Every mid-July, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences disrupts the circadian rhythms of actors, television junkies, and entertainment journalists everywhere by announcing the nominees for the Primetime Emmy Awards at the crack of dawn. This year was no different, as the final shortlist of Emmy contenders was disclosed in Los Angeles at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theater in North Hollywood.
As always, the Academy’s top man was joined by a pair of celebs–Pushing Daisies‘ Kristen Chenoweth and How I Met Your Mother’s Neil Patrick Harris–to add a little razzle dazzle to the ceremony. The pair traded jokes throughout the fast-paced announcement, and John Shaffner, Chairman and CEO, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, made their efforts worthwhile by informing them they had both been nominated for supporting actor nods.
Among the shows snubbed were Ugly Betty, Friday Night Lights, and Desperate Housewives, which went oh-for-three in the lead actress in a comedy series. In its final season, The Wire was once again passed over (for shame, Academy!), and Mary McDonnell failed to represent for Battlestar Galactica.
On the positive side, the Academy did recognize Dexter and Lost in the best drama category, and Bryan Cranston was nominated for his excellent performance as Walter White in Breaking Bad.
The following is a partial list of the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award nominees; for a full list of nominees, head over to the official site of the Emmys:
Best Drama Series
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House
Lost
Mad Men
Best Comedy Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
James Spader, Boston Legal
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Glenn Close, Damages
Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
Lead Comedy Actor
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
Lead Comedy Actress
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
Supporting Drama Actress
Candice Bergen, Boston Legal
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters
Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy
Dianne Wiest, In Treatment
Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy
Supporting Drama Actor
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Ted Danson, Damages
Zeljko Ivanek, Damages
John Slattery, Mad Men
Michael Emerson, Lost
Supporting Comedy Actress
Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies
Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Jean Smart, Samantha Who?
Holland Taylor, Two and a Half Men
Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty
Comedy Supporting Actor
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Rainn Wilson, The Office
Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Charles Durning, Rescue Me
Robert Morse, Mad Men
Oliver Platt, Nip-Tuck
Stanley Tucci, E.R.
Glynn Turman, In Treatment
Robin Williams, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Polly Bergen, Desperate Housewives
Edie Falco, 30 Rock
Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives
Carrie Fisher, 30 Rock
Sarah Silverman, Monk
Elaine Stritch, 30 Rock
From: tv.com