James Gandolfini

In a replay of last year, HBO's The Sopranos and NBC's The West Wing dominated in nominations announced yesterday for the 53rd annual Emmy Awards. The Sopranos, a drama about a New Jersey crime family, led all prime-time programs with 22 nominations, while The West Wing, a program about backstage life at the White House, followed with 18. Led by James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, six actors from The Sopranos were nominated in lead and supporting categories....

The Emmys have not always been in sync with what's happening on screen and in viewers' hearts. But yesterday's 59th annual Primetime Emmy Award nominations got one thing right: As network television sinks deeper into a dismal sea of reality TV with series like this summer's new No. 1 show, NBC's The Singing Bee, increasingly cable becomes the place for quality programming. For the eighth straight year, HBO led all networks - this time with 86 nominations. The premium cable channel had both the most-nominated program, the made-for-TV movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, and the top series, The Sopranos.

"Angie," I says, shaddup awreaddy.The trials and tribulations of an unmarried woman in Brooklyn, "Angie" showcases Geena Davis in a convincingly against-type performance in a story that is unconvincingly with-type.To get into it, you have to love the Hollywood version of the working-class New York thing, which begins with the concept, derived from Damon Runyon stories of so long ago, that the Italian-Americans of Bensonhurst are quaint, amusing subtypes, FTC not human beings at all. You've got to love that hard yammer of Brooklynese as filtered through a sentimental Hollywood ear, where every th transmutes into a d and the standard form of rhetoric is verbal hostility.

Director Radu Miahaileanu's 2005 "Live and Become" ("Va, vis et deviens"), a drama that begins in a Sudanese refugee camp sheltering Ethiopians displaced by civil war and famine in 1984, will be the kick-off feature Saturday of this year's Columbia Jewish Film Series. The story follows a young boy, named Schlomo, who is air-lifted from Sudan to Israel, where he is adopted by a liberal Jewish family - and finds that assimilation into this new culture is harder than he thought. Complicating matters: he is not the Falasha, or Ethiopian Jew, that his adoptive family believes.

Wallace & Gromit: the Curse of the Were-Rabbit cleaned up Saturday at the 33rd annual Annie Awards. The movie earned best animated picture honors, along with kudos for, among other categories, animated effects, character animation, music in an animated feature , character design in an animated feature (creator Nick Park), directing in an animated feature (Park, Steve Box), and voice acting in an animated feature (Peter Sallis, who voices Wallace). Armstrong, Crow call it off Lance Armstrong and Sheryl Crow have split, the couple announced in a joint statement Friday night.

NATIONAL Lead testing made easier Federal regulators have made it easier for health clinics to test children for lead poisoning, which could bolster prevention efforts particularly in cities such as Baltimore with high levels of lead in older buildings. pg 1a WORLD France won't back sanctions French president Jacques Chirac said his government would join Russia and China in resisting the U.S. push for sanctions against Tehran to slow its nuclear development. pg 1a Vatican tries to soothe anger The Vatican sent diplomats to capitals of Muslim nations in an effort to contain the anger over Pope Benedict XVI's comments on Islam, as shadowy threats against the pontiff and Christianity multiplied.

ART Clayfest: If you aren't afraid to get your hands a little dirty, consider one of this year's best offerings of Free Fall, a monthlong festival of wallet-friendly events. Next weekend, Baltimore Clayworks will be hosting wheel-throwing, tile-making, raku-firing and even a "Clay Olympics" for would-be sculptors of all skill levels. Starts at noon Saturday. Web: baltimoreclayworks.org CONCERT Mario: This Baltimore-bred R&B singer was a smash on last year's "Dancing With the Stars," but at the time his music career had seen better days.

All-star lineup of singers to salute Barack Obama Judging by the lineup, Sunday's inaugural celebration for Barack Obama at the Lincoln Memorial is a coveted gig for music's top names. Beyonce, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Usher, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban and James Taylor are among the musicians scheduled to perform at the Sunday afternoon event, which is open to the public. The starting time has not been announced. The president-elect and his family are due to attend, with Obama expected to speak.