2013 Primetime Emmy Nominees

ON Thursday morning, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced its nominees for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards. On hand to reveal the exciting news were Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad" and this year's master of ceremonies, Neil Patrick Harris.

The nominations are in, and FX's "American Horror Story: Asylum" drama series — make that, drama miniseries — leads all contenders with 17 nominees, despite the fact that the show ended its season in January 2013 and might not have had the strong buzz of shows that ended in the spring. Like HBO's "Game of Thrones," which racked up 16 nominations (including a Best Drama nod) for a season that wrapped in June and featured one of the season's most talked-about episodes with the Red Wedding in "The Rains of Castamere."

Here's a look at the shows and actors who'll be competing in the biggest categories come Sunday, September 22, when the star-studded soiree airs live on CBS at 8 PM.

Outstanding Drama Series

"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"House of Cards"
"Mad Men"

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Connie Britton, "Nashville"
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Kerry Washington, "Scandal"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Hugh Bonneville,"Downton Abbey"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"

Outstanding Comedy Series

"30 Rock"
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Girls"
"Louie"
"Modern Family"
"Veep"

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Outstanding Made for TV Movie/Miniseries

"American Horror Story: Asylum"
"Behind the Candelabra"
"The Bible"
"Phil Spector"
"Political Animals"
"Top of the Lake"

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series

"The Colbert Report"
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart"
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon"
"Real Time With Bill Maher"
"Saturday Night Live"

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

"The Amazing Race"
"Dancing With the Stars"
"Project Runway"
"So You Think You Can Dance"
"Top Chef"
"The Voice"

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

Tom Bergeron, "Dancing With The Stars"
Anthony Bourdain, "The Taste"
Cat Deeley, "So You Think You Can Dance"
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, "Project Runway"
Ryan Seacrest, "American Idol"
Betty White, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

Lead Actress in a Made-for-TV Movie/Miniseries

Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Laura Linney, "The Big C: Hereafter"
Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"
Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake"
Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals"

Leading Actor in a Made-for-TV Movie/Miniseries

Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End"
Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"
Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"
Toby Jones, "The Girl"
Al Pacino, "Phil Spector"

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Morena Baccarin, "Homeland"
Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones"
Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Jonathan Banks, "Breaking Bad"
Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"
Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"
Jane Lynch, "Glee"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Adam Driver, "Girls"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"
Tony Hale, "Veep"
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"

Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Ellen Burstyn, "Political Animals"
Sarah Paulson, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Charlotte Rampling, "Restless"
Imelda Staunton, "The Girl"
Alfre Woodard, "Steel Magnolias"

Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

Scott Bakula, "Behind the Candelabra"
James Cromwell, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
John Benjamin Hickey, "The Big C: Hereafter"
Peter Mullan, "Top of the Lake"
Zachary Quinto, "American Horror Story: Asylum"

Outstanding Reality Program

"Antiques Roadshow"
"Deadliest Catch"
"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" 
"MythBusters"
"Shark Tank"
"Undercover Boss"

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

"The Abolitionist"
"American Masters"
"The Men Who Built America"
"Through the Wormhole With Morgan Freeman"
"Vice"

Outstanding Informational Series or Special

"Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown"
"Brain Games"
"Inside the Actors Studio"
"Oprah's Master Class"
"Stand Up to Cancer"

Outstanding Variety Special

"The Kennedy Center Honors"
"Louis C.K.: Oh My God"
"Mel Brooks Strikes Back!"
"Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thrusday (Part One)"
"12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief"

Outstanding Animated Program

"Bob's Burgers"
"Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness: Enter the Dragon"
"Regular Show: The Christmas Special"
"The Simpsons"
"South Park"

Outstanding Children's Program

"Good Luck Charlie"
"iCarly"
"Nick News With Linda Ellerbee"
"The Weight of the Nation for Kids: Quiz Ed!"
"A Young Arts Masterclass"

Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Linda Cardellini, "Mad Men"
Joan Cusack, "Shameless"
Jane Fonda, "The Newsroom"
Margo Martindale, "The Americans"
Carrie Preston, "The Good Wife"
Diana Rigg, "Game of Thrones"

Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Michael J. Fox, "The Good Wife"
Rupert Friend, "Homeland"
Robert Morse, "Mad Men"
Harry Hamlin, "Mad Men"
Dan Bucatinsky, "Scandal"
Nathan Lane, "The Good Wife"

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Dot-Marie Jones, "Glee"
Melissa Leo, "Louie"
Melissa McCarthy, "Saturday Night Live"
Molly Shannon, "Enlightened"
Elaine Stritch, "30 Rock"
Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Will Forte, "30 Rock"
Nathan Lane, "Modern Family"
Bobby Cannavale, "Nurse Jackie"
Louis C.K., "Saturday Night Live"
Bob Newhart, "The Big Bang Theory"
Justin Timberlake, "Saturday Night Live"