LOS ANGELES - "The Wire," "Friday Night Lights" and "Pushing Daisies" are among the semifinalists for this year's Emmy nominations.
Ten drama series and 10 comedies emerged as the top vote-getters in balloting by members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the academy said Thursday.
The final five nominees in each category will be determined after blue-ribbon panels screen submitted episodes this weekend, with the results to be announced July 17. The awards will be held in September.
"The Wire," the critically acclaimed HBO drama that traces urban decay through the stories of police and drug dealers in Baltimore, has a last shot at ending years of Emmy snubs: it recently wrapped its fifth and final season.
Basic cable also has the chance for a breakthrough this year, with AMC's "Mad Men" and FX's "Damages" among the semifinalists. Although premium channels like HBO routinely field nominees, a basic cable series has yet to nab a best drama or comedy series bid, the academy said.
Premium cable and network shows are both well-represented on the comedy front with such shows as HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and NBC's "30 Rock," which was last year's winner in the category.
As posted by the TV academy on its website, the best drama semifinalists are: "Boston Legal"; "Damages"; "Dexter"; "Friday Night Lights"; "Grey's Anatomy"; "House"; "Lost"; "Mad Men"; "The Tudors" and "The Wire."
Semifinalists for best comedy are "Curb Your Enthusiasm"; "Entourage"; "Family Guy"; "Flight of the Conchords"; "The Office"; "Pushing Daisies"; "30 Rock"; "Two and a Half Men"; "Ugly Betty" and "Weeds."
The results of the blue-ribbon panels represent 50 per cent of the vote to determine the finalists, averaged with the total academy balloting, Alan Perris, the TV academy's chief operating officer, said in a statement.
Last year's group of nominees was dominated by network series, although "The Sopranos" went out with a blaze of glory and claimed the best drama trophy. Its competition was "Boston Legal," ABC; "Grey's Anatomy," ABC; "Heroes," NBC, and "House," Fox.
The comedy series nominees last year were "Ugly Betty"; "Entourage"; "The Office"; "Two and a Half Men" and "30 Rock."
The nominees for the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced by Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris and TV academy Chairman John Shaffner in July's predawn ceremony.
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