The nominees for the 65th Primetime Emmy awards were announced by Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul and ceremony host Neil Patrick Harris yesterday.
American Horror Story: Asylum and Game of Thrones dominated the field, earning 17 and 16 nominations respectively.
Game of Thrones will compete in the Outstanding Drama Series category against last year’s winner Homeland, former reigning champ Mad Men, perennial bridesmaid Breaking Bad, UK import Downton Abbey, and Netflix’s game changing new series House of Cards.
AHS: Asylum is not eligible for the Drama Series Emmy. It instead faces off against Behind the Candelabra, Phil Spector, Political Animals, The Bible, and Top of the Lake for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.
In the race for Outstanding Comedy Series, three-time victor Modern Family looks set to finally fall, either to the ascendant HBO series Girls and Veep, outgoing 30 Rock, ratings blockbuster The Big Bang Theory, or critical favourite Louie.
Speaking of Louie, Louis C.K. received the most nominations for a single person – nine – for his work on the show, as well as his HBO comedy special Oh My God and his guest hosting appearance on Saturday Night Live. Last year he received a measly seven.
HBO collected 95 nominations overall, eclipsing the closest studios, Fox (57), Universal (39), and Warner Bros (29). Emmy newcomer Netflix scored 14 noms in total.
Outstanding Drama Series:
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mad Men
Outstanding Comedy Series:
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Girls
Louie
Modern Family
Veep
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Claire Danes, Homeland
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Connie Britton, Nashville
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
Damian Lewis, Homeland
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Dern, Enlightened
Lena Dunham, Girls
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Louie C.K., Louie
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Morena Baccarin, Homeland
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Bobby Cannavale, Boardwalk Empire
Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad
Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory
Jane Lynch, Glee
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Merritt Wever, Nurse Jackie
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Adam Driver, Girls
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Ed O’Neill, Modern Family
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Bill Hader, Saturday Night Live
Tony Hale, Veep
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series:
George Mastras, Breaking Bad – “Dead Freight”
Thomas Schnauz, Breaking Bad – “Say My Name”
Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey – “Episode 4″
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones – “The Rains of Castamere”
Henry Bromell, Homeland – “Q&A”
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series:
Tim Van Patten, Boardwalk Empire – “Margate Sands”
Michelle MacLaren, Breaking Bad – “Gliding Over All”
Jeremy Webb, Downton Abbey – “Episode 4″
Lesli Linka Glatter, Homeland – “Q&A”
David Fincher, House of Cards – “Chapter 1″
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series:
Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock, 30 Rock – “Hogcock!”
Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield, 30 Rock – “Last Lunch”
David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, Episodes – “Episode 209″
Louie C.K. and Pamela Adlon, Louie – “Daddy’s Girlfriend (Part 1)”
Greg Daniels, The Office – “Finale”
Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series:
Beth McCarthy-Miller, 30 Rock – “Hogcock!” and “Last Lunch”
Lena Dunham, Girls – “On All Fours”
Paris Barclay, Glee – “Diva”
Louie C.K., Louie – “New Year’s Eve”
Gail Mancuso, Modern Family – “Arrested”
Outstanding Miniseries or Movie:
American Horror Story: Asylum
Behind the Candelabra
Phil Spector
Political Animals
The Bible
Top of the Lake
See the full list of nominees here. The winners will be announced September 22.
