Ellen Pompeo criticizes Emmys for lack of diversity

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- "Grey's Anatomy" actress Ellen Pompeo told USA Today she was disappointed by what she called a lack of diversity at Sunday's Emmy Awards telecast.

"I didn't see any diversity in the Emmys at all. The Emmys felt so dated to me," she told the newspaper Monday. "That dance number was embarrassing. Did you see one person of color in that dance number?"

The ceremony's top prizes went to the casts of "Modern Family" and "Breaking Bad." Singled out for acting awards for their outstanding performances were Julia Louis-Dreyfus for "Veep," Jim Parsons for "The Big Bang Theory," Jeff Daniels for "The Newsroom," James Cromwell for "American Horror Story: Asylum," Ellen Burstyn for "Political Animals" and Claire Danes for "Homeland."

Danes beat out "Scandal" star Kerry Washington, the first African-American woman to be nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 18 years, TVGuide.com said. Cicely Tyson earned the nod for her work in "Sweet Justice," but lost to Kathy Baker for "Picket Fences."

Washington appeared as a presenter during Sunday's telecast alongside Diahann Carroll, the first woman nominated in the same category in 1969.

Both Washington and Pompeo currently star on shows created by African-American writer-producer Shonda Rhimes, who is known for her color-blind casting and ethnically diverse ensembles, TVGuide.com said.

"I'm extremely proud of our very, very diverse cast which represents the world that I walk around in every day," Pompeo told USA Today.

Neil Patrick Harris served as host of Sunday's ceremony, which aired on CBS and was seen by 17.6 million people.