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‘SNL,’ Westworld’ lead Emmy noms with 22 nods

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alec Baldwin as President Elect Donald J. Trump in a sketch on “Saturday Night Live,” in New York. Baldwin was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Evan Rachel Wood in a scene from “Westworld.” Wood was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series.

LOS ANGELES >> “Saturday Night Live,” powered by madcap skits skewering the Trump administration, earned 22 Emmy Award nominations, including bids for Alec Baldwin’s florid portrayal of the president and Melissa McCarthy’s manic, gender-busting take on press secretary Sean Spicer.

The long-running NBC variety show tied with HBO’s sci-fi drama “Westworld,” which also earned 22 bids on Thursday, to jointly top the field for the 69th Primetime Emmys to be presented in September.

Netflix big-shouldered the best drama category with three contenders, “The Crown, “House of Cards” and “Stranger Things,” a best-ever total for streaming as its platforms grow in strength and compete with broadcast and cable.

“Feud: Bette and Joan,” about the epic clash of Hollywood divas Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, reaped 18 nominations, including for stars Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon. Other big-screen stars making a splash on the small screen Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, nominated for “Big Little Lies,” which is competing with “Feud” for best limited series.

Robert De Niro earned a nod for his portrayal of fraudster Bernard Madoff in the nominated TV movie “The Wizard Of Lies.”

“Veep,” the most-nominated comedy with 17 bids, has a chance for its third consecutive top comedy trophy. Star Julia Louis-Dreyfus has the chance to build on her record of most wins for a lead comedy actress: She has five for “Veep” and one for “New Adventures of Old Christine.”

Jeffrey Tambor has a chance for the same Emmy hat trick: He’s nominated again as best comedy actor for “Transparent” after taking the trophy the past two years.

Emmy voters showed their willingness to recognize new comic voices as well as diversity. Donald Glover’s freshman “Atlanta” earned a best comedy bid, as did “Master of None,” starring its nominated co-creator, Aziz Ansari, and “black-ish.” The TV academy noted that the majority of nominated writers are people of color.

There was room in for an old favorite, “Modern Family,” although it earned only a handful of bids besides best comedy, including for Ty Burrell in the supporting actor category. “Silicon Valley” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” round out the best comedy ranks.

Samantha Bee, who broke into the late-night male domain with “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” earned a variety talk show nomination for her efforts. Her competitors include Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, James Corden and Bill Maher.

The drama field opened up with the absence of HBO’s dominant “Game of Thrones,” which aired outside the eligibility window for Emmy consideration this year. It won 12 Emmys last year, including its second consecutive best drama award.

Newcomers were ready to step in, including breakout series “This Is Us.” It received 11 nods, including the first best-drama series for a network show since “The Good Wife” in 2011. NBC’s intricately told story of an extended family, a hit with viewers and critics, also earned bids for Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia, who are competing with each other in the best actor category.

“I grew up on network television and the idea that there were three and eventually four places that everyone had in their home, before DVDs, it’s something that everybody could access — not just in terms of literally but also emotionally and comedically,” said “This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman. “And I think there is a place for television that is for everybody, art that is for everybody, that also hopefully can live in the conversation with the darker, edgier stuff. I think people are craving that.”

The show’s Chrissy Metz and Ron Cephas Jones were nominated in supporting acting categories.

Sci-fi drama series “Stranger Things” received an impressive 18 bids, including one for star Millie Bobby Brown, while “The Crown,” a lavish peek at the life of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as played by the nominated Claire Foy, received a total of 13 bids.

So did the dystopian Hulu saga “The Handmaid’s Tale,” including a nomination for star Elisabeth Moss. “Better Call Saul,” the “Breaking Bad” spinoff is also nominated, along with star Bob Odenkirk.

“Chuffed, thrilled, proud, honored!” Peter Morgan, creator of “The Crown,” said in a statement. “So delighted for everyone involved. A proper fat cigar moment, if only I smoked. Drinks all round, if only I drank. I shall have to make do with turning cartwheels.”

He’s not the only visitor to American TV who will be celebrating. Others include Anthony Hopkins for “Westworld,” Benedict Cumberbatch for “Sherlock: The Lying Detective,” Ewan McGregor in “Fargo” and Geoffrey Rush for “Genius.”

Groundbreaking “Girls” didn’t get a best comedy bid for its sixth and final season. But it cleaned up for its guest actors, with nods going to Becky Ann Baker, Riz Ahmed and Matthew Rhys, with Ahmed and Rhys nominated in drama categories as well, for “The Night Of” and “The Americans,” respectively.

Competing with Brown, Ventimiglia, Hopkins, Odenkirk and Rhys for best drama acting honors are Liev Schreiber from “Ray Donovan” and Kevin Spacey of “House Of Cards.”

Foy and Moss are joined in the best drama actress category by 2015 winner Viola Davis from “How To Get Away With Murder,” Keri Russell of “The Americans,” Evan Rachel Wood in “Westworld” and Robin Wright from “House Of Cards.”

“Orphan Black” isn’t in the running because it missed the eligibility window, depriving star Tatiana Maslany of the chance to repeat as best drama actress.

Louis-Dreyfus’ competition for top comedy actress includes Allison Janney of “Mom,” who shifted categories after twice capturing the supporting award. Other nominees are Pamela Adlon of “Better Things,” Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin for “Grace and Frankie,” Tracee Ellis Ross for “black-ish” and Ellie Kemper for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”

Besides Tambor, Ansari and Glover, bids for best comedy actor went to Anthony Anderson of “black-ish,” Zach Galifianakis of “Baskets” and William H. Macy for “Shameless.”

McCarthy’s “Saturday Night Live” bid came for an episode she hosted. The show’s other nominees include Leslie Jones, Vanessa Bayer and Kate McKinnon, who has shifted gears from playing Hillary Clinton to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Politics has paid off for “SNL” with more than Emmy recognition. When it began the season with candidates Donald Trump and Clinton (Baldwin, McKinnon) facing off, the show drew bigger audiences than at any point since Tina Fey did her memorable Sarah Palin impersonation in 2008.

The Emmys are scheduled to air Sept. 17 on CBS, with Colbert as host.

69TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS NOMINEES

Best Comedy

>> “Atlanta” (FX)

>> “Black-ish” (ABC)

>> “Master of None” (Netflix)

>> “Modern Family” (ABC)

>> “Silicon Valley” (HBO)

>> “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix)

>> “Veep” (HBO)

Best Drama

>> “Better Call Saul” (AMC)

>> “The Crown” (Netflix)

>> “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)

>> “House of Cards” (Netflix)

>> “Stranger Things” (Netflix)

>> “This Is Us” (NBC)

>> “Westworld” (HBO)

Best Limited Series

>> “Big Little Lies” (HBO)

>> “Fargo” (FX)

>> “Feud: Bette and Joan” (FX)

>> “Genius” (National Geographic)

>> “The Night Of” (HBO)

Best Actress, Comedy

>> Pamela Adlon (“Better Things”)

>> Jane Fonda (“Grace and Frankie”)

>> Allison Janney (“Mom”)

>> Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep”)

>> Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)

>> Tracee Ellis Ross (“black-ish”)

>> Lily Tomlin (“Grace and Frankie”)

Best Actor, Comedy

>> Anthony Anderson (“black-ish”)

>> Aziz Ansari (“Master of None”)

>> Zach Galifianakis, (“Baskets”)

>> Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)

>> William H. Macy (“Shameless”)

>> Jeffrey Tambor (“Transparent”)

Best Actress, Drama

>> Viola Davis (“How to Get Away with Murder”)

>> Claire Foy (“The Crown”)

>> Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

>> Keri Russell (“The Americans”)

>> Evan Rachel Wood (“Westworld”)

>> Robin Wright (“House of Cards”)

Best Actor, Drama

>> Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)

>> Anthony Hopkins (“Westworld”)

>> Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”)

>> Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”)

>> Liev Schreiber (“Ray Donovan”)

>> Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”)

>> Milo Ventimiglia (“This Is Us”)

Best Actress, Limited Series or TV Movie

>> Carrie Coon (“Fargo”)

>> Felicity Huffman (“American Crime”)

>> Jessica Lange (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)

>> Nicole Kidman (“Big Little Lies”)

>> Susan Sarandon (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)

>> Reese Witherspoon (“Big Little Lies”)

Best Actor, Limited Series or TV Movie

>> Riz Ahmed (“The Night Of”)

>> Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock: The Lying Detective”)

>> Robert De Niro (“The Wizard of Lies”)

>> Ewan McGregor (“Fargo”)

>> Geoffrey Rush (“Genius”)

>> John Turturro (“The Night Of”)

Television Movie

>> “Black Mirror: San Junipero”

>> “Dolly Parton’s Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love”

>> “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks”

>> “Sherlock: The Lying Detective”

>> “The Wizard of Lies”

Supporting Actor, Drama

>> Jonathan Banks (“Better Call Saul”)

>> David Harbour (“Stranger Things”)

>> Ron Cephas Jones (“This Is Us”)

>> Michael Kelly (“House of Cards”)

>> John Lithgow (“The Crown”)

>> Mandy Patinkin (“Homeland”)

>> Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”)

Supporting Actress, Drama

>> Uzo Aduba (“Orange Is The New Black”)

>> Millie Bobby Brown (“Stranger Things”)

>> Ann Dowd (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

>> Chrissy Metz (“This Is Us”)

>> Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)

>> Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)

Supporting Actor, Comedy

>> Louie Anderson (“Baskets”)

>> Alec Baldwin (“Saturday Night Live”)

>> Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”)

>> Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”)

>> Tony Hale (“Veep”)

>> Matt Walsh (“Veep”)

Supporting Actress, Comedy

>> Vanessa Bayer (“Saturday Night Live”)

>> Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”)

>> Kathryn Hahn (“Transparent”)

>> Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”)

>> Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)

>> Judith Light (“Transparent”)

Limited Series

>> “Big Little Lies” (HBO)

>> “Fargo” (FX Networks)

>> “Feud: Bette and Joan” (FX Networks)

>> “Genius” (National Geographic)

>> “The Night Of” (HBO)

Supporting Actor, Limited Series or Movie

>> Alexander Skarsgård (“Big Little Lies”)

>> David Thewlis (“Fargo”)

>> Alfred Molina (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)

>> Stanley Tucci (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)

>> Bill Camp (“The Night Of”)

>> Michael Kenneth Williams (“The Night Of”)

Supporting Actress, Limited Series or a Movie

>> Judy Davis (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)

>> Laura Dern (“Big Little Lies”)

>> Jackie Hoffman (“Feud: Bette and Joan”)

>> Regina King (“American Crime”)

>> Michelle Pfeiffer (“The Wizard Of Lies”)

>> Shailene Woodley (“Big Little Lies”)

Variety Sketch Series

>> “Billy On The Street” (truTV)

>> “Documentary Now!” (IFC)

>> “Drunk History” (Comedy Central)

>> “Portlandia” (IFC)

>> “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

>> “Tracey Ullman’s Show” (HBO)

Variety Talk Series

>> “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” (TBS)

>> “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC)

>> “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” (HBO)

>> “Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS)

>> “Real Time With Bill Maher” (HBO)

>> “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

Structured Reality Program

>> “Antiques Roadshow” (PBS)

>> “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” (Food Network)

>> “Fixer Upper” (HGTV)

>> “Lip Sync Battle” (Spike TV)

>> “Shark Tank” (ABC)

>> “Who Do You Think You Are” (TLC)

Unstructured Reality Program

>> “Born This Way” (A&E)

>> “Deadliest Catch” (Discovery Channel)

>> “Gaycation With Ellen Page” (Viceland)

>> “Intervention” (A&E)

>> “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked” (YouTube)

>> “United Shades Of America: With W. Kamau Bell” (CNN)

Guest Actress, Drama

>> Alison Wright, “The Americans” (FX)

>> Alexis Bledel, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)

>> Cicely Tyson, “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)

>> Ann Dowd, “The Leftovers” (HBO)

>> Laverne Cox, “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)

>> Shannon Purser, “Stranger Things” (Netflix)

Guest Actor, Drama

>> Ben Mendelsohn, “Bloodline” (Netflix)

>> BD Wong, “Mr. Robot” (USA)

>> Hank Azaria, “Ray Donovan” (Showtime)

>> Denis O’Hare, “This Is Us” (NBC)

>> Brian Tyree Henry, “This Is Us” (NBC)

>> Gerald McRaney, “This Is Us” (NBC)

Guest Actress, Comedy

>> Wanda Sykes, “black-ish” (ABC)

>> Carrie Fisher, “Catastophe” (Amazon)

>> Becky Ann Baker, “Girls” (HBO)

>> Angela Bassett, “Master Of None” (Netflix)

>> Kristen Wiig, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

>> Melissa McCarthy, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Guest Actor, Comedy

>> Riz Ahmed, “Girls” (HBO)

>> Matthew Rhys, “Girls” (HBO)

>> Dave Chappelle, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

>> Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

>> Tom Hanks, “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

>> Hugh Laurie, “Veep” (HBO)

Animated Program

>> “Archer” (FX Networks)

>> “Bob’s Burgers” (FOX)

>> “Elena and the Secret of Avalor (Sofia the First)” (Disney Channel)

>> “The Simpsons” (FOX)

>> “South Park” (Comedy Central)

Reality Competition Program

>> “The Amazing Race” (CBS)

>> “American Ninja Warrior” (NBC)

>> “Project Runway” (Lifetime)

>> “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)

>> “Top Chef” (Bravo)

>> “The Voice” (NBC)

Reality Host

>> Alec Baldwin (“Match Game”)

>> W. Kamau Bell (“United Shades Of America With W. Kamau Bell”)

>> RuPaul Charles (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”)

>> Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn (“Project Runway”)

>> Gordon Ramsay (“MasterChef Junior”)

>> Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg (“Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party”)

Writing for a Comedy Series

>> Donald Glover, “Atlanta” (“B.A.N.”)

>> Stephen Glover, “Atlanta” (“Streets On Lock”)

>> Aziz Ansari & Lena Waithe, “Master of None” (“Thanksgiving”)

>> Alec Berg, “Silicon Valley” (“Success Failure”)

>> Billy Kimball, “Veep” (“Georgia”)

>> David Mandel, “Veep” (“Groundbreaking”)

Writing for a Drama Series

>> Joe Weisberg & Joel Fields, “The Americans” (“The Soviet Division”)

>> Gordon Smith, “Better Call Saul” (“Chicanery”)

>> Peter Morgan, “The Crown” (“Assassins”)

>> Bruce Miller, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (“Offred (Pilot)”)

>> The Duffer Brothers, “Stranger Things” (“Chapter One: The Vanishing Of Will Byers”)

>> Lisa Joy & Jonathan Nolan, “Westworld” (“The Bicameral Mind”)

Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Drama

>> David E. Kelley, “Big Little Lies”

>> Charlie Brooker, “Black Mirror: San Junipero”

>> Noah Hawley, “Fargo” (“The Law Of Vacant Places”)

>> Ryan Murphy, “Feud: Bette and Joan” (“And The Winner Is… (The Oscars Of 1963)”)

>> Jaffe Cohen, Michael, Michael Zam & Ryan Murphy, “Feud: Bette and Joan” (“Pilot”)

>> Richard Price & Steven Zaillian, “The Night Of” (“The Call Of The Wild”)

Directing for a Comedy Series

>> Donald Glover, “Atlanta” (“B.A.N.”)

>> Jamie Babbit, “Silicon Valley” (“Intellectual Property”)

>>Morgan Sackett, “Veep” (“Blurb”)

>> David Mandel, “Veep” (“Groundbreaking”)

>> Dale Stern, “Veep” (“Justice”)

Directing for a Drama Series

>> Vince Gilligan, “Better Call Saul” (“Witness”)

>> Stephen Daldry, “The Crown” (“Hyde Park Corner”)

>> Reed Morano, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (“Offred (Pilot)”)

>>Kate Dennis, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (“The Bridge”)

>> Lesli Linka Glatter, “Homeland” (“America First”)

>> The Duffer Brothers, “Stranger Things” (“Chapter One: The Vanishing Of Will Byers”)

>> Jonathan Nolan, “Westworld” (“The Bicameral Mind”)

Directing For A Limited Series

>> Jean-Marc Vallée, “Big Little Lies”

>> Noah Hawley, “Fargo” (“The Law Of Vacant Places”)

>> Ryan Murphy, “Feud: Bette and Joan” (“And The Winner Is… (The Oscars Of 1963)”)

>> Ron Howard, “Genius” (“Einstein: Chapter One”)

>> James Marsh, “The Night Of” (“The Art Of War”)

>> Steven Zaillian, “The Night Of” (“The Beach”)

Directing for a Variety Series

>> Derek Waters & Jeremy Konner, “Drunk History” (“Hamilton”)

>> Andy Fisher, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (“The (RED) Show”)

>> Paul Pennolino, “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (“Multi-Level Marketing”)

>> Jim Hoskinson, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (“Episode 0179”)

>> Don Roy King, “Saturday Night Live” (“Host: Jimmy Fallon”)

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