I was delighted to see Homeland take home awards in the three major categories (plus the writing award); it's a fantastic series that offers everything a TV drama fan could possibly want -- amazing acting and edge of your seat action that left viewers anxiously awaiting the next new episode. If you have yet to tune in, you have no idea what you're missing.
Interestingly enough - with the exception of Martha Plimpton's win for best guest actress in a drama for The Good Wife, none of the major networks won in any of the drama categories (they did win some creative arts Emmys). Times, they are changing.
About the Nominations
Another year, another round of nods have gone out to Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire and Breaking Bad - however, some new faces have entered the race and I expect they'll stick around for several years to come.
New this year are Showtime's psychological thriller Homeland, with nods going out to Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, as well as FX's horror series American Horror Story, as well as nods going out to three of the shows lovely ladies.
After years of being nominated for his role on House, I was shocked that Hugh Laurie didn't get one final nod. Also missing from the leading lady list is perennial nominee Law & Order: SVU's Mariska Hargitay. I was also surprised that The Walking Dead and the newly-canceled drama The Killing failed to land a nomination in any of the major categories. I would have thought that even if either show didn't get a nomination, at least one of the many amazing actors on both shows failed to get nominated despite earning nods in last year's Emmy race.
2012 Primetime Emmy Nominees and Winners - Drama
Outstanding Drama Series Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
- Glenn Close, Damages
- Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
- Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
- Kathy Bates, Harry's Law
- Claire Danes, Homeland - WINNER
- Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
- Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
- Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
- Michael C. Hall, Dexter
- Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey
- Damian Lewis, Homeland - WINNER
- Jon Hamm, Mad Men
- Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad
- Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey - WINNER
- Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey
- Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
- Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
- Christina Hendricks, Mad Men
- Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad - WINNER
- Giancarlo Esposito, Breaking Bad
- Brendan Coyle, Downton Abbey
- Jim Carter, Downton Abbey
- Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
- Jared Harris, Mad Men
- American Horror Story
- Game Change - WINNER
- Hatfields & McCoys
- Hemingway & Gellhorn
- Luther
- Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia (Masterpiece)
- Connie Britton, American Horror Story
- Julianne Moore, Game Change - WINNER
- Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn
- Ashley Judd, Missing
- Emma Thompson, The Song of Lunch
- Woody Harrelson, Game Change
- Kevin Costner, Hatfield & McCoys - WINNER
- Bill Paxton, Hatfield & McCoys
- Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn
- Idris Elba, Luther
- Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)
- Frances Conroy, American Horror Story
- Jessica Lange, American Horror Story - WINNER
- Sarah Paulson, Game Change
- Mare Winningham, Hatfields & McCoys
- Judy Davis, Page Eight (Masterpiece)
- Denis O'Hare, American Horror Story
- Ed Harris, Game Change
- Tom Berenger, Hatfields & McCoys - WINNER
- David Strathairn, Hemingway & Gellhorn
- Martin Freeman, Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)
- Martha Plimpton, The Good Wife - WINNER
- Loretta Devine, Grey's Anatomy
- Jean Smart, Harry's Law
- Julia Ormond, Mad Men
- Joan Cusack, Shameless
- Uma Thurman, Smash
- Mark Margolis, Breaking Bad
- Dylan Baker, The Good Wife
- Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife
- Jeremy Davies, Justified - WINNER
- Ben Feldman, Mad Men
- Jason Ritter, Parenthood
- Boardwalk Empire, "To The Lost" - WINNER
- Breaking Bad, "Face Off"
- Downton Abbey, "Episode 7"
- Homeland, "Pilot"
- Mad Men, "The Other Woman"
- Downton Abbey, "Episode 7"
- Homeland, "Pilot" - WINNER
- Mad Men, "The Other Woman"
- Mad Men, "Commissions And Fees"
- Mad Men, "Far Away Places"