LOS ANGELES -- "Mad Men," AMC's sleek drama set in the advertising world circa 1960, and FX's legal thriller "Damages" made Emmy nominations history today as the first basic cable programs to gain best-series nods.
The HBO historical drama "John Adams" was the overall frontrunner with 23 bids, including a lead-actor nomination for Paul Giamatti's turn as one of America's founding fathers.
"30 Rock," last year's best comedy Emmy winner, was the top nominee among sitcoms with 17 bids. "Mad Men" was the leading drama series contender with 16 nominations, including one for star Jon Hamm.
"The Wire," the just-ended, critically acclaimed HBO drama about police and drug dealers in Baltimore, lost its last shot at a best-drama nod after years of Emmy snubs. It received one nomination today, for writing.
But other cable series made a serious dent in several top categories as broadcast networks watched their share of Emmy nominations glory erode.
In the lead drama actor category, four of the five nominees were stars of cable shows, including Jon Hamm of "Mad Men." In the corresponding actress category, three of the slots went to cable series stars, including Glenn Close of "Damages."
Close said she heard about her nomination from her sister Nancy, who called her on her cell phone as she was being driven to a shooting location on Long Island in New York.
"I don't believe in comparison among artists, but, given the amazing number of talented people in this profession, to be included with a distinguished group of people is a huge honor," Close said.
"Damages" won critical acclaim last year - but not great ratings. She's hoping Emmy attention will boost its audience for season two.
"We need all the help we can get," she said.
HBO failed to field a best-drama series contender for the first time in nearly a decade, after "The Sopranos" claimed the honor last year. But the premium cable channel had a leading 85 bids overall, followed by ABC with 76.
Network audience favorites that failed to make a serious showing included "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives," both left out of the best-series categories, although "Grey's" stars Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson received nominations.
"Lost," rebounding with a well-received season, joined "Mad Men" and "Damages" in the best-drama series category with six nominees, including "Boston Legal, "Dexter" and "House."
Other best comedy series nominees besides "30 Rock" were "Curb Your Enthusiasm," ''Entourage," ''The Office" and "Two And a Half Men."
Oh and Wilson are competing in the best supporting drama actress category that last year was won by castmate Katherine Heigl - who took herself of the running this time, blaming her decision on lackluster scripts.
"Lost," rebounding with a well-received season, joined "Mad Men" and "Damages" in the best-drama series category with six nominees, including "Boston Legal, "Dexter" and "House."
Other best comedy series nominees besides "30 Rock" were "Curb Your Enthusiasm," ''Entourage," ''The Office" and "Two And a Half Men."
Joining Hamm with lead drama acting nods were last year's winner James Spader, "Boston Legal," Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad," Michael C. Hall, "Dexter," Hugh Laurie, "House" and Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment."
Close's competition for lead drama actress honors includes 2007 winner Sally Field for "Brothers & Sisters," Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer," Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace."
Actresses nominated for best comedy series were Tina Fey of "30 Rock," the series she created; last year's honoree America Ferrera of "Ugly Betty," Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" and Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds."
Nods for comedy series actors went to Tony Shalhoub for "Monk," Steve Carrell, "The Office," Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies," Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" and Charlie Sheen, "Two And A Half Men."
The best miniseries category that's dominated by "Adams" also includes "The Andromeda Strain," ''Cranford" and "Tin Men."
Ryan Seacrest, host of top-rated series "American Idol" made the cut in the new category of best host for a reality or reality-competition show. Other nominees were Tom Bergeron of "Dancing with the Stars," Howie Mandel of "Deal or No Deal," Heidi Klum of "Project Runway" and Jeff Probst of "Surivor."
LOS ANGELES -- "Mad Men," AMC's sleek drama set in the advertising world circa 1960, and FX's legal thriller "Damages" made Emmy nominations history today as the first basic cable programs to gain best-series nods.
The HBO historical drama "John Adams" was the overall frontrunner with 23 bids, including a lead-actor nomination for Paul Giamatti's turn as one of America's founding fathers.
"30 Rock," last year's best comedy Emmy winner, was the top nominee among sitcoms with 17 bids. "Mad Men" was the leading drama series contender with 16 nominations, including one for star Jon Hamm.
"The Wire," the just-ended, critically acclaimed HBO drama about police and drug dealers in Baltimore, lost its last shot at a best-drama nod after years of Emmy snubs. It received one nomination today, for writing.
But other cable series made a serious dent in several top categories as broadcast networks watched their share of Emmy nominations glory erode.
In the lead drama actor category, four of the five nominees were stars of cable shows, including Jon Hamm of "Mad Men." In the corresponding actress category, three of the slots went to cable series stars, including Glenn Close of "Damages."
Close said she heard about her nomination from her sister Nancy, who called her on her cell phone as she was being driven to a shooting location on Long Island in New York.
"I don't believe in comparison among artists, but, given the amazing number of talented people in this profession, to be included with a distinguished group of people is a huge honor," Close said.
"Damages" won critical acclaim last year - but not great ratings. She's hoping Emmy attention will boost its audience for season two.
"We need all the help we can get," she said.
HBO failed to field a best-drama series contender for the first time in nearly a decade, after "The Sopranos" claimed the honor last year. But the premium cable channel had a leading 85 bids overall, followed by ABC with 76.
Network audience favorites that failed to make a serious showing included "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives," both left out of the best-series categories, although "Grey's" stars Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson received nominations.
"Lost," rebounding with a well-received season, joined "Mad Men" and "Damages" in the best-drama series category with six nominees, including "Boston Legal, "Dexter" and "House."
Other best comedy series nominees besides "30 Rock" were "Curb Your Enthusiasm," ''Entourage," ''The Office" and "Two And a Half Men."
Oh and Wilson are competing in the best supporting drama actress category that last year was won by castmate Katherine Heigl - who took herself of the running this time, blaming her decision on lackluster scripts.
"Lost," rebounding with a well-received season, joined "Mad Men" and "Damages" in the best-drama series category with six nominees, including "Boston Legal, "Dexter" and "House."
Other best comedy series nominees besides "30 Rock" were "Curb Your Enthusiasm," ''Entourage," ''The Office" and "Two And a Half Men."
Joining Hamm with lead drama acting nods were last year's winner James Spader, "Boston Legal," Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad," Michael C. Hall, "Dexter," Hugh Laurie, "House" and Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment."
Close's competition for lead drama actress honors includes 2007 winner Sally Field for "Brothers & Sisters," Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer," Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace."
Actresses nominated for best comedy series were Tina Fey of "30 Rock," the series she created; last year's honoree America Ferrera of "Ugly Betty," Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?" and Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds."
Nods for comedy series actors went to Tony Shalhoub for "Monk," Steve Carrell, "The Office," Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies," Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" and Charlie Sheen, "Two And A Half Men."
The best miniseries category that's dominated by "Adams" also includes "The Andromeda Strain," ''Cranford" and "Tin Men."
Ryan Seacrest, host of top-rated series "American Idol" made the cut in the new category of best host for a reality or reality-competition show. Other nominees were Tom Bergeron of "Dancing with the Stars," Howie Mandel of "Deal or No Deal," Heidi Klum of "Project Runway" and Jeff Probst of "Surivor."
Nominees in the top categories for the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences by Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris and TV academy Chairman John Shaffner.
Shaffner surprised Harris and Chenoweth at the end of the telecast by announcing each actor's supporting-actor nomination. Chenoweth, of "Pushing Daisies," stood open-jawed, while Harris, from "How I Met Your Mother," pumped his fist and said, "Nice!"
The trio then blew out candles on a birthday cake to celebrate the Emmys' 60th anniversary.
The Emmy Awards ceremony will be held Sept. 21 and broadcast on ABC. Other Emmy honors, including those for technical achievement and guest actors and actresses in series, will be given at the creative arts ceremony on Sept. 13.
Major category nominees
Nominees in major categories for the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards announced Thursday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Drama Series: "Boston Legal," ABC; "Damages," FX; "Dexter," Showtime; "House," Fox; "Lost," ABC; "Mad Men," AMC.
Comedy Series: "Curb Your Enthusiasm," HBO; "Entourage," HBO; "The Office," NBC; "30 Rock," NBC; "Two and a Half Men," CBS.
Miniseries: "The Andromeda Strain," A&E; "Cranford" (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS; "John Adams," HBO; "Tin Man," Sci Fi Channel.
Made-for-TV Movie: "Bernard and Doris," HBO; "Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale," HBO; "The Memory Keeper's Daughter," Lifetime; "A Raisin in the Sun," ABC; "Recount," HBO.
Actor, Drama Series: James Spader, "Boston Legal," ABC; Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad," AMC; Michael C. Hall, "Dexter," Showtime; Hugh Laurie, "House," Fox; Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment," HBO; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men," AMC.
Actress, Drama Series: Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer," TNT; Glenn Close, "Damages," FX; Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC; Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace," TNT.
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: William Shatner, "Boston Legal," ABC; Ted Danson, "Damages," FX; Zeljko Ivanek, "Damages," FX; Michael Emerson, "Lost," ABC; John Slattery, "Mad Men," AMC.
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Candice Bergen, "Boston Legal," ABC; Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers & Sisters," ABC; Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy," ABC; Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy," ABC; Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment," HBO.
Actor, Comedy Series: Tony Shalhoub, "Monk," USA; Steve Carell, "The Office," NBC; Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies," ABC; Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock," NBC; Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men, CBS.
Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine," CBS; Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?," ABC; Tina Fey, "30 Rock," NBC; America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty," ABC; Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds," Showtime.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jeremy Piven, "Entourage," HBO; Kevin Dillon, "Entourage," HBO; Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother," CBS; Rainn Wilson, "The Office," NBC; Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men," CBS.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies," ABC; Jean Smart, "Samantha Who?," ABC; Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live," NBC; Holland Taylor Two and a Half Men," CBS; Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty," ABC.
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Ralph Fiennes, "Bernard and Doris," HBO; Ricky Gervais, "Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale," HBO; Paul Giamatti, "John Adams," HBO; Kevin Spacey, "Recount," HBO; Tom Wilkinson, "Recount," HBO.
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Catherine Keener, "An American Crime," Showtime; Susan Sarandon, "Bernard and Doris," HBO; Judi Dench, "Cranford (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS; Laura Linney, "John Adams," HBO; Phylicia Rashad, "A Raisin in the Sun," ABC.
Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: David Morse, "John Adams," HBO; Stephen Dillane, "John Adams," HBO; Tom Wilkinson, "John Adams," HBO; Denis Leary, "Recount," HBO; Bob Balaban, "Recount," HBO.
Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Eileen Atkins, "Cranford" (Masterpiece Theatre), PBS; Ashley Jensen, "Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale," HBO; Alfre Woodard, "Pictures of Hollis Woods" (Hallmark Hall of Fame Presentation), CBS; Audra McDonald, "A Raisin in the Sun," ABC; Laura Dern, "Recount," HBO.
