Although the big news from the Emmy nominations revealed today is that the final season of The Sopranos gained 15 nods (stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco are up for best actor and actress respectively and the show is up for best drama series) there is much for the British community in Hollywood to celebrate.
Hailed are Hugh Laurie for House (also up for best drama); Ricky Gervais for Extras and Ian McKellan's guest role in the show; Dame Helen Mirren for the final Prime Suspect (she won last year for Elizabeth I); and Jim Broadbent for Longford. Prime Suspect and Longford are nominated for best mini-series and best made-for-TV movie respectively. Ricky Gervais is also nominated for best director of a comedy series for Orlando Bloom's guest role in Extras. Minnie Driver is nominated for best actress for The Riches, in which she co-stars with Eddie Izzard - the show has been a surprise hit in the US
Other contenders for the drama award are Grey's Anatomy and Heroes, which debuts on BBC2 next Wednesday at 9pm. Missing from the list this year is 24 - the show's sixth season was poorly received by critics - although last year's best actor winner Keifer Sutherland is once again nominated.
Ugly Betty, Entourage and the US version of The Office are among the shows nominated for best comedy.
In 'non-fiction programming', Meerkat Manor and Planet Earth: Pole to Pole have been recognised.
Predications: The critically acclaimed Sopranos is likely to be well rewarded even though the downbeat ending of the show has been much criticised and parodied. Helen Mirren looks set to do the double, but Jim Broadbent will have a closer fight on his hands. Hugh Laurie is likely to lose out to James Gandolfini and the best actress is likely to be either Edie Falco or the well-liked Mariska Hargitay (of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit), who won last year. Neither should Ricky Gervais make space on his shelves just yet - best actor in a comedy will likely go to Alec Baldwin of 30 Rock or Steve Carrell of The Office (who was hotly tipped last year but lost out to Tony Shaloub for Monk). However, the world will have to wait a while to find out: winners are to be announced on September 16.
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