Detroit actors Vance, Key, Tomlin earn Emmy nominations

Three Detroit-area natives – maybe four if you’d like to be technical – earned Primetime Emmy nominations from the Television Academy this morning.

Keegan-Michael Key, Courtney B. Vance and Lily Tomlin were nominated in acting categories, as well as Tracee Ellis Ross, who isn’t a Detroiter but we’ll claim her anyway.

Southfield native Key was nominated for Supporting Actor in a Comedy for his work on Comedy Central’s “Key & Peele.” Detroit’s Vance earned a Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie nomination for his commanding performance as trial lawyer Johnnie Cochran in FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story.”

Cass Tech grad Tomlin of Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie” faces Ross (incidentally, mom Diana is also a Technician) of “Black-ish” in the Lead Actress in a Comedy category.

Other nominations of note include your favorite trio of black TV actresses – Kerry Washington, Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson – each earning lead actress nominations for their work on “Confirmation,” “How to Get Away With Murder” and “Empire,” respectively; Anthony Anderson earning a lead actor nomination for "Black-ish"; Idris Elba earning a lead actor nomination for “Luther”; Cuba Gooding, Jr., earning a lead actor nomination for “The People v. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story”; Audra McDonald earning a lead actress nomination for "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill"; and Niecy Nash and Regina King earning supporting actresses nods for their work in “Getting On” and “American Crime,” respectively.

The Emmys air September 18 on Fox.