Watch CBS News

Primetime Emmy Awards Announced Tonight

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — "Glee" is about to learn if the Emmys care to sing its praises.

The hit musical-comedy show about a high school glee club was a leading nominee at Sunday's Emmy Awards, including bids for best comedy series and cast members Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer.

"Modern Family" was another freshman comedy front-runner, while "30 Rock" was trying for its fourth consecutive best comedy series Emmy and "Mad Men" competed for its third drama series trophy.

Others defending their title included Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad" and Glenn Close of "Damages," who claimed drama series acting honors last year, and, on the comedy side, Toni Collette of "The United States of Tara" and Alec Baldwin of "30 Rock."

Jimmy Fallon was hosting the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.

The public had a hand in writing some of Fallon's material. He planned to bring many celebrity presenters onstage with introductions submitted through Twitter.

CBS has seven shows up for awards, which include "The Big Bang Theory," "How I Met Your Mother," and "The New Adventures of Old Christine."

Other Emmy contenders included Conan O'Brien's short-lived "Tonight," which was nominated as best variety, music or comedy series while the show with Jay Leno back in charge was snubbed. David Letterman's "Late Show" also missed out on a nod, but 2009 winner "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" was nominated.

The final season of "Lost" competed for best drama series and for acting honors for star Matthew Fox and supporting cast members Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson, chosen as best supporting drama actor last year.

HBO came into the ceremony as the kingpin after claiming 17 awards at the Aug. 21 creative arts Emmys, followed by ABC with 15 and Fox with nine. CBS, NBC and PBS each claimed seven.

"The Pacific," the World War II miniseries produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, was the top nominee and captured a leading seven creative arts awards, which recognize technical and other achievements.

Ratings for the awards have increased importance: The TV academy's contract is up for renewal with the four major networks that had been airing the show in rotation for eight years, and the academy hopes last year's 8 percent audience increase is a trend after an all-time low in 2008.

Watch CBS 2 News at 11 p.m. or visit cbs2.com for a complete wrap-up of the show!
(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.