2009 Emmy Awards Nominees

Broadcast and cable television networks waited all year patiently, and the time finally came Thursday morning for the 2009 Emmy Award nominations.

And that wasn’t the only news. A recent changed rule by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences increased the number of nominees in bigger categories so that new faces and series could also share the spotlight with Emmy veterans.

“30 Rock” managed to get 22 nominations that included nominations for Tina Fey and Alex Baldwin. “Mad Men” received 16 nominations that included nods for Jon Hamm and Elsabeth Moss.

Comedy categories were picked up by Sarah Silverman, who was nominated for lead actress in a comedy series along with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tina Fey. “Flight of Conchords” received nominations for outstanding comedy series while “Family Guy” received a nomination for outstanding comedy-which is usually for live action shows.

The Emmys will be handed out in Los Angeles on Sept. 20. Neil Patrick Harris will host the program.

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Family Guy

30 Rock

Weeds

How I Met Your Mother

The Office

Flight of the Conchords

Entourage

Outstanding Drama Series

• Mad Men

Breaking Bad

Lost

Damages

Dexter

Big Love

House

Lead Actor in a Drama

• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Hugh Laurie, House

Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment

Michael C. Hall, Dexter

Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Simon Baker, The Mentalist

Lead Actress in a Drama

• Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Glenn Close, Damages

Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters

Mariska Hargitay, Law and Order: SVU

Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Holly Hunter, Saving Grace

Lead Actor in a Comedy

• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Steve Carell, The Office

Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

Tony Shalhoub, Monk

Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords

Lead Actress in a Comedy

• Toni Collette, United States of Tara

Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine

Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program

Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?

Best Reality Competition

• The Amazing Race

American Idol

Dancing With the Stars

Project Runway

Top Chef

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series

• The Colbert Report

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Late Show With David Letterman

Real Time With Bill Maher

Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• William Shatner, Boston Legal

Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal

Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad

William Hurt, Damages

Michael Emerson, Lost

John Slattery, Mad Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Rose Byrne, Damages

Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy

Chandra Wilson, Grey’s Anatomy

Dianne Wiest, In Treatment

Hope Davis, In Treatment

Cherry Jones, 24

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Kevin Dillon, Entourage

Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother

Rainn Wilson, The Office

Tracy Morgan, 30 Rock

Jack McBrayer, 30 Rock

Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies

Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live

Kristin Wiig, Saturday Night Live

Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock

Vanessa William, Ugly Betty

Elizabeth Perkins, Weeds

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