Over the years, the Emmys have become a benchmark of quality for many television fans, as the awards ceremony has grown to become the top prize for individuals working in tv. Thus, the awards show and the nominations themselves have become a source of discussion for many, opening people up to new talent and surprising shows. Past winners at the event have included Aaron Paul for his role as Jesse Pinkman in the AMC series Breaking Bad, the Showtime series Homeland, and Kate Winslet for her titular role in the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce. The nominees for the 65th annual Primetime Emmy awards, which are set to be given out on Sunday, September 22nd, were announced today, and a select few can be seen below.
LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates in Bates Motel
Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley in Downton Abbey
Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in Homeland
Robit Wright as Claire Underwood in House of Cards
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson in Mad Men
Connie Britton as Rayna James in Nashville
Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in Scandal
LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tina Fey as Liz Lemon in 30 Rock
Laura Dern as Amy in Enlightened
Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath in Girls
Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton in Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer in Veep
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad
Hugh Bonneville as Earl of Grantham/Robert in Downton Abbey
Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody in Homeland
Kevin Spacey as Francis Underwood in House of Cards
Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men
Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy in The Newsroom
LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy in 30 Rock
Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth in Arrested Development
Matt LeBlanc as Matt LeBlanc in Episodes
Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan in House of Lies
Louis CK as Louie in Louie
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory
OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Downton Abbey (PBS)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Homeland (Showtime)
House of Cards (Netflix)
Mad Men (AMC)
OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock (NBC)
Girls (HBO)
Louie (FX)
Modern Family (ABC)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Veep (HBO)
American Horror Story led all shows with 17 nominations, followed by Game of Thrones with 16. The full list of nominees can be seen here.