Mad Men, the sharply observed drama of a changing 1960s America, captured 19 Emmy nominations this morning, with the melodramatic mini-series Mildred Pierce starring Kate Winslet grabbing a top 21 bids.
Mad Men has a chance to repeat for a fourth consecutive year as best drama. Modern Family, last year's top comedy series, was the most-nominated sitcom with 17 bids.
Other leading nominees include the Prohibition-era drama Boardwalk Empire with 18 nominations, Saturday Night Live with 16 and 13 bids each for the sex-and-swords fantasy Game of Thrones and the sitcom 30 Rock.
"OK, keep it together," a surprised nominations co-announcer Melissa McCarthy said when she realised she was a nominee for her sitcom Mike & Molly.
The controversial sitcom The Kennedys, which was dropped by the History channel and recently broadcast on Irish television, received 10 nominations, including best miniseries.
Familiar faces have a chance to claim - or reclaim - Emmys, including last year's lead comedy actress winner Edie Falco of Nurse Jackie and Jim Parsons, best actor for a comedy for The Big Bang Theory. Both were nominated this year.
Jon Hamm received his fourth lead acting bid for Mad Men, and this time the competitor who denied him the award three times before isn't in the category. Bryan Cranston and Breaking Bad were not eligible for this year's awards because the series took a break between seasons.
Steve Carell earned a best comedy actor for his final season of The Office, his last chance to win an Emmy statuette for his role as TV's most clueless boss.
Matt LeBlanc, best known for his role as Joey in Friends, received a lead comedy actor bid for playing a screen version of himself in the satiric show business series Episodes.
There were fresh faces as well, including best drama actress nominee Mireille Enos of The Killing and best drama actor Timothy Olyphant of Justified.
Following is a list of nominees in key categories for Emmy Awards, the highest honours in US television, announced today.
BEST DRAMA SERIES
Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Game Of Thrones
The Good Wife
ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights
Hugh Laurie, House
Timothy Olyphant, Justified
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
BEST COMEDY SERIES
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
The Office
Parks And Recreation
30 Rock
ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Louis C.K. Louie
Steve Carrell, The Office
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Laura Linney, The Big C
Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope
Tina Fey, 30 Rock