Game of Thrones, The Americans, and The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story are among the top nominees for the 2016 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).
OUTSTANDING DRAMA
The Americans
Better Call Saul
Downton Abbey
Game Of Thrones
Homeland
House Of Cards
Mr. Robot
LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA
Kyle Chandler, Bloodlines
Rami Malek, Mr Robot
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Matthew Rhys, The Americans
Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA
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
SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA
Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline
Peter Dinklage, Game Of Thrones
Kit Harrington, Game Of Thrones
Michael Kelly, House Of Cards
Jon Voight, Ray Donovan
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones
Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
Maura Tierney, The Affair
GUEST ACTOR, DRAMA
Max von Sydow, Game of Thrones
Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife
Reg e. Cathey, House Of Cards
Mahershala Ali, House Of Cards
Hank Azaria, Ray Donovan
GUEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Margo Martindale, The Americans
Carrie Preston, The Good Wife
Laurie Metcalf, Horace And Pete
ellyn Burstyn, House of Cards
Molly Parker, House Of Cards
Allison Janney, Masters Of Sex
WRITING, DRAMA
The Americans
Downton Abbey
Game Of Thrones
The Good Wife
Mr. Robot
UnReal
DIRECTING, DRAMA
Downton Abbey
Game Of Thrones
Homeland
The Knick
Ray Donovan
OUTSTANDING COMEDY
Blackish
Master Of None
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt
Veep
LEAD ACTOR, COMEDY
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Aziz Ansari, Masters of None
Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth
William H Macy, Shameless
Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
LEAD ACTRESS, COMEDY
Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Laurie Metcalfe, Getting On
Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie
SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY
Louie Anderson, Baskets
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Keegan-Michael Key
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Tony Hale, Veep
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY
Niecy Nash, Getting On
Kate McKinnon, SNL
Gaby Hoffmann, Transparent
Allison Janney, Mom
Judith Light, Transparent
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
GUEST ACTOR, COMEDY
Bob Newhart, The Big Bang Theory
Tracy Morgan, SNL
Larry David, SNL
Badley Whitford, Transparent
Martin Mull, Veep
Peter MacNichol, Veep
GUEST ACTRESS, COMEDY
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live
Melissa McCarthy, Saturday Night Live
Amy Schumer, Saturday Night Live
Christine Baranski, The Big Bang Theory
Laurie Metcalf, The Big Bang Theory
Melora Hardin, Transparent
WRITING, COMEDY
Catastrophe
Master Of None
Silicon Valley
Veep
DIRECTOR, COMEDY
Master Of None
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Veep
OUTSTANDING MOVIE OR SPECIAL
A Very Murray Christmas
All the Way
Confirmation
Luther
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
OUTSTANDING LIMITED SERIES
American Crime
Fargo
The Night Manager
The People v. OJ Simpson
Roots
LEAD ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
Kristen Dunst, Fargo
Felicity Huffman, American Crime
Audra McDonald, Billie Holiday: 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
LEAD ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
Bryan Cranston, All The Way
Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: The Abominable Bride
Ibris Alba, Luther
Cuba Gooding Jr, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
Courtney B. Vance, The People V OJ Simpson
SUPPORTING ACTOR, LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
Jesse Plemmons, Fargo
Bokeem Woodbine, Fargo
Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
David Schwimmer, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
John Travolta, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
Niecy Nash, Getting On
Allison Janney, Mom
Kate McKinnon, SNL
Judith Light, Transparent
Gabby Hoffmann, Transparent
Anna Chlumsky, Veep
WRITING, LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
Fargo
The Night Manager
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
DIRECTING, LIMITED SERIES, MOVIE OR SPECIAL
All The Way
Fargo
The Night Manager
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
OUTSTANDING VARIETY SKETCH SERIES
Documentary Now!
Drunk History
Inside Amy Schumer
Key & Peele
Portlandia
SNL
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 With Jimmy Fallon
WRITING, VARIETY SERIES
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
Inside Amy Schumer
Key & Peele
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Portlandia
SNL
DIRECTING, VARIETY SERIES
Inside Amy Schumer
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
The Late Late Show With James Corden
SNL
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
REALITY COMPETITION
The Amazing Race
American Ninja Warrior
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef
The Voice
