The HBO mini-series, 'Mildred Pierce', scored an astonishing 21 nods when the nominees were announced by Melissa McCarthy and Joshua Jackson.

These nominations include Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie for Kate Winslet, Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Mini-series Or A Movie for both Tom Wilkinson and Guy Pierce, Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie for Evan Rachel Wood, Melissa Leo and Dame Maggie Smith, and Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.

Elsewhere, 'Mad Men' – which received 19 nominations - has the chance to take Outstanding Drama for the fourth year in a row, while 'Modern Family' could again scoop Outstanding Comedy, with the category amongst the 17 nods the sitcom earned.

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John Hamm received his fourth nomination in a row for Outstanding Actor in a Drama and could receive his first win in the category as 'Breaking Bad' star Bryan Cranston – who has taken home the honour at the previous three ceremonies – was not eligible to win this year as the show took a break between seasons.

Other leading nominations included Prohibition-era drama 'Boardwalk Empire' with 18, 'Game of Thrones and '30 Rock' with 13 each and 16 for 'Saturday Night Live'.

Despite being dropped by the History Channel and subsequently picked up by the lesser known ReelzChannel, 'The Kennedys' scored an impressive 10 nominations, including Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.

The 63rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards will take place on September 18 and will be hosted by Jane Lynch.
 
List of main Primetime Emmy Award nominations:
 
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:
'The Colbert Report'
'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart'
'Conan'
'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'
'Saturday Night Live'
'Real Time with Bill Maher'
 
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Edie Falco – 'Nurse Jackie'
Tina Fey – '30 Rock'
Laura Linney – 'The Big C'
Melissa McCarthy – 'Mike & Molly'
Martha Plimpton – 'Raising Hope'
Amy Poehler – 'Parks And Recreation'
 
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin – '30 Rock'
Louis C.K. – 'Louie'
Steve Carell – 'The Office'
Matt LeBlanc – 'Episodes'
Jim Parsons – 'The Big Bang Theory'
Johnny Galecki – 'The Big Bang Theory'
 
Outstanding Comedy Series:
'The Big Bang Theory'
'Glee'
'Modern Family'
'The Office'
'Parks and Recreation'
'30 Rock'
 
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie:
Taraji P. Henson – 'Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story'
Diane Lane – 'Cinema Verite'
Jean Marsh - Upstairs Downstairs'
Elizabeth McGovern – 'Downton Abbey'
Kate Winslet – 'Mildred Pierce'
 
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie:
Idris Elba – 'Luther'
William Hurt – 'Too Big To Fail'
Greg Kinnear – 'The Kennedys'
Barry Pepper – 'The Kennedys'
Edgar Ramirez – 'Carlos'
Laurence Fishburne – 'Thurgood'
 
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Programme:
Tom Bergeron – 'Dancing with The Stars'
Cat Deeley – 'So You Think You Can Dance'
Phil Keoghan – 'The Amazing Race'
Jeff Probst – 'Survivor'
Ryan Seacrest – 'American Idol'
 
Outstanding Reality Competition:
'The Amazing Race'
'Dancing With The Stars'
'American Idol'
'So You Think You Can Dance'
'Project Runway'
'Top Chef'
 
Outstanding Drama:
'Boardwalk Empire'
'Dexter'
'Friday Night Lights'
'Game of Thrones'
'The Good Wife'
'Mad Men'
 
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama:
Kathy Bates – 'Harry's Law'
Connie Britton – 'Friday Night Lights'
Mireille Enos – 'The Killing'
Julianna Margulies – 'The Good Wife'
Mariska Hargitay – 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit'
Elisabeth Moss – 'Mad Men'
 
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama:
Steve Buscemi – 'Boardwalk Empire'
Kyle Chandler – 'Friday Night Lights'
Michael C. Hall – 'Dexter'
Jon Hamm – 'Mad Men'
Hugh Laurie – 'House'
Timothy Olyphant – 'Justified'
 
Outstanding Miniseries or Movie:
'Downtown Abbey'
'The Kennedys'
'Cinema Verite'
'Mildred Pierce'
'Pillars of the Earth'
'Too Big To Fail'