Byron Cohen/FX/Helen Sloan/HBOAaron Paul and 2013 Emmy Awards host Neil Patrick Harris (filling in for Kate Mara) woke up bright and early to announce this year's prime time nominees.
American Horror Story led the way with 17 nods, followed by Games of Thrones with 16. Behind The Candelabra, the TV movie starring Matt Damon and Michael Douglas, and NBC's Saturday Night Live both scored 15 nods. Both Damon and Douglas were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor. For SNL, Bill Hader is up for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, while both Louis C.K. and Justin Timberlake got nods for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy.
Breaking Bad raked in 10 nominations, including one in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category for Aaron Paul. Jonathan Banks is up against his costar in that category, while Bryan Cranston got a nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama. Anna Gun got a nod for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama, and the show is up against Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Homeland, House of Cards and Mad Men for Outstanding Drama.
As it has in past years, Homeland fared pretty well on nomination day. Damian Lewis is up for Outstanding Actor in a Drama, Claire Danes is up for Outstanding Lead Actress and Mandy Patinkin is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama. In 2012, both Danes and Lewis won the Emmy in their respective categories.
30 Rock finished out its seventh and final season with a bang, garnering a total of 13 nods. Tina Fey is up for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (her BFF Amy Poehler is nominated in the same category for her role on Parks and Recreation), and Alec Baldwin is up for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The dad-to-be has ben nominated for all seven seasons of the show for his role as NBC executive Jack Donaghy, and won in 2008 and 2009.
This year was the first time ever that Emmy nominations in the series and performer categories delivered to viewers online with House of Cards' Outstanding Drama Series nod and performer nominations for the Netflix-helmed series as well as Arrested Development.
Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss and Christina Hendricks all scored nominations for their Mad Men roles. Robert Morse, Harry Hamlin and Linda Cardellini are also nominated for their guest roles on the show.
There were definitely some snubs and surprises, but we're already placing our bets on the winners! The Primetime Emmy Awards air Sept. 22, 2013, on CBS.