LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "Mad
Men," a piercingly bleak portrait of a 1960s American anti-hero, earned a
leading 17 Emmy nominations Thursday and the chance to set a new record as the
most-honored drama in television history.
"Mad Men," which has won four Best Drama Series trophies and is tied with
"Hill Street Blues," "L.A. Law" and "The West Wing," received a fifth bid in the
category.
"It's insane. I can't believe it," said "Mad Men" creator Matthew Weiner. "I
can't believe we are on the air. I can't believe that people don't call AMC
A&E anymore. I'm so proud of the network."
The miniseries "American
Horror Story," a nightmarish saga about a haunted house, received a matching
17 awards, including an acting nom for star Connie Britton.
"Modern
Family," honored as Best Comedy Series for the past two years, was the
sitcom leader with 14 bids, but the category also saw an infusion of girl
power.
Breakout comedies with women at their center — in fashion after the
box-office success of "Bridesmaids" — proved alluring to Emmy voters.
"Girls,"
creator-star Lena Dunham's darkly comedic
coming-of-age New York story, received a Best Comedy nom and an acting
nomination for its star, Lena Dunham. Zooey Deschanel's offbeat charm in "New
Girl" earned her an acting bid.
"I have had the shriekiest morning of my life," said Dunham, as she arrived
on set to shoot the second season of "Girls." "'I literally feel like I got
asked to the prom and engaged and told I was going to the moon all in one day.
Not to be too dramatic."
"I jumped around in my bed and I ran down the hall that's in my apartment
building that's not even part of my house without my pants on," she said.
"Girls" is HBO's "current spin on 'Sex and the City,' which was a strong past
Emmy favorite," said Tom O'Neil, editor of the Gold Derby awards website.
Melissa McCarthy, who appeared in "Bridesmaids,"
has a chance to repeat last year's victory as best comedy actress winner for "Mike &
Molly."
Betty White, 90, brought her brand of female
empowerment to the nominations, earning a Best Reality Series Host nom for "Betty
White's Off Their Rockers." A no-show in the category was perennial winner
Jeff Probst of "Survivor."
"This is a sex dream, isn't it," joked Kimmel, ABC's late-night host, who
arrived on stage at the TV Academy dressed in pajamas. "Jimmy
Kimmel Live" was nominated in the variety category.
The Emmy ceremony is scheduled to air on ABC on Sept. 23.
Academy voters paid tribute to the late Kathryn Joosten, who received a supporting actress
bid for her role as Wisteria Lane neighbor Karen McClusky in "Desperate
Housewives." Joosten, who had won two Emmys for the role, died in June of
lung cancer.
The rest of the show's stars failed to make the Emmy cut for its eighth and
final season. Hugh Laurie, whose show "House"
also wrapped after eight years, didn't get a last shot at winning a trophy for
his cranky Dr. House.
"American
Idol," TV's top-rated talent show, was shut out of the Best Reality Series
contest, although Ryan Seacrest was nominated as host. It's biggest competition
in the reality-singing category, "The
Voice," did get a nod.
Competition for "Mad Men" and "Downton Abbey" includes national security
drama "Homeland," prohibition-era crime saga "Boardwalk
Empire," teacher-turned-drug maker tale "Breaking
Bad" and the elaborate fantasy "Game of
Thrones," based on George R.R. Martin's novels.
"Downton Abbey," which has earned ratings and buzz for PBS, was named best
miniseries last year but was switched to the drama category this time around.
The TV academy's prime-time awards committee decided its continuing story line
made it a series.
"American Horror Story" decided to move to the miniseries category after
competing as a drama series in the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild
awards.
Big-screen stars who have a shot at the small-screen trophy for their TV
movie work include Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman for "Hemingway
& Gellhorn," about the tumultuous romance of Ernest Hemingway and
journalist Martha Gellhorn, Julianne Moore for her portrayal of Sarah Palin in
"Game Change" and Kevin Costner for "Hatfields & McCoys."
Rising British star Benedict Cumberbatch won a bid for his
contemporary "Sherlock" portrayal. "Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia" earned 13
bids as a "Masterpiece" movie on PBS.
"Mad Men" star Jon Hamm, who hasn't shared in his show's string
of wins, will have his fifth shot at a lead actor Emmy. Bryan Cranston, the "Breaking Bad" star who denied
Hamm the award three times before, was nominated again for his role as a teacher
with cancer who gets embroiled in drug trafficking.
"Our show is like stinky cheese," Cranston said. "You have to develop a taste
for it."
Buscemi found out he'd earned a nomination on a day he was scheduled to go to
the "Boardwalk Empire" set. "I'm glad I'm working today so I get a chance to see
everybody, so that the nominations are still fresh. I think it will lift
everybody's spirits today," he said.
In the actress category, last year's winner Julianna Margulies of "The Good
Wife" is joined by Moss, Claire Danes for "Homeland," Glenn Close for "Damages,"
Michelle Dockery of "Downton Abbey" and Kathy Bates of "Harry's Law."
On the comedy side, Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory" got a bid and the
chance for a third victory. Also nominated were Alec Baldwin of "30 Rock," Louis
C.K. of "Louie," Jon Cryer of "Two and a Half Men," Don Cheadle of "House of
Lies" and Larry David of "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
Among lead comedy actresses, McCarthy is joined by Dunham, Deschanel, Amy
Poehler of "Parks and Recreation," Edie Falco of "Nurse Jackie" and Tina Fey of
"30 Rock."
The ensemble cast of "Modern Family" cleaned up in the supporting comedy
categories, with Ed O'Neill, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ty Burrell and Eric
Stonestreet capturing four of the six slots and actresses Julie Bowen and Sofia
Vergara showing the flag for the women.
Max Greenfield, who plays Schmidt on "New Girl," won a nomination for best
supporting actor in a comedy and was already thinking of the awards
ceremony.
"Zooey and I are coordinating outfits right now," he said. "We're trying to
figure out what we're gonna wear. We obviously don't wanna wear the same thing.
Can you imagine how embarrassing that would be?"
POPSUGAR Celebrity:Emmy Winner Julianne Moore Talks Playing Sarah Palin and Love for Game Change
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Game Change's Julianne Moore walked away with the Emmy tonight for outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or a movie for playing Sarah Palin.
