TO THE MOON; HANKS' SPACE SHOT LEADS PACK, WITH `ER,' `X-FILES,' `FRASIER,' `ALLY' IN PRIME ORBITS.

Byline: Keith Marder Daily News Television Writer

Tom Hanks' passion translated into Emmy nominations.

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for the 50th annual Emmy Awards Thursday in North Hollywood, and ``From the Earth to the Moon,'' a 12-part HBO miniseries, led the way with 17 nods.

``We were pretty selective about what we entered,'' said Tony To, co-executive producer of ``From the Earth to the Moon,'' a comprehensive look at the U.S. space program. ``We just didn't throw everything up against the wall to see what would stick. For us it's really about merit. Most everything we entered got a nomination.''

``ER'' and ``The X-Files'' were the most recognized series with 16 nominations each. In comedy, ``Frasier,'' which can set a record with its fifth consecutive victory, topped the list with 11 nominations.

Academy Award-wining actress Helen Hunt was again nominated as best actress in a comedy series for ``Mad About You,'' and has a chance to make history. She could become the first actor or actress to win an Oscar and an Emmy in the same year. She won her Oscar for ``As Good as It Gets.'' Director Bob Fosse is the only person to ever win both awards in the same year, according to Tom O'Neil, author of ``The Emmys,'' the definitive guide to television's top award. Fosse won for his 1972 film ``Cabaret'' and the TV special ``Liza With a Z.''

Last year's winner, Hunt, will compete with Ellen DeGeneres, who came out as a lesbian along with her character in the series ``Ellen,'' which was canceled by ABC. Other actresses nominated in the category are Kirstie Alley of NBC's ``Veronica's Closet,'' Jenna Elfman of ABC's ``Dharma & Greg,'' Patricia Richardson of ABC's ``Home Improvement'' and Calista Flockhart of Fox's ``Ally McBeal.'' There were six nominees instead of the usual five because of a tie.

A Kelley coup

In a subplot, executive producer David E. Kelley showed that his Emmy strategy is as smart as his writing. Breaking convention, and placing the hourlong ``Ally McBeal'' in the comedy categories, netted him 10 nominations. Another of his shows, ``The Practice,'' earned four in the drama categories.

The winners will be announced at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sept. 13.

Cable programming received a record 139 nominations, but HBO's take was down from 91 last year to 72 in 1998. NBC was the top nomination-getter among distributors with 86. ABC got 54, CBS 36, Fox 35, the WB 4 and UPN 3.

In the major categories, there were a few surprises. Andre Braugher, who has previously been ignored by the Emmys - and who is in his final season on ``Homicide: Life on the Street'' - joined David Duchovny (``The X-Files''), Anthony Edwards (``ER''), three-time winner Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits (``NYPD Blue'') as potential winners as best actor in a drama series.

Gillian Anderson (``The X-Files''), Roma Downey (``Touched by an Angel''), Christine Lahti (``Chicago Hope''), Julianna Margulies (``ER'') and Jane Seymour (``Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,'' which was canceled by CBS) were tapped in the lead actress in a drama category.

In comedy, Michael J. Fox (``Spin City''), Kelsey Grammer (``Frasier''), John Lithgow (``3rd Rock From the Sun''), Paul Reiser (``Mad About You'') and Garry ``19 nominations, no wins'' Shandling (``The Larry Sanders Show'') will fight it out for top actor.

``Ally McBeal,'' ``Frasier,'' which could set a record with its fifth victory in the category, ``The Larry Sanders Show,'' ``Seinfeld'' and ``3rd Rock From the Sun'' are all up for top comedy series.

``ER,'' ``Law & Order,'' ``NYPD Blue,'' ``The Practice'' and ``The X-Files'' are up for top drama.

CBS shutout

CBS did not receive any nominations in the top drama and comedy series categories. Network president Les Moonves said that he felt ``Chicago Hope'' and ``Everybody Loves Raymond'' deserved nods. ``We've never done extremely well in the Emmys,'' Moonves said. ``This was not unexpected.''

Cable again dominated the miniseries and TV movie categories.

Four of the five nominees in each category were from cable TV, but NBC's ``Merlin'' (miniseries) and CBS' ``What the Deaf Man Heard'' slipped in.

``It feels very good,'' said John Matoian,'' president of HBO Pictures, which had three nominations in the top-movie category out of the eight that they produced. ``The surprise is that all three nominees (``A Bright Shining Lie,'' ``Don King: Only in America'' and ``Gia'') were very tough subject matters.''

Two well-liked actors, Phil Hartman of ``NewsRadio'' and Lloyd Bridges, who did a guest spot on ``Seinfeld,'' were both honored posthumously.

There was Emmy controversy surrounding ``From the Earth to the Moon.'' Some argued that because it was so long, it should have been forced to compete in the series categories, instead of miniseries.

But the project, produced, partially directed, written and starred in by Hanks, won its battle and the right to be called a miniseries. Obviously, the voters weren't bothered by the controversy.

``I had hoped that everyone would realize that the work should speak for itself,'' said ``From the Earth'' co-executive producer To. ``I'm very proud of the show and very grateful to Tom. He was the vision, the guiding force, the driving power, the train behind it all.''

Speaking of guiding the powerful train, Kelley, familiar to Emmy voters since his days producing and writing for ``L.A. Law.'' did so well he knocked off one of his own shows.

His upstart ``The Practice,'' in its second year eligible, made its way into the drama category, bumping off another Kelley show, ``Chicago Hope.'' Kelley, the creator of ``Hope,'' has actually left the running of that program to others to concentrate on ``Ally'' and ``The Practice.''

``This man knows how to win Emmys,'' said ``The Emmys'' author O'Neil. ``The Emmys are not usually kind to newcomers, but they opened the door for some newcomers who are actually the old guard back with new, fresh shows.''

O'Neil believes that ``Ally'' has a good shot at taking the top comedy prize.

``If the voters want to vote for something more weighty, they are going to go for a show like ``Ally McBeal'' rather than a knee-slapper of a show,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1) Tom Hanks' ``From the Earth to the Moon,'' a 12-hour chronicle of the space program on HBO, is up for a leading 17 Emmy nominations. Hanks directed some episodes and executive-produced all of them.

(2) The late Phil Hartman is being recognized for his supporting role on NBC's ``NewsRadio.''