Local Emmy noms announced: 19 for Metro Sports, 8 for KMBC

UPDATE: Metro Sports says it gathered 19 nominations, but these were not obvious because of the way the entries were submitted.

The Mid-America regional Emmy nominations were announced Thursday, and lest there be any doubt that Metro Sports is not pulling its weight for Time Warner Cable, the 15 nominations it received — by far the most of any outfit on this side of the state — should scuttle any doubts.

In particular Metro's documentary unit scored big, thanks to three excellent programs: "CityBall" (which picked up as many nominations as two entire stations did), "Border War" and "Roller Warriors." If you haven't seen them already, they should be on KC On Demand (I have a Time Warner-shunned TiVo so I wouldn't know). Or just wait for them to pop up again on Metro Sports.

Here's how they break down:

Metro Sports: 15 19 nominations including six nine for "CityBall" (Stephen Spiegel) plus cultural (Spiegel), specialty (Marcia Williams-Schmidt, Natalie Moultrie), competing nominees in sports "Royals Insider" (Spiegel, Charlie Parker) and "High School Roundup" (Shawn Beldin), discussion (Williams-Schmidt, Chris Gough, Dave Neilson, Herbie Teope), two noms for Erik Ashel in editing and photography and two for promos (Parker, John Kekeisen, Ed Dec).

KMBC: 8 nominations including news excellence and evening news (news director Sherrie Brown with Dennis Sulsberger), weather (Bryan Busby, Lisa Teachman, Johnny Rowlands), general assignment (Kelly Eckerman, Dick Kasper, Greg Steele), breaking news (tornado coverage), "light feature" (Dan Weinbaum), education (Maria Antonia/Tim Twyman) and morning news (Troy Diggs, Chris Meggs, and Jason Ridder).

KSHB: 7 nominations including news excellence and breaking news (interim ND Eric Maze), two for Keith King in investigative and business, sports (Mike Marusarz), enterprise (Jenn Strathman and Call for Action) and promo (Jason Smith, Randy Thurman).

WDAF: 7 nominations including news excellence (ND Bryan McGruder), GA (John Holt and Mike Lewis taking on KMBC in an all-KC category), spot news (McGruder), "serious feature" (Leslie Carto, Lewis), info (Tye Murphy), and a couple in instructional and interactive for Damon Bryant (who's stopped returning my calls), Daniel Nelson and Michele Allen.

KCTV: 6 nominations in investigative (Ash-Har Quraishi, Chris Koeberl, Ken Ullery), politics (Quraishi, Ullery, Chris Henao) anchor talent (Dana Wright), consumer (Wright, Koeberl, Ullery) and two in promos (Sara Visomirski, Mark Olson).

KCPT: 5 nominations including docu (Pam James), discussion (James, Matt McClelland), magazine for the excellent "Uniquely Kansas City" (Randy Mason, Sandy Woodson), info (Angee Simmons, Sean Holmes) and PSA (Karen Mell, Holmes).

That prestige award in news excellence is mighty crowded with seven nominees: three from KC and two apiece from Little Rock and St. Louis. Overall St. Louis stations outdid their smaller-market rivals, with KSDK leading the way (32 noms by my count).

And congratulations to the "UnReal Housewives of Kansas City" -- Jennifer Plas, Michelle Davidson-Bratcher, Meagan Flynn and Metro Productions -- for scoring a nomination in arts and entertainment category!

If I miscounted or left a local production house out of this roll call, lemme know.

The Mid-America Emmys take place Oct. 3 in St. Louis.