62nd annual Emmy award nominees

"Community's" Joel McHale and "Modern Family's" Sofia Vergara announced this year's contenders from the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in Los Angeles.

<b>"Nurse Jackie" (Showtime)</b>: The very, very dark comedy snuck into the comedy series category, stealing the spot from underneath the feet of its fellow pay cable shows, including "Entourage" and "Weeds."

"Nurse Jackie" (Showtime): The very, very dark comedy snuck into the comedy series category, stealing the spot from underneath the feet of its fellow pay cable shows, including "Entourage" and "Weeds."

Phil Caruso-AP

<b>"Friday Night Lights" (NBC)</b>: After years of TV critics complaining that the low-rated show didn't get enough awards love, both Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton scored lead actor and actress nominations for the first time, causing stunned, confused silence among the critics before they erupted (mostly on Twitter) with joy.

"Friday Night Lights" (NBC): After years of TV critics complaining that the low-rated show didn't get enough awards love, both Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton scored lead actor and actress nominations for the first time, causing stunned, confused silence among the critics before they erupted (mostly on Twitter) with joy.

Bill Records-NBC

<b>"True Blood" (HBO)</b>: Finally, the vampires get their day in the sun! Or . . . something. After being mostly shut out of major categories last year, the show garnered a nod for drama series, defying the tradition of Emmy voters snubbing vampire/fantasy shows.

"True Blood" (HBO): Finally, the vampires get their day in the sun! Or . . . something. After being mostly shut out of major categories last year, the show garnered a nod for drama series, defying the tradition of Emmy voters snubbing vampire/fantasy shows.

Jaimie Trueblood

<b>"Modern Family" (ABC):</b> If any show has a chance to knock "30 Rock" off its three-year-in-a-row outstanding comedy series streak, it's this one.
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Plus, the criticially adored series racked up a slew of acting nominations, including Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson for supporting actor in a comedy series, and Julie Bowen and Sophia Vergara for supporting actress.

"Modern Family" (ABC): If any show has a chance to knock "30 Rock" off its three-year-in-a-row outstanding comedy series streak, it's this one.

Plus, the criticially adored series racked up a slew of acting nominations, including Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson for supporting actor in a comedy series, and Julie Bowen and Sophia Vergara for supporting actress.

Danny Feld-ABC

<b>"The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" (NBC):</b> Oh snap! The academy made their feelings perfectly clear about the whole "Tonight Show" debacle, giving Conan O'Brien a variety series nomination for his defunct version of the late night talk show, while snubbing current host Jay Leno.

"The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" (NBC): Oh snap! The academy made their feelings perfectly clear about the whole "Tonight Show" debacle, giving Conan O'Brien a variety series nomination for his defunct version of the late night talk show, while snubbing current host Jay Leno.

Paul Drinkwater-NBC

<b>"Lost" (ABC):</b> Academy members feted "Lost" in its first season and snubbed it after that but, in its last season, relented and gave it a nomination -- quite possibly fearing the wrath of the scary Losties who haven't accepted the show's over.

"Lost" (ABC): Academy members feted "Lost" in its first season and snubbed it after that but, in its last season, relented and gave it a nomination -- quite possibly fearing the wrath of the scary Losties who haven't accepted the show's over.

Mario Perez-ABC

<b>"Glee" (Fox):</b> The comedy racked up 19 nominations, one of the highest totals of any show.
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This included a nom for comedy series, lead actor Matthew Morrison, lead actress Lea Michele, and as expected, a supporting actress nod for Jane Lynch, playing evil cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester.
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Less expected? Chris Colfer, who scored a nom for his portrayal of soprano glee club member Kurt.

"Glee" (Fox): The comedy racked up 19 nominations, one of the highest totals of any show.

This included a nom for comedy series, lead actor Matthew Morrison, lead actress Lea Michele, and as expected, a supporting actress nod for Jane Lynch, playing evil cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester.

Less expected? Chris Colfer, who scored a nom for his portrayal of soprano glee club member Kurt.

Michael Yarish-FOX

<b>"Mad Men" (AMC):</b>After winning the Emmy for best drama series two years running, the cable show now wants to scarf up all the drama acting derbies as well -- and the strategy worked.
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Elisabeth Moss (who submitted as supporting actress to better her odds) scored a nomination, as did Christina Hendricks. And January Jones, who entered in the lead actress category armed with Emmy bait scenes as a scorned housewife, also got a nod.

"Mad Men" (AMC):After winning the Emmy for best drama series two years running, the cable show now wants to scarf up all the drama acting derbies as well -- and the strategy worked.

Elisabeth Moss (who submitted as supporting actress to better her odds) scored a nomination, as did Christina Hendricks. And January Jones, who entered in the lead actress category armed with Emmy bait scenes as a scorned housewife, also got a nod.

Courtesy AMC

<b>"Two and a Half Men" (CBS):</b> After four straight nominations, Charlie Sheen came up empty handed this year. Perhaps it's because he's made so many headlines lately -- and not in a good way.

"Two and a Half Men" (CBS): After four straight nominations, Charlie Sheen came up empty handed this year. Perhaps it's because he's made so many headlines lately -- and not in a good way.

Greg Gayne-Warner Bros.

<b>"Grey's Anatomy" (ABC):</b> Sorry, Katherine Heigl -- your last attempt to make it all about you didn't quite work. The actress, who was only in seven episodes this season, had submitted herself for supporting actress in a drama, after famously dropping out of the category two years ago when she felt the materials the writers had given her weren't Emmy-worthy.
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The series itself only garnered two nominations, both in makeup categories.

"Grey's Anatomy" (ABC): Sorry, Katherine Heigl -- your last attempt to make it all about you didn't quite work. The actress, who was only in seven episodes this season, had submitted herself for supporting actress in a drama, after famously dropping out of the category two years ago when she felt the materials the writers had given her weren't Emmy-worthy.

The series itself only garnered two nominations, both in makeup categories.

Scott Garfield-ABC

<b>"30 Rock" (NBC):</b> The NBC comedy remains the one to beat, having won the race for best comedy series every year it's been eligible.
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The series picked up a fourth straight nomination after this year's storyline about the real-life NBC/Comcast merger drama -- or rather, NBC/Kabletown merger -- is sure to tickle academy voters who will actually get the jokes, unlike many viewers.
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Stars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey also kept their streak alive with a pair of nominations.

"30 Rock" (NBC): The NBC comedy remains the one to beat, having won the race for best comedy series every year it's been eligible.

The series picked up a fourth straight nomination after this year's storyline about the real-life NBC/Comcast merger drama -- or rather, NBC/Kabletown merger -- is sure to tickle academy voters who will actually get the jokes, unlike many viewers.

Stars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey also kept their streak alive with a pair of nominations.

Barbara Nitke-NBC

<b>"Damages" (FX):</b> FX has still not said whether it's picking up the scenery chewing legal thriller for another season, but star Glenn Close, having swept the lead actress in a drama category for the past two years for her portrayal of scary Patty Hewes, picked up another nomination, as expected.

"Damages" (FX): FX has still not said whether it's picking up the scenery chewing legal thriller for another season, but star Glenn Close, having swept the lead actress in a drama category for the past two years for her portrayal of scary Patty Hewes, picked up another nomination, as expected.

<b>"Amazing Race" (CBS):</b> As if "Amazing Race" didn't have enough of an inflated ego after winning for reality competition series seven times in a row, producers smugly submitted an episode with a theme that no Emmy voter can refuse -- World War I.
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Sure enough, the episode set in France called "I Think We're Fighting the Germans, Right?" -- in which contestants crawled around barbed wire fences dressed in full army gear for a World War I reenactment detour challenge -- snagged a nomination.

"Amazing Race" (CBS): As if "Amazing Race" didn't have enough of an inflated ego after winning for reality competition series seven times in a row, producers smugly submitted an episode with a theme that no Emmy voter can refuse -- World War I.

Sure enough, the episode set in France called "I Think We're Fighting the Germans, Right?" -- in which contestants crawled around barbed wire fences dressed in full army gear for a World War I reenactment detour challenge -- snagged a nomination.

Best Possible Screen Grab-CBS

<b>"The Good Wife" (CBS):</b> Finally, someone broke the CBS Series Rarely, Almost Never Get Nominated curse!
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"The Good Wife," up for drama series, also snagged a nod for star Julianna Margulies, charging toward a TV comeback with a nom for actress in a drama (she won the category at this year's Golden Globe Awards).

"The Good Wife" (CBS): Finally, someone broke the CBS Series Rarely, Almost Never Get Nominated curse!

"The Good Wife," up for drama series, also snagged a nod for star Julianna Margulies, charging toward a TV comeback with a nom for actress in a drama (she won the category at this year's Golden Globe Awards).

Eike Schroter-CBS

<b>"Law & Order" (NBC):</b> Boy, those Emmy voters have hearts of steel -- not even bowing out after 20 years could garner the long-running drama a nomination, even one for nostalgia.
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Though perhaps the episode submitted (the series premiere, about torture of detainees) was too grim.

"Law & Order" (NBC): Boy, those Emmy voters have hearts of steel -- not even bowing out after 20 years could garner the long-running drama a nomination, even one for nostalgia.

Though perhaps the episode submitted (the series premiere, about torture of detainees) was too grim.

Virginia Sherwood-NBC Universal, Inc.

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62nd annual Emmy award nominees

"Community's" Joel McHale and "Modern Family's" Sofia Vergara announced this year's contenders from the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Network News