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It was a historic Emmy morning as basic cable shows Mad Men (AMC) and Damages (FX) snagged nominations for best show. These sharply-focused shows are the first on basic cable to receive best show nominations. It was a pleasant surprise for many, and opens the door for basic cable networks to develop better dramas for viewers instead of the drivel that floods the airwaves.

John Adams snagged 23 nominations, NBC’s 30 Rock - last year’s top comedy - received 17 nods and Mad Men 16 nominations. ABC’s Pushing Daisies received 12 nominations, including a best actress nod to Kristin Chenoweth, who announced the awards with How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris. Harris also received an Emmy nominations for playing ladies man Barney on the CBS comedy.

And the Emmy goes to...

COMEDY SERIES
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two And A Half Men
Ugly Betty

DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Grey’s Anatomy
Heroes
House
The Sopranos

REALITY COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing With The Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Ricky Gervais Extras
Tony Shalhoub Monk
Steve Carell The Office
Alec Baldwin 30 Rock
Charlie Sheen Two And A Half Men

ACTOR IN A DRAMA
James Spader Boston Legal
Hugh Laurie House
Denis Leary Rescue Me
James Gandolfini The Sopranos
Kiefer Sutherland 24

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Felicity Huffman Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis-Dreyfus The New Adventures Of Old Christine
Tina Fey 30 Rock
America Ferrera Ugly Betty
Mary-Louise Parker Weeds

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Sally Field Brothers & Sisters
Kyra Sedgwick The Closer
Mariska Hargitay Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Patricia Arquette Medium
Minnie Driver The Riches
Edie Falco The Sopranos

Find out more at http://www.emmys.tv/.