'Rock,' 'Mad' Dominate Emmy Nominees

The 2009 Emmy nominees had a bit of an expanded field, allowing for some much-deserving but often left out nominees this year, though it still seems like old champions stand the best chance. Last year's comedy king '30 Rock' leads the pack with with a staggering 22 nominations, while 2008 drama winner 'Mad Men' comes in second with 16 total nods.

In the category of Best Drama, HBO's controversial 'Big Love' scored a nominee along with 'Breaking Bad,' 'Damages,' 'Dexter,' 'House,' 'Lost' and 'Mad Men,' which also scored best actor and actress nominations for Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss.

As for the funny stuff, the Best Comedy nominees this year are: 'Entourage,' 'Family Guy,' 'Flight of the Conchords,' 'How I Met Your Mother, 'The Office,' '30 Rock' and 'Weeds.'

Continuing with the comedy shows, funnymen Jemaine Clement ('Conchords'), Tony Shalhoub ('Monk'), Steve Carrell ('The Office'), Alec Baldwin ('30 Rock'), Charlie Sheen ('Two and a Half Men') and Jim Parson ('The Big Bang Theory') scored nominations. As for comedy actresses, Julia-Louis Dreyfus ('The New Adventures of Old Christine'), Christina Applegate ('Samantha Who?'), Sarah Silverman ('The Sarah Silverman Program'), Tina Fey ('30 Rock'), Toni Collette ('United States of Tara') and Mary-Louise Parker ('Weeds') are up for a trophy.

In the individual drama race, actresses Sally Field ('Brothers & Sisters'), Kyra Sedgwick ('The Closer'), Glenn Close ('Damages'), Mariska Hargitay ('Law & Order: SVU'), Elisabeth Moss ('Mad Men') and Holly Hunter ('Saving Grace') were nominated.

As for best actor in a drama, the nominees were: Brian Cranston ('Breaking Bad'), Michael C. Hall ('Dexter'), Hugh Laurie ('House'), Gabriel Byrne ('InTreatment'), Jon Hamm ('Mad Men') and Simon Baker ('The Mentalist')

The TV movies "Grey Gardens," with 17 nominations, and "Into the Storm," with 14 nominations, are also among the front-runners. Chandra Wilson of "Grey Anatomy's" and Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory," both nominees, made the nominations announcementThursday in Los Angeles.

The number of contenders in series and acting categories were expanded this year, which may have allowed room for some unexpected bids, including a history-making best comedy series nomination for "Family Guy." It's the first animated show to be nominated for a comedy series Emmy since 1961, when 'The Flintstones' earned a nod.

Affection was scarce for series that came to an end last season,including long-running medical drama "ER," "Boston Legal" and"Battlestar Galactica." There was a scattering of nominationsamong them, but nothing in the marquee categories of acting or bestseries. Another just-ended series, "The Shield," was shut out.

Vampire saga "True Blood" and its star Anna Paquin, who won aGolden Globe earlier this year, were shut out of the majorcategories.

Also snubbed for major awards were "Desperate Housewives" and "Jon & Kate Plus 8," left out of the reality series category. Top-rated TV show "American Idol" is a contender in the reality-competition category.

The 61st installation of the Emmys will air live on Sept. 20.