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The long-running mob drama The Sopranos picked up 15 nominations for this year's Emmy awards, known in the industry as "the Oscars of television".
James Gandolfini and screen wife Edie Falco were nominated for best actor and actress respectively and the series - which has just ended in the US - is up for several other major awards including best drama series and best use of cinematography.
The Sopranos screens here on TV One on Thursday night.
If The Sopranos wins best drama, it will be the first example of a victory while a show has been off the air, Emmy experts say.
The nominations for the 59th Emmys were announced in Hollywood yesterday by actors Jon Cryer and Kyra Sedgwick.
British actors fared better than usual, with best actor and actress nominations going to Hugh Laurie for his role as a downbeat doctor in House, Dame Helen Mirren for Prime Suspect, Jim Broadbent for Longford and Ricky Gervais in Extras.
Insiders predict that Dame Helen represents Britain's best award hope this year, along with Prime Suspect.
Other contenders competing with The Sopranos for best drama include Heroes and Grey's Anatomy.
But it was a bad day for the hit real-time drama 24. While Keifer Sutherland is up again for best actor for his role as troubled special agent Jack Bauer, the sixth season of the increasingly populist drama has not gone down as well as its predecessors, and for the first time in years it was not nominated for best drama.
Lost finally lived up to its name and was left off the best drama list, after observers criticised its failure to keep up its original form.
Prime Suspect: The Final Act, House and Extras all bagged four nominations each, while the surprise nominee appeared to be Longford - a one-off drama on Lord Longford's visits to child killer Myra Hindley. It picked up five nominations, including outstanding made for television movie and outstanding lead actor.
New hit show Ugly Betty has been well received, with 11 nominations including best comedy. The US version of The Office, which won best comedy last year, was nominated again.
Ugly Betty's star, America Ferrara, who plays awkward personal assistant Betty Suarez, was nominated for best comedy actress award, along with Felicity Huffman from Desperate Housewives.
Tom O'Neil, who has the distinction of having written the definitive biography of the Emmys, said Ugly Betty's success was part of a trend towards new talent.
"The real good news ... is that about half of the contenders in these main categories are newcomers."
The Emmys were first presented in January 1949. This year's prime-time awards ceremony will be broadcast on September 16 from Los Angeles. The event will follow a separate ceremony a week earlier where technical achievement will be recognised.
- Independent, NZPA
