Cable TV's 'Mad Men,' 'Damages' gain Emmy bids - Yahoo! India News

Cable TV's 'Mad Men,' 'Damages' gain Emmy bids - Yahoo! India News

Cable TV's 'Mad Men,' 'Damages' gain Emmy bids
Cast member Jon Hamm (R) smiles next to co-stars January Jones (C) and Elisabeth Moss... Enlarge Photo Cast member Jon Hamm (R) smiles next to co-stars January Jones (C) and Elisabeth Moss... Slideshow: Day in pics: July 9 2008

Thu, Jul 17 07:43 PM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Two new cable TV shows, "Mad Men" and "Damages," claimed Emmy nominations for best drama series on Thursday, marking a turning point in the 60-year-old contest for U.S. television's highest honors.

"Mad Men," the AMC network's 1960s period piece set in the world of advertising, and "Damages," the freshman legal hour on FX starring Glenn Close, are the first two shows airing exclusively on a cable network other than HBO nominated for best drama series.

They will be competing against the serial killer drama "Dexter," from Showtime and CBS, as well as the Fox medical drama "House" and ABC's castaway thriller "Lost."

But NBC's show-within-a-show "30 Rock" was the most recognized series overall with 17 nominations, including a nod for best comedy. "Mad Men" was close behind with 16 total nominations.

"30 Rock," a spoof of network television, will compete in the comedy race against fellow NBC workplace sitcom "The Office," the bawdy CBS comedy "Two and a Half Men" and a pair of HBO series, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Entourage."

While "30 Rock" was the most nominated series, HBO's mini-series "John Adams," about the second U.S. president, claimed the most nominations of any single program -- 23.

Other contenders in that category include the PBS "Masterpiece Theatre" presentation of "Cranford," A&E's production of the science-fiction thriller "The Andromeda Strain" and Sci Fi Channel's "Tin Man."

The 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on Sept. 21 from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on ABC.