward the empowerment of people of color, the NAACP will give Sinbad the President's Award for his support of the local and national NAACP. Dellums, now president of Healthcare International Co.

Actor Will Smith was named Entertainer of the Year and former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan was honored with the Jackie Robinson Sports Award at the 30th annual NAACP Image Awards Sunday evening at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. A collection of some of the most famous African Americans in the entertainment industry turned out for the star-studded gala hosted by the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization, which celebrates its 90th birthday this year.

"Beloved," the epic drama about slavery and its tragic consequences that was a major disappointment at the box office and was largely rejected by black audiences, scored the most nominations of any film for the upcoming 30th Annual NAACP Image Awards, it was announced Thursday.

The Academy Award nominations won't be announced until Feb. 9, but Oscar season is in full swing this week in Hollywood. From major studios to small independents, marketing departments have launched aggressive advertising campaigns touting their films in the two major Hollywood trade papers. Whether the films deserve an Oscar nod is another question. "This is the time of year when everyone wants to look like they're in the game," said Lynne Segall, the Hollywood Reporter's associate publisher.

At the 29th NAACP Image Awards, a glittering salute to the biggest names in black entertainment and the promotion of positive images of people of color, the standout winners were the movie "Soul Food," with five awards, and CBS' "Touched by an Angel," with four wins in the television categories.

NAACP President Kweisi Mfume said Thursday that the organization would establish a Los Angeles branch by next spring that would help monitor and improve the hiring and portrayals of African Americans in the entertainment industry. While saying he was pleased with increases in the number of blacks performing on television and film, he maintained that the directing and writing ranks are still "woefully inadequate" when it comes to African Americans.

At Saturday night's NAACP Image Awards, speakers and winners on the Pasadena Civic Auditorium stage carefully skirted dissension among the ranks sparked by a local chapter's outcry against some sitcoms featuring primarily black casts. The award presentations focused instead on lengthy nods to award winners such as the comedy series "Cosby" and feature films "A Time to Kill" and "The Preacher's Wife."

Civil rights groups have been breathing down the necks of corporations for decades, demanding accountability in minority hiring and promotion practices. While we were busy counting heads and advocating more representation, Hollywood escaped scrutiny. But its time has come. And the National Assn.