LOS ANGELES, July 19: "Mad Men," a piercingly bleak portrait of a 1960s American anti-hero, earned a leading 17 Emmy nominations Thursday and the chance to set a new record as the most-honored drama in television history.
"Mad Men," which has won four best drama series trophies and is tied with "Hill Street Blues," ´´L.A. Law" and "The West Wing," received a fifth bid in the category.
The miniseries "American Horror story," a nightmarish saga about a haunted house, received a matching 17 awards, including an acting nod for star Connie Britton.
Other leading nominees include the elegant British-born soap opera "Downton Abbey," which earned 16 bids, and two miniseries, "Hatfields & McCoys," with 16, and "Hemingway & Gellhorn" with 15.
In this publicity photo released by FOX, "New Girl" cast from left, Lamorne Morris, Jake Johnson, Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield and Hannah Simone are shown. (AP)
"Modern Family," honored as best comedy series for two years, was the sitcom leader with 14 bids, but the category also saw an infusion of girl power.
Breakout comedies with women at their center — in fashion after the box-office success of "Bridesmaids" — proved alluring to Emmy voters.
"Girls," creator-star Lena Dunham´s darkly comedic coming-of-age New York story, received a best comedy nod and an acting nomination for its star, Lena Dunham. Zooey Deschanel´s offbeat charm in "New Girl" earned her an acting bid.
"Girls" is HBO´s "current spin on ´Sex and the City,´ which was a strong past Emmy favorite," said Tom O´Neil, editor of the Gold Derby awards website.
Top nominations were announced by Kerry Washington of "Scandal" and by Jimmy Kimmel, who will host the awards and who filled in Thursday for Nick Offerman of "Parks and Recreation," who was held up by weather-related travel delays on the East Coast.
"This is a sex dream, isn´t it," joked Kimmel, ABC´s late-night host, who arrived on stage at the TV academy dressed in pajamas.
The Emmy ceremony is scheduled to air on ABC on Sept. 23.
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