'30 Rock' Leads Emmy Nominations With 22; Animated 'Family Guy' Gets Rare Comedy Series Bid

Updated 11:00 AM EDT, Thu, Jul 16, 2009

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Tina Fey's satire-rich sitcom, "30 Rock," received a leading 22 Emmy Award nominations Thursday, while the '60s retro series, "Mad Men," led the drama pack with 16 bids.

The shows were honored last year as best comedy and drama and have a chance to repeat the performance at September's awards.

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The TV movies "Grey Gardens," with 17 nominations, and "Into the Storm," with 14 nods, were among the front-runners. Chandra Wilson of "Grey Anatomy's" and Jim Parsons of "The Big Bang Theory" helped make the announcement at the TV academy's theater — and both proved to be among the lucky.

"No! … This is some sort of trick fest," said Parsons, when his nomination for lead actor in a comedy series for the CBS show was announced.

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"I'm going to the party" was Wilson's response to her bid for outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or movie for "Accidental Friendship." She was also nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series for "Grey's Anatomy."

The number of contenders in series and acting categories were expanded this year, which may have allowed room for some unexpected bids, including a rare best-comedy series nomination for an animated series, "Family Guy."

The series fields are especially crowded, with seven contenders in both drama and comedy categories. Joining "Mad Men" are fellow cable dramas "Big Love," "Breaking Bad," "Damages" and "Dexter." Two network dramas, "House" and "Lost," also made the cut.

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Among comedy series, the nominees besides "30 Rock" and "Family Guy" include network series "How I Met Your Mother" and "The Office." Cable contenders include "Entourage," "Flight of the Conchords" and "Weeds."

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