Game of Thrones, The Americans, and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story are among the top nominees for the 2016 Primetime Emmy Awards.
Hit fantasy drama Game of Thrones will be the ones to beat with a total of 23 nods, just ahead of the TV adaptation of the O.J. Simpson murder trial, which is up for 22 awards.
The coveted Outstanding Drama Series prize will a fight between last year’s (15) winner Game of Thrones, The Americans, Homeland, House of Cards, Mr. Robot, Better Call Saul, and Downton Abbey, while Veep will be looking to defend its title as Outstanding Comedy Series, facing off with the likes of Modern Family, Transparent, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and black-ish.
Lead acting nods for drama went to new parents Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell for The Americans, Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright for House of Cards, Taraji P. Henson for Empire, and Rami Malek for Mr. Robot, while nominees in the comedy category include black-ish stars Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, Jeffrey Tambor for Transparent, Ellie Kemper for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Veep’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Game of Thrones stars Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, and Maisie Williams all scored recognition for the supporting actor/actress awards.
Meanwhile, Cuba Gooding, Jr. is up for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or A Movie for his portrayal of troubled sportsman O.J. Simpson in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, as is his co-star, Courtney B. Vance, who portrayed attorney Johnnie Cochran. Co-star Sarah Paulson, who played prosecutor Marcia Clark, is also nominated in the female equivalent of the category.
The shortlist, which celebrates the best in TV, was announced by actors Anthony Anderson and Lauren Graham, and Bruce Rosenblum, chairman and CEO of the Television Academy, from the Wolf Theatre in Los Angeles.
The 68th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on 18 September (16).
The nominees for the main categories are:
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Kyle Chandler, Bloodline
Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Claire Danes, Homeland
Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder
Taraji P. Henson, Empire
Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black
Keri Russell, The Americans
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones
Michael Kelly, House of Cards
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Dame Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
Maura Tierney, The Affair
Constance Zimmer, UnREAL
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series:
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Aziz Ansari, Master Of None
Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
William H. Macy, Shameless
Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series:
Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Laurie Metcalf, Getting On
Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Tony Hale, Veep
Matt Walsh, Veep
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Louis Anderson, Baskets
Keegan-Michael Key, Key and Peele
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
Allison Janney, Mom
Niecy Nash, Getting On
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Judith Light, Transparent
Gaby Hoffman, Transparent
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or A Movie:
Bryan Cranston, All The Way
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Idris Elba, Luther
Cuba Gooding, Jr., The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
Courtney B. Vance, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or A Movie:
Kirsten Dunst, Fargo
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill
Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Lili Taylor, American Crime
Kerry Washington, Confirmation
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program:
The Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef
The Voice
Outstanding Variety Talk Series:
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Real Time with Bill Maher
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Outstanding Limited Series:
American Crime
Fargo
The Night Manager
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Roots
Outstanding Television Movie:
A Very Murray Christmas
All The Way
Confirmation
Luther
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Outstanding Comedy Series:
black-ish
Master of None
Modern Family
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Veep
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Outstanding Drama Series:
The Americans
Better Call Saul
Downton Abbey
Game of Thrones
Homeland
House of Cards
Mr. Robot.
