Mad Men, Damages Make History With Emmy Nods

Best-series noms are first for basic cable
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 17, 2008 9:11 AM CDT
Mad Men, Damages Make History With Emmy Nods
Alec Baldwin as Jack in a scene from "30 Rock." "30 Rock," honored as best comedy series last year, was the top Emmy nominee among sitcoms with 17 bids announced Thursday, July 17, 2008.    (AP Photo/NBC Universal, Nicole Rivelli)

Mad Men, AMC's sleek 1950s advertising drama, and FX's legal thriller Damages made Emmy nominations history today as the first basic cable programs to gain best-series nods. HBO's John Adams, meanwhile,  was the overall frontrunner with 23 bids, including a lead-actor nomination for Paul Giamatti's turn as Adams.

HBO's critical darling The Wire lost its last shot at ending years of Emmy snubs after wrapping its final season, but other cable series made a serious dent in several top categories as broadcast networks watched their share of Emmy nominations glory erode. Network favorites like Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives failed to make a showing, though Lost rebounded on a well-received season, earning a best-drama nod. (More Emmy Awards stories.)

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