'Practice,' 'Raymond' Top VQT Nominations

By Susanne Ault

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Shaping up to be a shoo-in for some Emmy recognition, ABC's ``The Practice'' -- after racking up five Television Critics Association nods -- also has snagged six nominations from the Viewers for Quality Television.

``Practice'' is up for VQT honors in the categories for best quality drama, best actor and best supporting actor and supporting actress (two nominations each).

CBS' ``Everybody Loves Raymond'' also nailed down six nominations.

Leading the networks with 17 nominations was NBC. ABC was a close second with 16. CBS, represented solely by ``Raymond,'' was third with six.

The award winners will be announced in August. Viewers for Quality Television is a 15-year-old, non-profit organization, based in Virginia, with a goal of educating viewers about quality network television.

The following is complete list of nominations:

DRAMA

``Homicide: Life on the Street,'' ``The Practice,'' ``Law & Order,'' ``NYPD Blue,'' ``The Sopranos.''

COMEDY

``Ally McBeal,'' ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' ``Frasier,'' ''Sports Night,'' ``Will & Grace.''

ACTRESS IN DRAMA

Gillian Anderson, ``The X Files; Sarah Michelle Gellar, ''Buffy, the Vampire Slayer"; Lorraine Toussaint, ``Any Day Now"; Julianna Margulies, ``ER"; Annie Potts, ``Any Day Now.''

ACTOR IN DRAMA

Dennis Franz, ``NYPD Blue"; James Gandolfini, ``The Sopranos"; Dylan McDermott, ``The Practice.Di; Rick Schroder, ''NYPD Blue.Di; Sam Waterston, ``Law & Order.''

ACTRESS IN COMEDY

Jenna Elfman, ``Dharma & Greg"; Calista Flockhart, ``Ally McBeal"; Patricia Heaton, ``Everybody Loves Raymond"; Felicity Huffman, ``Sports Night"; Debra Messing, ``Will & Grace.''

ACTOR IN COMEDY

Thomas Gibson, ``Dharma & Greg"; Kelsey Grammer, ``Frasier"; John Lithgow, ``3rd Rock From the Sun"; Eric McCormack, ``Will & Grace"; Ray Romano, ``Everybody Loves Raymond.''

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN DRAMA

Kim Delaney, ``NYPD Blue"; Laura Innes, ``ER"; Camryn Manheim, ``The Practice"; Nancy Marchand, ``The Sopranos"; Kelli Williams, ``The Practice.''

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN DRAMA

Michael Badalucco, ``The Practice"; Steve Harris, ``The Practice"; James McDaniel, ``NYPD Blue"; Jerry Orbach, ``Law & Order"; Kyle Secor, ``Homicide.''

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN COMEDY

Jane Leeves, ``Frasier"; Lucy Liu, ``Ally McBeal"; Megan Mullally, ``Will & Grace"; Doris Roberts, ``Everybody Loves Raymond"; Susan Sullivan, ``Dharma & Greg.''

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN COMEDY

Peter Boyle, ``Everybody Loves Raymond"; Brad Garrett, ''Everybody Loves Raymond"; Sean Hayes, ``Will & Grace"; Peter MacNicol, ``Ally McBeal"; David Hyde Pierce, ``Frasier.''