Kerry Washington and a pajama-clad Jimmy Kimmel (Surprise! It was supposed to be Nick Offerman) got up bright and early to read the names of the 2012 Emmy nominees.
Mad Men received 17 Emmy nominations, giving the show a chance to set a record as the most-honored drama series in TV history. Stars Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss are up for lead acting honors.
FX's spooky American Horror Story miniseries also received 17 nominations, reports AP. Other leading contenders include PBS' popular drama series Downton Abbey and two miniseries, Hatfields & McCoys and Hemingway & Gellhorn.
Here some of the top categories announced:
Best drama: Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, Mad Men
Best comedy: The Big Bang Theory, Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep, 30 Rock, Modern Family
Actor, comedy: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men; Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm; Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory; Louis C.K., Louie; Don Cheadle, House of Lies
Actress, comedy: Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep; Zooey Deschanel, New Girl; Lena Dunham, Girls; Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly
Actor, drama: Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey; Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Damian Lewis, Homeland; Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Actress, drama: Kathy Bates, Harry's Law, Glenn Close, Damages; Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey, Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Movie or miniseries: Sherlock (PBS); Game Change (HBO); Hatfields & McCoys (History); American Horror Story (FX); Hemingway & Gellhorn (HBO)
Movie/miniseries actor: Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock; Idris Elba, Luther; Woody Harrelson, Game Change; Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys; Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn; Bill Paxton, Hatfields & McCoys
Movie/miniseries actress: Connie Britton, American Horror Story; Ashley Judd, Missing; Julianne Moore, Game Change; Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn; Emma Thompson, The Song of Lunch
Variety series: The Colbert Report, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Real Time With Bill Maher, Saturday Night Live
"Should I give a speech now or what? How does this work?" cracked Kimmel. "That could have been very uncomfortable. That's exciting."
Reality competition program: The Amazing Race, Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef, The Voice
The Emmy ceremony is scheduled to air on ABC on Sept. 23.
So, which of your favorite shows/stars were snubbed?
USA Today