NORTH HOLLYWOOD — After a one-year absence from contention, HBO’s “Game of Thrones” returned with a vengeance to the Emmy scene Thursday, scoring a leading 22 nominations for the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards, including a nod for best drama series.
Last year’s drama winner, Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” was nominated again for the prize, along with Netflix’s “The Crown” and “Stranger Things”; NBC’s “This is Us”; HBO’s “Westworld”; and FX’s “The Americans.”
“Game of Thrones” won for outstanding drama series in 2015 and 2016 but wasn’t eligible for the 2017 award because its only new episodes airing during the eligibility period were part of the body of work considered for its 2016 victory.
This image released by Hulu shows Elisabeth Moss, left, and Ann Dowd in a scene from “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (George Kraychyk/Hulu via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Ellie Kemper in a scene from “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Eric Liebowitz/Netflix via AP)
Lakeith Stanfield, left, and Donald Glover are seen in the comedy series “Atlanta.” Glover was nominated Thursday, July 12, 2018, for an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Guy D’Alema/FX via AP)
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This image released by HBO shows Kumail Nanjiani, from left, Martin Starr, Jimmy O. Yang and Thomas Middleditch in a scene from “Silicon Valley.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows a scene from “Game of Thrones.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Bill Hader in a scene from “Barry.” Hader was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Bill Hader in a scene from “Barry.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Larry David in a scene from “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Larry David, center, in a scene from “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” David was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (HBO via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Matt Smith, right, and Claire Foy in a scene from “The Crown.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Robert Viglasky/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows, from left, Sadie Sink, Charlie Heaton, Finn Wolfhard, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery and David Harbour in a scene from “Stranger Things 2.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Alison Brie in a scene from “GLOW.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Beth Dubber/Netflix via AP)
This image released by NBC shows Ted Danson in a scene from “The Good Place.” Danson was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Colleen Hayes/NBC via AP)
This image released by NBC shows Mandy Moore, left, and Milo Ventimiglia in a scene from “This Is Us.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Ron Batzdorff/NBC via AP)
This image released by NBC shows Sterling K. Brown in a scene from “This Is Us.” Brown was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Ron Batzdorff/NBC via AP)
This image released by ABS shows Roseanne Barr, left, and John Goodman in a scene from the comedy series “Roseanne.” ABC’s “Roseanne” revival is in the running for Emmy nominations Thursday, but will TV academy voters overlook its star’s racist tweet that brought the sitcom to an abrupt end? (Adam Rose/ABC via AP)
This image released by Showtime shows William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher in a scene from the series “Shameless.” Macy was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Paul Sarkis/Showtime via AP)
This image released by ABC shows, standing from left, Tracee Ellis Ross, Anthony Anderson, Miles Brown, Marcus Scribner and Cedric the Entertainer in a scene from “black-ish.” The program was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday for outstanding comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Ron Tom/ABC via AP)
This image released by ABC shows Anthony Anderson in a scene from “black-ish.” Anderson was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Eric McCandless/ABC via AP)
An Emmy statue appears on stage behind the podium at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
An Emmy statue appears on stage at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Hayma Washington, Television Academy chairman and CEO, center, announces Samira Wiley’s nomination for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for “The Handmaid’s Tale” as Ryan Eggold, left, look on at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ryan Eggold, left, and Samira Wiley speak at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ryan Eggold, left, and Samira Wiley announce the nominees for lead actor in a limited series or movie at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ryan Eggold, left, and Samira Wiley announce the nominees for lead actor in a comedy series at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ryan Eggold, left, and Samira Wiley announce the nominees for lead actress in a comedy series at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ryan Eggold, left, and Samira Wiley announce the nominees for lead actor in a drama series at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ryan Eggold, left, and Samira Wiley announce the nominees for lead actress in a drama series at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ryan Eggold, left, and Samira Wiley announce the nominees for outstanding reality-competition program at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ryan Eggold, left, and Samira Wiley announce the nominees for outstanding variety sketch series at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
“This Is Us” last year became the first nominee in the category from the four major broadcast networks since CBS’ “The Good Wife” in 2011. “The Good Wife” is the most recent series from a major broadcast network to receive back-to-back nominations in the category.
A series from the major broadcast networks has not won for outstanding drama series since Fox’s “24” in 2006.
“Westworld,” HBO’s sci-fi drama about a Western theme park populated by self-aware robots, earned 21 nominations Thursday, as did NBC’s long-running sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live.”
HBO’s comedy series “Veep,” which has won the Emmy for outstanding comedy series the past three years, was not eligible for a nomination this year. The show delayed production of its final season until 2019 while its star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, underwent treatment for breast cancer.
Nominated for outstanding comedy series were FX’s “Atlanta”; HBO’s “Barry,” “Silicon Valley” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”; ABC’s “Black-ish”; Netflix’s “GLOW” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”; and Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Notably absent from the list was ABC’s “Modern Family,” which failed to land a nomination for the first time in its nine seasons. The show won in the category five straight years, tying the record set by NBC’s “Frasier” from 1994-98.
“Saturday Night Live” was nominated for outstanding variety sketch series, along with “At Home with Amy Sedaris,” “Drunk History,” “I Love You America with Sarah Silverman,” “Portlandia” and “Tracey Ullman’s Show.”
Netflix led all platforms with 112 Emmy nominations, followed by HBO with 108 and NBC with 78.
Sterling K. Brown, who won the Emmy for lead actor in a drama series last year for “This is Us,” will look to repeat his win. He was nominated along with Jason Bateman of Netflix’s “Ozark”; Ed Harris and Jeffrey Wright of “Westworld”; Matthew Rhys of “The Americans”; and Milo Ventimiglia of “This is Us.”
Bateman also earned a nod for directing an episode of “Ozark,” while Brown was also nominated for a guest appearance he made on the Fox comedy “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
Samira Wiley, presenter and nominee for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for “The Handmaid’s Tale,” checks messages on her phone following the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
This image released by HBO shows Ed Harris in a scene from “Westworld.” Harris was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Evan Rachel Wood in a scene from “Westworld.” Wood was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (HBO via AP)
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This image released by Netflix shows Jane Fonda, left, and Lily Tomlin in a scene from “Grace And Frankie.” Tomlin was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Melissa Moseley/Netflix via AP)
This image released by FX shows Pamela Adlon in a scene from “Better Things.” Adlon was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (Liane Hentscher/FX via AP)
Ryan Eggold, from left, Hayma Washington, Television Academy chairman and CEO, and Samira Wiley announce the nominees for outstanding comedy series at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Samira Wiley poses on stage following the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Samira Wiley, left, and Ryan Eggold pose on stage following the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ryan Eggold, left, congratulates Samira Wiley on her nomination for outstanding guest actress in a drama series for “The Handmaid’s Tale” at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Hayma Washington, Television Academy chairman and CEO, speaks at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Hayma Washington, Television Academy chairman and CEO, speaks at the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Media, staff and guests appear in the audience following the 70th Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Thursday, July 12, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
This image released by HBO shows Henry Winkler in a scene from “Barry.” Winkler was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (HBO via AP)
This image released by Hulu shows Alexis Bledel in a scene from “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Bledel was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (George Kraychyk/Hulu via AP)
This image released by NBC shows, John Legend as Jesus Christ, and Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene from the NBC production, “Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert.” The musical was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding variety special. (Virginia Sherwood/NBC via AP)
This image released by CBS shows Bruno Mars during a taping of his first primetime television special, “Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo.” Mars, an 11-time Grammy winner, earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding music direction on Thirsday for his first TV special. (Florent Déchard/CBS via AP)
This image released by BBC America shows Sandra Oh in a scene from “Killing Eve.” Oh was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (BBC America via AP)
This image released by BBC America shows Sandra Oh in a scene from “Killing Eve.” Oh was nominated Thursday for an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. The 70th Emmy Awards will be held on Monday, Sept. 17. (BBC America via AP)
Elisabeth Moss of “The Handmaid’s Tale” will also be looking for a repeat victory. She will square off against Tatiana Maslany of BBC America’s “Orphan Black”; Claire Foy of Netflix’s “The Crown”; Sandra Oh of BBC America’s “Killing Eve”; Keri Russell of “The Americans”; and Evan Rachel Wood of “Westworld.”
With Louis-Dreyfus out of the running this year for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, a new winner will be crowned in the category. Allison Janney, who recent won an Oscar for her supporting role in “I, Tonya,” leads the list of nominees for her work in CBS’ “Mom.” Also battling for the prize will be Pamela Adlon of FX’s “Better Things,” Rachel Brosnahan of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Issa Rae of HBO’s “Insecure,” Tracee Ellis Ross of “Black-ish” and Lily Tomlin of Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie.”
Donald Glover will look to earn his second straight Emmy for his lead role in the comedy “Atlanta.” Also nominated were Anthony Anderson of “Black-ish,” Ted Danson of NBC’s “The Good Place,” Larry David of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Bill Hader of “Barry” and William H. Macy of Showtime’s “Shameless.”
Glover was a multiple nominee Thursday, also scoring nods for directing and writing for “Atlanta” and for his guest appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” Hader was also nominated for his guest work on “SNL,” and also earned nods for writing and directing on “Barry.”
Nominations for outstanding limited series went to TNT’s “The Alienist,” FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” National Geographic’s “Genius: Picasso,” Netflix’s “Godless” and Showtime’s “Patrick Melrose.”
HBO earned three nods in the television movie category, for “Fahrenheit 451,” “Paterno” and “The Tale.” Also nominated were Lifetime’s “Flint” and Netflix’s “USS Callister (Black Mirror).”
Four-time Emmy winner Edie Falco was nominated for best actress in a limited series or TV movie for her work in NBC’s “Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.” Also nominated were Jessical Biel for USA’s “The Sinner,” Laura Dern for HBO’s “The Tale,” Michelle Dockery for Netflix’s “Godless,” Regina King for Netflix’s “Seven Seconds” and Sarah Paulson for “American Horror Story: Cult.”
For lead actor in a limited series or TV movie, nominations went to Antonio Banderas for “Genius: Picasso,” Darren Criss for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” Benedict Cumberbatch for “Patrick Melrose,” Jeff Daniels for Hulu’s “The Looming Tower,” John Legend for NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” and Jesse Plemons for “USS Callister (Black Mirror).”
CBS’ “The Amazing Race” was again among the nominees for outstanding reality-competition program. It had been nominated each of the preceding 16 years the category has been in existence. It won each of the first seven years, and again in 2011, 2012 and 2014.
Last year’s winner, NBC’s “The Voice,” was also nominated, along with NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior”; Lifetime’s “Project Runway”; VH1’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race”; and Bravo’s “Top Chef.”
The biggest rule changes this year are the restructuring of the outstanding variety special and special class categories and the expansion of several existing Emmy categories into two new and distinct categories, including those involving costuming, nonfiction programming and sound editing.
The confusion of defining special class prompted the Television Academy to have separate categories for outstanding live variety special and outstanding pre-recorded variety special.
Samira Wiley from “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Ryan Eggold, who stars in the new NBC medical drama “New Amsterdam,” joined Television Academy Chairman and CEO Hayma Washington and President and COO Maury McIntyre in announcing the nominees in the top categories at the Television Academy’s North Hollywood headquarters.
The 70th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which honor programming initially airing between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. from June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018, will be presented Sept. 17 at the Microsoft Theater.
Colin Jost and Michael Che, anchors of the “Weekend Update” segment on “Saturday Night Live” and co-head writers of NBC’s late-night sketch comedy series, will be the hosts.
The NBC Emmys telecast will be executive produced by “Saturday Night Live” creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels and include what the network is describing as “special appearances from additional ‘Saturday Night Live’ cast members.”
The bulk of the awards from the Primetime Emmys’ 122 categories will be presented at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards Sept. 8-9, also at the Microsoft Theater.
