LOS ANGELES — HBO’s “Game of Thrones” slashed its way to a record-setting 32 Emmy nominations Tuesday for its eighth and final season, leading HBO back to dominance over Netflix, the streaming service that bumped it last year from atop the increasingly crowded television heap.
The bloodthirsty saga’s total eclipsed the all-time series record of 27 nods earned by “NYPD Blue” in 1994.
If “Game of Thrones” successfully defends it best drama series title and claims a fourth trophy, it will join the quartet of most-honored dramas that includes “Hill Street Blues,” ”L.A. Law,” ”The West Wing” and “Mad Men.”
This photo provided by CBS shows Melissa Rauch, from left, Simon Helberg, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons, Mayim Bialik and Kunal Nayyar in a scene from the series finale of “The Big Bang Theory.” “Game of Thrones,” “Veep” and “The Big Bang Theory,” three major series that wrapped last season, will find out with Tuesday’s nominations if they have one more chance at Emmy gold. (Michael Yarish/CBS via AP)
This image released by Amazon shows Rachel Brosnahan as Midge Maisel in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series. (Nicole Rivelli/Amazon via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a scene from “Veep.” “Game of Thrones,” “Veep” and “The Big Bang Theory,” three major series that wrapped last season, will find out with Tuesday’s nominations if they have one more chance at Emmy gold. (Colleen Hayes/HBO via AP)
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This image released by HBO shows Kristofer Hivju, from left, Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke in a scene from “Game of Thrones.” “Game of Thrones,” “Veep” and “The Big Bang Theory,” three major series that wrapped last season, will find out with Tuesday’s nominations if they have one more chance at Emmy gold. (Helen Sloan/HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Emilia Clarke in a scene from the final episode of “Game of Thrones.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Clarke was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by BBC America shows Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri in “Killing Eve.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding drama series. (Gareth Gatrell/BBCAmerica via AP)
This image released by BBC America shows Sandra Oh in a scene from “Killing Eve:” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Oh was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. (Nick Wall/BBCAmerica via AP)
This image released by BBC America shows Jodie Comer in a scene from “Killing Eve.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Comer was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. (Gareth Gatrell/BBCAmerica via AP)
This image released by AMC shows Bob Odenkirk, foreground, in a scene from “Better Call Saul.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding drama series. (Nicole Wilder/AMC via AP)
This image released by FX shows Billy Porter in a scene from “Pose.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding drama series. (JoJo Whilden/FX via AP)
This image released by FX shows Sam Rockwell, left, and Lin-Manuel Miranda in a scene from “Fosse Verdon.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding limited series. (Michael Parmelee/FX via AP)
This image released by NBC shows Mandy Moore in a scene from “This Is Us.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Moore was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. (Ron Batzdorff/NBC via AP)
This image released by NBC shows Sterling K. Brown in a scene from “This Is Us.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Brown was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding actor in a drama series. (Ron Batzdorff/NBC via AP)
In this image released by ABC, Viola Davis appears in a scene from “How To Get Away With Murder.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Daviswas nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. (Mitchell Haaseth/ABC via AP)
CORRECTS EMMY CATEGORY FROM BEST ACTOR TO DRAMA SERIES – This image released by Netflix shows Richard Madden in a scene from “Bodyguard.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding drama series. (Sophie Mutevelian/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Richard Madden, left, and Keeley Hawes in a scene from “Bodyguard.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding drama series. (Sophie Mutevelian/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Laura Linney in a scene from “Ozark.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Linney was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. (Jessica Miglio/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Robin Wright in a scene from “House Of Cards.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Wright was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. (David Giesbrecht/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Jason Bateman in a scene from “Ozark.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding drama series. (Jessica Miglio/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Natasha Lyonne in a scene from “Russian Doll.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series. (Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Asante Blackk as young Kevin Richardson in a scene from “When They See Us.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding limited series. (Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Showtime shows Paul Dano, left, and Benicio Del Toro in “Escape at Dannemora.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding limited series. (Wilson Webb/Showtime via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Jared Harris, standing, in a scene from “Chernobyl.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding limited series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Brian Cox in a scene from “Succession.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding drama series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Bill Hader in a scene from “Barry.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a scene from “Veep.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Timothy Olyphant, left, and Ian McShane in a scene from “Deadwood: The Movie.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding TV movie. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Amy Adams in a scene from “Sharp Objects.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding limited series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Peter Dinklage, left, and Jamie Dornan in a scene from “My Dinner with Herve.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding TV movie. (Steffan Hill/HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Benedict Cumberbatch in a scene from “Brexit: The Uncivil War.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding TV movie. (HBO via AP)
This image released by Amazon shows Phoebe Waller-Bridge in a scene from “Fleabag.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series. (Amazon via AP)
This image released by Amazon shows Anthony Hopkins in a scene from “King Lear.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding TV Movie. (Ed Miller/Amazon via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Emilia Clarke, left, and Kit Harington in a scene from the final episode of “Game of Thrones.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding drama series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by NBC shows Milo Ventimiglia, left, and Mandy Moore in a scene from “This Is Us.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding drama series. (Ron Batzdorff/NBC via AP)
This image released by NBC shows Milo Ventimiglia in a scene from “This Is Us.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Ventimiglia was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding actor in a drama series. (Ron Batzdorff/NBC via AP)
This image released by ABC shows Tracee Ellis Ross, left, and Anthony Anderson in a scene from “black-ish.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Anderson was nominated for an Emmy for lead actor in a comedy series. (Kelsey McNeal/ABC via AP)
This image released by NBC shows Ted Danson in a scene from “The Good Place. On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Danson was nominated for an Emmy for lead actor in a comedy series. (Colleen Hayes/NBC via AP)
This image released by NBC shows Kristen Bell, left, and Ted Danson in a scene from “The Good Place.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the program was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series. (Colleen Hayes/NBC via AP)
Emmy statuettes appear on stage prior to the start of the 71st Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Ken Jeong, left, and D’Arcy Carden speak at the 71st Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Ken Jeong, left, and D’Arcy Carden speak at the 71st Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Ken Jeong, left, and D’Arcy Carden announce the nominees for lead actress in a comedy series at the 71st Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Ken Jeong, left, and D’Arcy Carden announce the nominees for lead actress in a drama series at the 71st Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Ken Jeong, left, and D’Arcy Carden announce the nominees for lead actor in a drama series at the 71st Primetime Emmy Nominations Announcements at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
This image released by HBO shows Maisie Williams in a scene from “Game of Thrones.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Williams was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. (Helen Sloan/HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Peter Dinklage in a scene from “Game of Thrones.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Dinklage was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by AMC shows Jonathan Banks in a scene from “Better Call Saul.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Banks was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. (Nicole Wilder/AMC/Sony Pictures Television via AP)
This image released by AMC shows Giancarlo Esposito in a scene from “Better Call Saul.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Esposito was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. (Nicole Wilder/AMC/Sony Pictures Television via AP)
This image released by FX shows Michelle Williams as Gwen Verdon in a scene from “Fosse/Verdon.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Williams was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress limited series. (Eric Liebowitz/FX via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Julia Garner in a scene from “Ozark.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Garner was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. (Jessica Miglio/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Michael Kelly in a scene from “House Of Cards.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Kelly was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. (David Giesbrecht/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Ethan Herisse as Young Yusef Salaam, and Aunjanue Ellis as Sharonne Salaam in a scene from “When They See Us.”On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Ellis was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress limited series. (Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix via AP)
This image released by showtime shows Patricia Arquette in “Escape at Dannemora.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Arquette was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress limited series. (Christopher Saunders/Showtime via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Jared Harris in a scene from “Chernobyl.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Harris was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Mahershala Ali in a scene from “True Detective.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Ali was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie. (HBO via AP)
This image released by Amazon shows Hugh Grant in a scene from “A Very English Scandal.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Grant was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie. (Sophie Mutevelian/Amazon via AP)
This image released by Hulu shows Joey King in a scene from “The Act.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, King was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress limited series. (Brownie Harris/Hulu via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Sophie Turner in a scene from the final episode of “Game of Thrones.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Turner was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Lena Headey in a scene from “Game of Thrones. On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Heady was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in a scene from “Game of Thrones.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Coster-Waldau was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Beyonce in a scene from her documentary “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé.” Beyoncé,” earned four Emmy nominations Tuesday, including bids for producing, writing, co-directing and musical direction. (Parkwood Entertainment/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Niecy Nash in a scene from “When They See Us.”On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Nash was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress limited series. (Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix via AP)
This image released by Netflix shows Jharrel Jerome in a scene from “When They See Us.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Jerome was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie. (Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix via AP)
This image released by FX shows Sam Rockwell as Bob Fosse in a scene from “Fosse/Verdon.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Ali was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie. (Michael Parmelee/FX via AP)
CORRECTS CATEGORY TO DRAMA SERIES – This image released by HBO shows Gwendoline Christie in a scene from “Game of Thrones. On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Christie was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. (HBO via AP)
This image released by HBO shows Alfie Allen in a scene from “Game of Thrones.” On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, Allen was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series. (HBO via AP)
The Emmy voters’ acclaim stands in sharp contrast to fan reaction to the show’s last hurrah, which included howls of laughter for a to-go coffee cup inadvertently included in one scene and a finale that detractors called unsatisfying. But the show’s ratings never faltered for the series based on George R.R. Martin’s novels, setting new highs for HBO.
A wealth of recognition for the cast and guest stars , including the show’s only previous winner, Peter Dinklage with three awards, helped “Game of Thrones” add to its already record haul of nominations, now at 160 total.
Series star Emilia Clarke’s decision to seek a best actress nomination after a series of supporting actress bids paid off. She’s competing in a category that’s notable for its diversity, including past winner Viola Davis for “How to Get Away with Murder” and repeat nominee Sandra Oh for “Killing Eve,” who has another chance to become the first actress of Asian descent to win the trophy. She lost last year to Claire Foy for Netflix’s “The Crown.”
Two actors of color, Billy Porter for “Pose” and previous winner Sterling K. Brown for “This Is Us,” earned drama series nods.
The rest of the drama series field includes “Better Call Saul,” ”Bodyguard,” ”Killing Eve,” ”Ozark,” ”Pose,” ”Succession” and, as the only network entry, “This is Us.” Mandy Moore, who plays the NBC drama’s matriarch, earned her first best actress nod.
Last year’s best comedy series, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” led the comedy pack with 20 bids, including for its star and defending champion Rachel Brosnahan. She’ll vie with Emmy record-holder Julia Louis-Dreyfus of “Veep,” who didn’t compete in last year’s awards because her breast cancer treatment delayed production of the political satire.
Louis-Dreyfus, who with Cloris Leachman shares the record for most Emmys won by a performer, eight, has a shot at solo glory if she wins again.
“Veep” received nine nominations for its final season, a warm farewell and one that wasn’t to be for “The Big Bang Theory,” the long-running sitcom that failed to capture a best comedy nod or any for its actors. The show has company in other hit sitcoms of the past: Neither “Friends” nor “Frasier” were nominated for best series for their final year, both in 2004.
TV academy members’ out-with-the-old approach created openings for a number of buzzy comedy newcomers and their stars and creators, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s “Fleabag” and Natasha Lyonne’s “Russian Doll.” Other best comedy contenders include “Barry,” which won acting trophies last year for Bill Hader and Henry Winkler, and sole network entry “The Good Place.”
A surprising entry : the quirky “Schitt’s Creek,” which received its first best comedy series nomination for its penultimate season and bids for stars Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara.
“Shocked. Grateful. (expletive) Thank you thank you thank you!!!” Christina Applegate tweeted after learning of her lead comedy series nomination for “Dead To Me.” ”Best part of the morning was my kid finding out and she screamed.”
Other top nominees include the nuclear disaster miniseries “Chernobyl” with 19 nominations and “Saturday Night Live,” which drew on Robert De Niro’s talents to play Robert Mueller last season, with 18. “When They See Us,” the miniseries that dramatized the Central Park Five case and its aftermath, received 16 bids.
The leading miniseries nominee is “Fosse/Verdon,” the biopic about dancer Gwen Verdon and choreographer Bob Fosse that earned 17 bids, including the first Emmy nominations for stars Michelle Williams and Sam Rockwell.
There was a significant drop in diversity among this year’s group of nominees compared to 2018, when more than a third of the 101 nominees in acting categories were ethnic minorities. This year, the figure was less than a quarter, with diversity especially absent in comedy.
Just two of the 26 acting nominees were people of color — Anthony Anderson for “black-ish” and Don Cheadle for “Black Monday” — and three of the four categories had only white nominees.
Categories dominated by the overwhelmingly white “Game of Thrones” were also short on inclusion, including supporting actress in a drama — zero nominees — and supporting drama actor, with only Giancarlo Esposito of “Better Call Saul” receiving a nomination.
In the overall tally contest among outlets, HBO received a whopping 137 nominations Tuesday, riding the dragon wings of “Game of Thrones” and the big tallies for “Chernobyl” and “Barry.” Netflix, which last year ended HBO’s 17-year reign to win the most Emmy nominations, was bumped to second this year with 117. Amazon’s Prime Video was second to Netflix among streamers with 47 nominations.
Broadcast networks, steadily eclipsed by the rise of cable and now streaming, were far behind, with NBC getting 58 nods to top CBS’ 43, ABC’s 26 and Fox’s 18.
The 71st Emmy Awards will air Sept. 22 on Fox, with the host yet to be announced.
AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this report.
