The nominees for the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced and Downton Abbey scooped up a whopping 16 nominations.
The highly popular British drama, which will return to VisionTV in early 2013, was bested only by the drama series Mad Men and the mini-series American Horror Story with 17 nods each. Mad Men could also set a new record as the most-honoured drama in television history depending on how it fares at the awards in September.
The decision to enter Downton Abbey in the best Drama race rather than for best Mini-Series/Movie worked out very well as the blockbuster picked up major nods for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley) and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham). Dame Maggie Smith (Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham) and Joanne Froggatt (Anna Smith) are both nominated for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and Brendan Coyle (John Bates) and Jim Carter (Mr. Carson) will go up against each other in the Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category. Other notable Emmy nominations for Downton Abbey include Outstanding Director for a Drama Series for Brian Percival, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for Julian Fellowes and Oustanding Costume Design for Susannah Buxton. The series additionally picked up nods in the categories of Outstanding Art Direction, Casting, Editing, Hairstyling, Original Dramatic Score and Sound Mixing.
Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary Crawley) is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Hugh Bonneville (Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham) is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Dame Maggie Smith (Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham) is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Last year, Downton Abbey took home Emmy honours for Outstanding Mini-Series or Movie, Supporting Actress (Dame Maggie Smith), Writing (Julian Fellowes), Directing (Brian Percival), Costume Design and Cinematography.
Joanne Froggatt (Anna Smith) is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Brendan Coyle (John Bates) is nominated for Oustanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jim Carter (Mr. Carson) is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
The nominations were announced live starting at a very early 5:40am PT this morning in Los Angeles by Kerry Washington (Scandal and late night TV fuuny man Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live. Kimmel, wearing pajamas, stepped in as a last minute replacement for Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), who hit a travel snag due to weather delays. Kimmel offered up a glimpse of his humour as host of the upcoming Emmy Awards with a number of quips during the nominee announcement. When Washington asked him “Who are you wearing?” Kimmel said, “This is from the husky baby collection. Thank you for asking.” Later, when a loud chorus of cheers erupted as Betty White‘s name was called for Oustanding Reality Show Host nominee for Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, Kimmel cracked, “Only old people get up this early.”
Check out a complete list of the nominees for the 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards here.
The 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be handed out at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre on September 23rd.
- Henry Lees
Sources: thestar.com, People.com, tv.yahoo.com, emmys.tv
