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by Jeff Beck

Nominations for the 71st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards


Emmy nominees Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke in "Game of Thrones"

The nominations for the 71st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced earlier this morning, and if you had any doubts as to how the Television Academy felt about the magnificent final season of "Game of Thrones," it would appear we now have a firm answer. The show was showered with a record-setting 32 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, Drama Directing (x3), Drama Writing, and ten individual acting nods (including first-time nominees Alfie Allen, Sophie Turner, Gwendoline Christie, and Carice van Houten). It easily earned the most nominations for the year, with the next closest show being "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" with 20.

Speaking of which, "Maisel" topped the Comedy category, earning nods for Outstanding Comedy Series, Comedy Directing (x2), and seven individual acting nods. Curiously though, the show missed out on a Comedy Writing nod, which could be a sign of its chances in regards to winning the big prize. We all knew it was going to be "Maisel" vs "Barry" vs. "Veep," but with "Barry" being the only one to nab Writing and Directing nods, perhaps the great show will win big with its sophomore season.

Over in the limited series category, the outstanding "Chernobyl" took the lead with 19 nominations that included Outstanding Limited Series, Limited Series Writing, Limited Series Directing, and three individual nods for acting. From the outset, it always appeared as though it was going to be "Chernobyl" vs. "When They See Us," and with both series earning all of the major nods, it looks like it's going to be a very close race.

Going back to Drama, should we take the incredible number of nominations for "Game of Thrones" to mean that it's the clear favorite? It certainly appears that way. Viewers and critics seemed quite divided on the show's incredible final season, but the Television Academy certainly doesn't seem to be. There's also the fact that the next closest dramas only nabbed nine nominations total, with some earning even less.

At this point, it does certainly seem like an easy "Game of Thrones" victory, but you never know. We'll just have to wait for the ceremony on Sunday, September 22nd to find out. Be sure to check back then to see if your favorites win big.

In the meantime, please see below for a list of select major categories. You can also download a PDF of the complete nominee list here.

Outstanding Drama Series

Better Call Saul

Bodyguard

Game of Thrones

Killing Eve

Ozark

Pose

Succession

This Is Us

Outstanding Comedy Series

Barry

Fleabag

Russian Doll

Schitt's Creek

The Good Place

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Veep

Lead Actor in a Drama

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Kit Harington, Game of Thrones

Jason Bateman, Ozark

Billy Porter, Pose

Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us

Milo Ventimiglia, This Is Us

Lead Actress in a Drama

Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones

Robin Wright, House of Cards

Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder

Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

Jodie Comer, Killing Eve

Laura Linney, Ozark

Mandy Moore, This Is Us

Supporting Actor in a Drama

Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul

Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul

Alfie Allen, Game of Thrones

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Game of Thrones

Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Michael Kelly, House of Cards

Chris Sullivan, This Is Us

Supporting Actress in a Drama

Lena Headey, Game of Thrones

Sophie Turner, Game of Thrones

Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones

Gwendoline Christie, Game of Thrones

Fiona Shaw, Killing Eve

Julie Garner, Ozark

Lead Actor in a Comedy

Bill Hader, Barry

Don Cheadle, Black Monday

Anthony Anderson, Black-ish

Eugene Levy, Schitt's Creek

Ted Danson, The Good Place

Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method

Lead Actress in a Comedy

Christina Applegate, Dead to Me

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag

Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll

Catherine O'Hara, Schitt's Creek

Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Anthony Carrigan, Barry

Stephen Root, Barry

Henry Winkler, Barry

Alan Arkin, The Kominsky Method

Tony Shaloub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Tony Hale, Veep

Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Sarah Goldberg, Barry

Sian Clifford, Fleabag

Olivia Colman, Fleabag

Betty Gilpin, GLOW

Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live

Marin Hinkle, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Anna Chlumsky, Veep

Follow me on Twitter @BeckFilmCritic.

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