LOS ANGELES » "Mad Men," the sharply observed drama of a changing 1960s America, captured 19 Emmy nominations Thursday to lead the series pack, with the melodramatic miniseries "Mildred Pierce" starring Kate Winslet grabbing a top 21 bids.

"Mad Men" has a chance to repeat for a fourth consecutive year as best drama. "Modern Family," last year’s top comedy series, was the most-nominated sitcom with 17 bids.

Other leading contenders include the Prohibition-era drama "Boardwalk Empire" with 18 nominations, "Saturday Night Live" with 16 and 13 bids each for the sex-and-swords fantasy "Game of Thrones" and the sitcom "30 Rock."

"OK, keep it together," a surprised nominations co-announcer Melissa McCarthy said when she realized she was a nominee for her sitcom "Mike & Molly."

The controversial miniseries "The Kennedys," which was dropped by the History channel and given a second chance by the lesser-known ReelzChannel, received 10 nominations, including best miniseries and acting bids for Greg Kinnear as President John F. Kennedy, Barry Pepper as Robert Kennedy and Tom Wilkinson as family patriarch Joe Kennedy.

"Hawaii Five-0" received a nomination for outstanding stunt coordination.

HBO dominated the nominations, earning a stunning 104 nods, including honors for its two freshman series, "Game of Thrones" and "Boardwalk Empire," miniseries "Mildred Pierce" and the TV movies "Cinema Verite" and "Too Big to Fail."

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards will air on Fox on Sept. 18.