Washington
HOLLYWOOD -- On Saturday night, Image was everything to Denzel Washington, while "Barbershop" and "Brown Sugar" were blanked.
Washington took home three trophies at the NAACP's 34th annual Image awards, held at the Universal Amphitheater, including lead actor for "John Q" and supporting actor for "Antwone Fisher."
"Fisher," which Washington produced and directed, also won the top film award honor.
On the flip side, "Brown Sugar" won none of its eight nominations. And "Barbershop," up for six awards, also went home empty and sparked a controversy along the way.
Rosa Parks did not attend the ceremony, and many assumed she was boycotting the event because of remarks made in the film.
However, Willis Edwards, producer of "The Rosa Parks Story" (which won in the television movie category and TV movie actress for Angela Bassett), explained her absence was due to health reasons.
"Mrs. Parks will never boycott the NAACP," he said.
On whether he was disappointed that the pic did not earn any Oscar nominations, Washington remarked, "I'm not disappointed about anything. I'm happy. Life is good."
Angela Bassett was also honored for her lead role in the movie "Sunshine State."
In other categories, Halle Berry won the supporting actress nod for her Jinx character in the James Bond pic "Die Another Day," and Bernie Mac won two Images forcomedy series and actor for Fox's "The Bernie Mac Show."
Showtime's "Soul Food" won drama as well as actress for Vanessa Williams.
Host Cedric the Entertainer picked up an award for supporting actor for his work in Disney's "The Proud Family." Terri J. Vaughn won supporting actress for the WB's "The Steve Harvey Show."
India.Arie won three Images for female artist, video for "Little Things" and her duo with Stevie Wonder. Gospel artist Kirk Franklin also won three awards: best album, song and gospel recording. Other winners included LL Cool J, Ashanti and Natalie Cole.
Spike Lee was presented the Hall of Fame award by Washington, Berry, Edward Norton Jr. and retired basketball player John Salley. The presentation included a montage of Lee's courtside antics at Madison Square Garden (he left early to catch Michael Jordan's last game in New York) and a musical reunion of "School Daze" stars Roger Smith, Giancarlo Esposito and Sugar Bear.
The Chairman's Award was presented to Danny Glover by NAACP chairman Julian Bond, Angela Bassett (who read Langston Hughes' poem "I Dream a World") and singers India.Arie and Ziggy Marley, who performed Marley's father's "Redemption Song." Glover, a staunch anti-War advocate, commented on the possibilities of "who we can be, what we can do as an informed citizenry."
The President's Award was given to star tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams. Show will air on Fox on Thursday.
And the winners are . . .
Motion Pictures
Picture
"Antwone Fisher" (Fox Searchlight)
Actor
Denzel Washington, "John Q" (New Line)
Actress
Angela Bassett, "Sunshine State" (Sony Pictures Classics)
Supporting Actor
Denzel Washington, "Antwone Fisher" (Fox Searchlight)
Supporting Actress
Halle Berry, "Die Another Day" (MGM)
Television
Drama Series
"Soul Food" (Showtime)
Actor, Drama
Michael Beach, "Third Watch" (NBC)
Actress, Drama
Vanessa Williams, "Soul Food" (Showtime)
Supporting Actor, Drama
Gary Dourdan, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS)
Supporting Actress, Drama
Loretta Devine, "Boston Public" (FOX)
Comedy Series
"The Bernie Mac Show"
Actor, Comedy
Bernie Mac, "The Bernie Mac Show" (FOX)
Actress, Comedy
Tisha Campbell-Martin, " My Wife and Kids" (ABC)
Supporting Actor, Comedy
Cedric the Entertainer, "The Proud Family" (Disney)
Supporting Actress, Comedy
Terri J. Vaughn, "The Steve Harvey Show" (WB)
TV Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special
"The Rosa Parks Story" (CBS)
Actor, TV Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special
Charles S. Dutton, "10,000 Black Men Named George" (Showtime)
Actress, TV Movie, Mini-Series, or Dramatic Special
Angela Bassett, "The Rosa Parks Story" (CBS)
Actor, Daytime Drama Series
Kristoff St. John, "The Young and the Restless" (CBS)
Actress, Daytime Drama Series
Victoria Rowell, "The Young and the Restless" (CBS)
TV News/Talk/Information Series or Special
"BET Tonight with Ed Gordon: R. Kelly" (Part 1) (BET)
Variety Series or Special
"BET's 8th Annual Walk of Fame: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder" (BET)
Youth or Children's Series or Special
Levar Burton, "Reading Rainbow" (PBS)
Music
Album
"The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin" – Kirk Franklin (GospoCentric)
Male Artist
LL Cool J (Island Def Jam)
Female Artist
India.Arie (Motown)
Duo or Group
India.Arie & Stevie Wonder (Motown)
New Artist
Ashanti (Island Def Jam)
Song
"Brighter Day" – Kirk Franklin (GospoCentric)
Music Video
"Little Things" – India.Arie, directed by Sanaa Hamri (Motown)
Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin (GospoCentric)
Jazz Artist
Natalie Cole (Verve)
Literature
Fiction
"Quilting the Black-Eyes Pea" – Nikki Giovanni (William Morrow)
Non-Fiction
"Keeping the Faith" – Tavis Smiley (Doubleday)
Children's
"Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales" – Nelson Mandela, Editor (W.W. Norton & Co.)
Special Recognition
Hall of Fame Award
Spike Lee
Chairman's Award
Danny Glover
President's Award
Venus and Serena Williams
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