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CBS Leads Networks With 60 Primetime Emmy Nominations

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — CBS leads all major broadcast networks with 60 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, while HBO has received 81 nods.

Nominations for the 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced Thursday by Kerry Washington of "Scandal" and by Jimmy Kimmel, who will host the awards. Kimmel filled in Thursday for Nick Offerman of "Parks and Recreation," who was held up by weather-related travel delays on the East Coast.

"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.

64th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations

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.

"Modern Family," honored as best comedy series for the past 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.

Emmy darling Julia Louis-Dreyfus, with past wins for "Seinfeld" and "New Adventures of Old Christine," earned an acting nod for "Veep," which received a best comedy nomination.

Betty White, 90, brought her brand of female empowerment to the nominations, earning a best reality series host nod for "Betty White's Off Their Rockers." A no-show in the category was perennial winner Jeff Probst of "Survivor."

The 64th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place Sept. 23 at the Nokia Theatre.

Best Comedy Series

The Big Bang Theory
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Girls
Modern Family
30 Rock
Veep

» Pick-A-Side: Who Should Win The Emmy For Best Comedy Series?

Best Drama Series

Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
Mad Men

» Pick-A-Side: Who Should Win The Emmy For Best Dramatic Series?

Best Actress In A Television Drama Series

Glenn Close, "Damages"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law"
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men."

» Pick-A-Side: Who Should Win The Emmy For Best Dramatic Actress?

Best Actor In A Television Drama Series

Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"

» Pick-A-Side: Who Should Win The Emmy For Best Dramatic Actor?

For a complete list of the nominations, click here.

» PHOTOS: 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Award Nominations

(TM and © Copyright 2012 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.)
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