HOLLYWOOD -- Directors of the much-honored comedy series 'Cheers,' and the quirky, cultish drama series 'Twin Peaks,' were among the nominees announced Friday for the Directors Guild of America's awards for television.
The DGA nominated members in eight categories for best direction in television for 1990, including commercials, comedy, drama, sports and specials.
James Burrows, who won the DGA honor in 1984 and three Emmys, was nominated for directing 'Cheers,' the NBC series that often tops the ratings charts.
Joining Burrows in the best comedy direction category were Peter Baldwin for ABC's 'The Wonder Years,' and last year's winner, Barnet Kellman of 'Murphy Brown' on CBS.
'Twin Peaks,' the drama series created by filmmaker David Lynch that has received critical acclaim and a loyal, but small, following, brought a nighttime drama series nomination for Lesli Linka Glatter.
Also nominated in the drama category were Scott Winant for the ABC yuppie drama, 'thirtysomething,' and Michael Zinberg for 'Quantum Leap,' NBC's weekly time-travel adventure.
Last week the DGA announced nominees for best motion picture director.
The winners of the DGA awards for excellence in both films and TV will be announced at the guild's 43rd annual banquets March 16, held simultaneously at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in New York.
Nominated for best direction of a daytime drama were Lynn Hamrick for the 'Testing Dirty' episode of an 'Afternoon Special'; Joanna Lee for 'The Fourth Man' episode of 'Schoolbreak Special'; and Mario Van Peebles for 'Malcolm Takes a Shot,' also a 'Schoolbreak Special.'
Musical-variety nominations went to Hal Gurnee for 'Late Night Eighth Anniversary'; Jeff Margolis for 'The 62nd Annual Academy Awards'; and Paul D. Miller for 'In Living Color.'
Those nominated for best documentary-actuality direction were Vincent G. DeVito for 'Let Me Be Brave'; Elena Mannes for 'Amazing Grace'; and Susan Steinberg for 'Ed Murrow, This Report, Part 1.'
Nominated for best direction of a sports show were Robert Fishman for 'Major League Baseball, American League Championship Series, Game 4'; William H. Webb for 'Triple Crown Kentucky Derby'; and Doug Wilson for 'Wide World of Sports, Brian Boitano & Katerina Witt Skating.'
The nominees for best commercial direction were Leslie Dektor, James Gartner, Michael Grasso, Joseph Pytka and Peter Smillie.
The nominees for best director of a feature film, announced earlier, include newcomer Kevin Costner for 'Dances With Wolves;' Giuseppe Tornatore for 'Cinema Paradiso;' Francis Ford Coppola for 'The Godfather, Part III;' Martin Scorcese for 'GoodFellas;' and Barry Levinson for 'Avalon.'
Only three times in the past 42 years has the DGA award winner for best film director differed from the winner of the Academy Award Oscar.
