2013 Emmy Nominations

It's not TV; it's HBO. (And Netflix)

The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced its nominations for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards early Thursday morning and, for the second straight year, FX's American Horror Story—again, benefiting from qualifying as a miniseries—received a total of 17 nominations to lead all programs.

In its third year, HBO's Game of Thrones had an especially strong showing with 16 total nominations including best drama series; that show had received 24 previous nominations through its first two seasons, and it won 6 awards last year (tying Homeland for the lead). Saturday Night Live was the most-nominated broadcast program, with 30 Rock earning more nominations than any other broadcast primetime show.

HBO, with an astounding 108 total nominations (or 23 more than last year), led all networks, which is nothing new for the premium cable channel. CBS, last year's leader among broadcast networks, tied for the lead this year, with NBC matching its 53 nominations. Rounding out the top five networks in total nominations were ABC (45 nominations) and Showtime (31). And Netflix made history; its 14 nominations were the first for an internet streaming service.

Listed below are this year's nominees in every major category.

Drama nominees

Outstanding Drama Series

• Breaking Bad AMC
• Downton Abbey PBS
• Game of Thrones HBO
• Homeland SHO
• House of Cards NETFLIX
• Mad Men AMC

Netflix's first high-profile original drama series, the Kevin Spacey-starring House of Cards, is this category's sole newcomer, replacing HBO's Boardwalk Empire, which failed to make the cut for the first time in its three seasons. Cards is the first program not to air on broadcast or cable television ever nominated for a major award. It's the second straight year that the category has lacked a program from the commercial broadcast networks. Homeland was last year's winner, though, with so many prominent names on the list, it is hard to call any show a favorite. If you were expecting to see some new names such as critical favorites like Sons of Anarchy or Justified—or newcomer The Americans (which, more surprisingly, was also omitted from the acting categories)—you'll have to keep waiting.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, PBS)
• Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, AMC)
• Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom, HBO)
• Jon Hamm (Mad Men, AMC)
• Damian Lewis (Homeland, SHO)
• Kevin Spacey (House of Cards, NETFLIX)

Boardwalk Empire's Steve Buscemi and Dexter's Michael C. Hall are the two men who failed to repeat from last year; replacing them are Daniels (a first-time nominee) and Spacey (who had two prior nominations), though Justified's Timothy Olyphant and The Americans' Matthew Rhys are among the actors who could consider themselves snubbed. Lewis was the winner here last year.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Connie Britton (Nashville, ABC)
• Claire Danes (Homeland, SHO)
• Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey, PBS)
• Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel, A&E)
• Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men, AMC)
• Kerry Washington (Scandal, ABC)
• Robin Wright (House of Cards, NETFLIX)

Despite the expanded list of seven nominees here, one of the year's most heralded performances—Tatiana Maslany in the low-rated sci-fi series Orphan Black—was omitted, though the snub was not unexpected (remember the phrases "low-rated" and "sci-fi"). The field is actually one of the few to change rather, er, dramatically since last year, with only Danes (last year's winner), Dockery, and Moss repeating. Farmiga (a surprise inclusion for the under-the-radar Bates Motel), Washington, and Wright are all first-time Emmy nominees, while the other newcomer in the field—Britton—has three prior nominations (though no wins).

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Jonathan Banks (Breaking Bad, AMC)
• Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire, HBO)
• Jim Carter (Downton Abbey, PBS)
• Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, HBO)
• Mandy Patinkin (Homeland, SHO)
• Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, AMC)

Sometimes the Academy delivers pleasant surprises as well. Critics have long been campaigning for a nomination for Jonathan Banks for his performance as Mike Ehrmantraut on Breaking Bad, and Banks was indeed honored, earning his first nomination since 1989 (for Wiseguy). Another welcome surprise was the inclusion of Homeland's Patinkin, one of last year's major snubs. Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey's Bates) was one of three actors not to repeat from last year, though the other two had the misfortune of having their characters killed off. Aaron Paul was the winner here last year.

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Morena Baccarin (Homeland, SHO)
• Christine Baranski (The Good Wife, CBS)
• Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones, HBO)
• Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad, AMC)
• Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, AMC)
• Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey, PBS)

Baccarin and Clarke are first-time Emmy nominees, while the other four contenders are repeats from last year (including Smith, last year's winner). Missing are Joanne Froggatt (Anna on Downton Abbey) and The Good Wife's Archie Panjabi.

Guest Actor in a Drama Series

• Dan Bucatinsky (Scandal, ABC)
• Michael J. Fox (The Good Wife, CBS)
• Rupert Friend (Homeland, SHO)
• Harry Hamlin (Mad Men, AMC)
• Nathan Lane (The Good Wife, CBS)
• Robert Morse (Mad Men, AMC)

Harry Hamlin was never nominated for L.A. Law; he's a first-time Emmy nominee this year, as is Friend.

Guest Actress in a Drama Series

• Linda Cardellini (Mad Men, AMC)
• Joan Cusack (Shameless, SHO)
• Jane Fonda (The Newsroom, HBO)
• Margo Martindale (The Americans, FX)
• Carrie Preston (The Good Wife, CBS)
• Diana Rigg (Game of Thrones, HBO)

Cardellini and Preston are first-time nominees.

Writing for a Drama Series

• David Benioff and D.B. Weiss ("The Rains Of Castamere", Game of Thrones, HBO)
• Henry Bromell ("Q&A", Homeland, SHO)
• Julian Fellowes ("Episode 4", Downton Abbey, PBS)
• George Mastras ("Dead Freight", Breaking Bad, AMC)
• Thomas Schnauz ("Say My Name", Breaking Bad, AMC)

Homeland was the winner in the writing category last year. Mad Men typically dominates this category, but was omitted completely this year.

Directing for a Drama Series

• David Fincher ("Chapter 1", House of Cards, NETFLIX)
• Lesli Linka Glatter ("Q&A", Homeland, SHO)
• Michelle MacLaren ("Gliding Over All", Breaking Bad, AMC)
• Tim Van Patten ("Margate Sands", Boardwalk Empire, HBO)
• Jeremy Webb ("Episode 4", Downton Abbey, PBS)

Van Patten won the directing Emmy last year (also for Boardwalk Empire).

Comedy nominees

Outstanding Comedy Series

• 30 Rock NBC
• The Big Bang Theory CBS
• Girls HBO
• Louie FX
• Modern Family ABC
• Veep HBO

While Parks and Recreation was snubbed once again, the critically acclaimed Louie finally found its way into the list of best comedy nominees after failing to do so in its first two seasons. All of the other nominees are repeats (Louie replaces Curb Your Enthusiasm, which did not air last year), including Modern Family, the winner here in each of the last three years. Netflix was hoping for a nomination for the revived Arrested Development, and while that show received three nominations this year, it failed to crack the best comedy category.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, NBC)
• Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, NETFLIX)
• Don Cheadle (House of Lies, SHO)
• Louis C.K. (Louie, FX)
• Matt LeBlanc (Episodes, SHO)
• Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)

Bateman and LeBlanc are the newcomers here this year, though both have been nominated for the same shows in previous years (Bateman in 2005, LeBlanc in 2011). Missing from last year's field are Jon Cryer (the Emmy winner last year for Two and a Half Men), plus Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, off the air this year). Louis CK received seven total Emmy nominations this year (including three for his stand-up special Louis C.K.: Oh My God), matching his own single-year record set last year.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Laura Dern (Enlightened, HBO)
• Lena Dunham (Girls, HBO)
• Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie, SHO)
• Tina Fey (30 Rock, NBC)
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep, HBO)
• Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation, NBC)

Tina Fey received six different Emmy nominations this year, including one for hosting the Golden Globe ceremony and another for co-writing a song that appeared in 30 Rock; she now has 29 career nominations (and seven wins). Dern is the only newcomer in the field, while Melissa McCarthy and Zooey Deschanel are the nominees who failed to repeat (though McCarthy did receive a guest actress nomination for hosting SNL). Louis-Dreyfus was last year's winner in this category.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Ty Burrell (Modern Family, ABC)
• Adam Driver (Girls, HBO)
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family, ABC)
• Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
• Tony Hale (Veep, HBO)
• Ed O'Neill (Modern Family, ABC)

Two-time winner Eric Stonestreet failed to join his Modern Family castmates on the nominee list for the first time this year, opening up the field to candidates that include first-time Emmy nominees Tony Hale and Adam Driver. New Girl's Max Greenfield is the other 2012 nominee who did not repeat this year.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)
• Julie Bowen (Modern Family, ABC)
• Anna Chlumsky (Veep, HBO)
• Jane Krakowski (30 Rock, NBC)
• Jane Lynch (Glee, FOX)
• Sofia Vergara (Modern Family, ABC)
• Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie, SHO)

Lynch and Krakowski return after a one-year absence, while Veep's Chlumsky is a (deserving) first-time nominee. Bowen was last year's winner.

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

• Bobby Cannavale (Nurse Jackie, SHO)
• Louis C.K. (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
• Will Forte (30 Rock, NBC)
• Nathan Lane (Modern Family, ABC)
• Bob Newhart (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)
• Justin Timberlake (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Louis CK, Lane, and Cannavale are double acting nominees this year.

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

• Dot-Marie Jones (Glee, FOX)
• Melissa Leo (Louie, FX)
• Melissa McCarthy (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
• Molly Shannon (Enlightened, HBO)
• Elaine Stritch (30 Rock, NBC)
• Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Writing for a Comedy Series

• Jack Burditt and Robert Carlock ("Hogcock!", 30 Rock, NBC)
• Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon ("Daddy's Girlfriend", Louie, FX)
• David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik ("Episode 209", Episodes, SHO)
• Greg Daniels ("Finale", The Office, NBC)
• Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield ("Last Lunch", 30 Rock, NBC)

Louis CK won the Emmy in this category last year.

Directing for a Comedy Series

• Paris Barclay ("Diva", Glee, FOX)
• Louis C.K., ("New Year's Eve", Louie, FX)
• Lena Dunham ("On All Fours", Girls, HBO)
• Gail Mancuso ("Arrested", Modern Family, ABC)
• Beth McCarthy-Miller ("Hogcock!", 30 Rock, NBC)

Modern Family was the directing winner last year, though the winning director, Steve Levitan, was not nominated this year.

Miniseries/movie nominees

Outstanding Miniseries or Made-for-Television Movie

• American Horror Story: Asylum FX
• Behind the Candelabra HBO
• The Bible HISTORY
• Phil Spector HBO
• Political Animals USA
• Top of the Lake SUNDANCE

Is it really a miniseries? Argue all you want, but there's no question that American Horror Story is once again the year's leading Emmy nominee among all shows with 17 total nominations. Note, however, that while that show also earned 17 nominations last year, it won just two awards, including one for hairstyling.

Lead Actor in a Movie/Miniseries

• Benedict Cumberbatch (Parade's End, HBO)
• Matt Damon (Behind the Candelabra, HBO)
• Michael Douglas (Behind the Candelabra, HBO)
• Toby Jones (The Girl, HBO)
• Al Pacino (Phil Spector, HBO)

Cumberbatch, who still managed to get a nomination despite the absence of Sherlock this year, is the only actor not impersonating a real person, though Damon's character isn't a well-known figure like those played by Douglas (Liberace), Jones (Alfred Hitchcock), or Pacino (Phil Spector). Jones is a first-time Emmy nominee.

Lead Actress in a Movie/Miniseries

• Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Asylum, FX)
• Laura Linney (The Big C: Hereafter, SHO)
• Helen Mirren (Phil Spector, HBO)
• Elisabeth Moss (Top of the Lake, SUNDANCE)
• Sigourney Weaver (Political Animals, USA)

Moss, also honored for her work in Mad Men, is a two-time nominee this year.

Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries

• Scott Bakula (Behind the Candelabra, HBO)
• James Cromwell (American Horror Story: Asylum, FX)
• John Benjamin Hickey (The Big C: Hereafter, SHO)
• Peter Mullan (Top of the Lake, SUNDANCE)
• Zachary Quinto (American Horror Story: Asylum, FX)

Hickey, Mullan, and Quinto are all first-time nominees.

Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries

• Ellen Burstyn (Political Animals, USA)
• Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story: Asylum, FX)
• Charlotte Rampling (Restless, SUNDANCE)
• Imelda Staunton (The Girl, HBO)
• Alfre Woodard (Steel Magnolias, LIFETIME)

Neither Rampling nor Staunton have been nominated before, though Rampling could easily wind up with another nomination next year for her current Dexter performance.

Writing for a Movie/Miniseries

• Jane Campion and Gerard Lee (Top of the Lake, SUNDANCE)
• Richard LaGravenese (Behind the Candelabra, HBO)
• David Mamet (Phil Spector, HBO)
• Abi Morgan (The Hour, BBC America)
• Tom Stoppard (Parade's End, HBO)

Directing for a Movie/Miniseries

• Allison Anders (Ring of Fire, LIFETIME)
• Jane Campion and Garth Davis (Top of the Lake, SUNDANCE)
• Julian Jarrold (The Girl, HBO)
• David Mamet (Phil Spector, HBO)
• Steven Soderbergh (Behind the Candelabra, HBO)

Other nominees

Outstanding Variety Series

• The Colbert Report COMEDY
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart COMEDY
• Jimmy Kimmel Live ABC
• Late Night With Jimmy Fallon NBC
• Real Time With Bill Maher HBO
• Saturday Night Live NBC

The field here is identical to last year, when The Daily Show won the award for the 10th straight year. SNL, increasing its own all-time record, now has 171 total Emmy nominations.

Outstanding Variety Special

• 12-12-12: The Concert For Sandy Relief Various
• The Kennedy Center Honors CBS
• Louis C.K.: Oh My God HBO
• Mel Brooks Strikes Back! HBO
• Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday (Part One) NBC

Outstanding Animated Program

• Bob's Burgers FOX
• Kung Fu Panda: Legends Of Awesomeness NICK
• Regular Show TOON
• The Simpsons FOX
• South Park COMEDY

Unlike regular series, animated programs are nominated for individual episodes rather than the season as a whole. So need we say anything more than the title of Bob's Burgers' nominated episode, "O.T.: The Outside Toilet"?

Outstanding Reality Program

• Antiques Roadshow PBS
• Deadliest Catch DISCOVERY
• Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives FOOD
• MythBusters DISCOVERY
• Shark Tank ABC
• Undercover Boss CBS

Deadliest Catch and triple-D are the two newcomers here; Undercover Boss was last year's winner.

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

• The Amazing Race CBS
• Dancing with the Stars ABC
• Project Runway LIFETIME
• So You Think You Can Dance FOX
• Top Chef BRAVO
• The Voice NBC

The Amazing Race has won the award in nine out the 10 years it has been handed out. So You Think You Can Dance, nominated last year, was omitted this year.

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

• Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars, ABC)
• Anthony Bourdain (The Taste, ABC)
• Cat Deeley (So You Think You Can Dance, FOX)
• Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn (Project Runway, LIFETIME)
• Ryan Seacrest (American Idol, FOX)
• Betty White (Betty White's Off Their Rockers, NBC)

Just when you thought Betty White would somehow escape without a nomination this year, here she is, with her 19th Emmy nomination to date. Her presence could make it harder for Bergeron to repeat his 2012 victory.

More Emmy coverage

For the full list of 2013 nominees, including the many technical, directing, and writing categories not listed above, visit the official Emmy website. In the final week leading up to the actual ceremony, which will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and air live on CBS on Sunday, September 22, we'll return with a rundown of expert predictions in each major category; prior to that, you'll have an opportunity to make your own predictions in our annual Emmy poll beginning next week.

Want to know what critics and TV industry experts are saying about this year's nominations? Here are their takes:

• Michael Ausiello (TV Line)
• Chuck Barney (Contra Costa Times)
• Maggie Furlong (Huffington Post)
• Verne Gay (Newsday)
• Mike Hale (The New York Times)
• James Hibberd (Entertainment Weekly)
• Brian Lowry (Variety)
• James Poniewozik (Time)
• Alan Sepinwall (HitFix)

What do you think of this year's nominations? Let us know in the comments section below.