Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey's hit comedy 30 ROCK is leading the charge for the 2009 Primetime Emmy Awards after landing a whopping 22 nominations.
The show will defend its title as Outstanding TV Comedy for the third year running, against Entourage, Weeds, Flight of the Conchords, the U.S. version of The Office, How I Met Your Mother, and Family Guy. The animated series' inclusion is the first time a cartoon has been shortlisted for the prize since The Flintstones in 1961.
30 Rock's leading stars will do battle in the male and female categories for the outstanding comedy actor awards. Hollywood star Baldwin is up against the likes of Steve Carell (The Office), Charlie Sheen (Two And A Half Men) and Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), while Fey is competing with Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?), Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), and Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds).
Meanwhile, Mad Men has scored 16 nods - including Outstanding Drama Series, which it won last year (08), Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama for Jon Hamm, and Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama for Elisabeth Moss.
Hamm is nominated alongside actors such as Dexter's Michael C. Hall, Simon Baker for The Mentalist, and Hugh Laurie for medical series House; and Moss will face stiff competition from Glenn Close (Damages), Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters) and Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), among others in her category.
House and legal thriller Damages are also in the running for Outstanding Drama Series.
In the TV movie categories, Drew Barrymore's Grey Gardens - in which the actress plays Jackie Kennedy-Onassis' reclusive cousin 'Little' Edie Beale - garnered 17 nominations, with the star receiving recognition for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. The HBO film is also up for the prizes of Outstanding Casting and Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie Or A Special for moviemaker Michael Sucsy, in addition to a number of technical awards.
And there was praise for actress Chandra Wilson, who announced the nominees on Thursday morning (16Jul09) with Jim Parson. She was named alongside Barrymore in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie category for her role in Accidental Friendship, while her turn in Grey's Anatomy earned her a nod for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
The 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be handed out on 20 September (09) at a ceremony in Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre and will be presented by Neil Patrick Harris.
The main list of nominees is as follows:
Outstanding Comedy Series: Entourage, Family Guy, Flight of the Conchords, How I Met Your Mother, The Office, 30 Rock, Weeds.
Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy - Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), Tony Shalhoub (Monk), Steve Carell (The Office), Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Charlie Sheen (Two And A Half Men), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Outstanding Lead Actress, Comedy - Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures Of Old Christine), Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?), Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Toni Collette (United States of Tara), Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)
Outstanding Drama Series - Big Love, Breaking Bad, Damages, Dexter, House, Lost, Mad Men
Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama - Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Hugh Laurie (House), Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Simon Baker (The Mentalist)
Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama - Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), Glenn Close (Damages), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit), Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), Holly Hunter (Saving Grace)
Outstanding Made For Television Movie - Coco Chanel, Grey Gardens, Into The Storm, Prayers For Bobby, Taking Chance
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie: Kevin Kline (Cyrano de Bergerac), Brendan Gleeson (Into The Storm), Sir Ian MCKellen (King Lear), Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance), Kiefer Sutherland (24: Redemption), Kenneth Branagh (Wallander: One Step Behind)
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie - Chandra Wilson (Accidental Friendship), Shirley MACLaine (Coco Chanel), Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens ), Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens), Sigourney Weaver (Prayers For Bobby).