[mcdreamylover]

Thought I'd start a thread on the Emmy nominations coming out on Thursday if that's okay.

New rules make Emmy race harder to call By Steve Gorman 25 minutes ago LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Tony Soprano and his thugs will be back, looking to grab a piece of the action, and "The West Wing" politicians will make one last bid for re-election when the Emmy Award nominations are handed out on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT Both are likely to share the spotlight with a fresh crop of TV doctors, firefighters, a kid named Chris and an ex-con named Earl, thanks to Emmy rule changes aimed at giving newcomers and underdogs a better shot at U.S. television's highest honors. The winners will be announced on August 27 in Los Angeles. Even more than last year, when ABC's hot new "Desperate Housewives" clinched nominations for three of its stars and freshman castaway thriller "Lost" went on to claim the prize for best drama, this year's Emmy race is seen as wide open. "The key story this year is the Emmy nominations should not look like a TV rerun," said Tom O'Neil, columnist for the Los Angeles Times entertainment award Web site TheEnvelope.com. "This new nominating system hopes to welcome in new blood from that second tier of TV channels like FX, and UPN, and WB and others that have not been represented strongly in the past." That makes it tougher to handicap a process that long favored veteran shows and past nominees over newer offerings, though some perennial shoo-ins are expected to return. HBO mob series "The Sopranos," a longtime Emmy darling that won for best drama in 2004 but sat out last year's contest due to a production hiatus, is heavily favored to muscle its way back into the race for the 58th annual awards. And some experts give White House saga "The West Wing," a four-time winner for top drama, a good chance of making the cut one last time for its critically acclaimed but low-rated final season on NBC, which drew to a close in May. But ABC hospital hit "Grey's Anatomy," which just completed its first full season, also is heavily favored to break into the pack just as that same network's "Lost" did last year. And FX cable drama "Rescue Me," starring Dennis Leary as an emotionally troubled firefighter, is given strong odds to snag that network's first nomination for best drama series. CROWDED COMEDY RACE The Emmy battle over laughs is even more of a horse race. Newer NBC comedies "My Name is Earl" and "The Office," Fox's recently canceled Emmy winner "Arrested Development" and UPN family sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris" are all seen as front-runners, bucking Emmy trends that have long hurt younger shows, canceled shows and smaller networks. Past comedy champion "Will & Grace," which ended its NBC run this spring, could also return to the nominees circle once more, along with "Desperate Housewives," though many critics feel "Housewives" lost some of its luster last season when critical reviews turned sour. Other comedies cited as longshots with a realistic chance this year are HBO's cynical Hollywood satire "Entourage" and even ABC's short-lived "Sons & Daughters." Under this year's new nominating system, members of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences choose 10 finalists for best comedy and best drama series on the basis of votes cast for all eligible candidates in each category. The field is then winnowed to five nominees by a blue-ribbon panel of judges who review videotapes of their best work. A similar process is used to cull five nominees from the top 15 vote-getters in the categories for best lead actor and actress in a comedy and drama series.

I can't wait until Thursday morning!

[Considering Disobedience]

It would be fantastic if Entourage got a nom!

I'd also like to see the names Robert Knepper and Jensen Ackles show up on the nomination list. *cross fingers*

[Merlin_Bodhi]

I just want TR Knight, Sandra Oh, Jeffery Dean Morgan and Grey's Anatomy as a whole nominated!!!

[Nayden-fan868]

After the "bomb" episode I think almost everyone from Grey's will be nominated and they should all win.

Especially Ellen, Chandra, and Kate. Maybe Chandra and Kate could both be in supporting actress and tie and both win.

[crazy_diamond]

Got my fingers crossed that House gets a few Emmy nods

[mcdreamylover]

As long as Grey's Anatomy the show is nominated along with anyone on the cast I'll be happy.

I wouldn't mind at all if Scrubs was nominated but I'm not holding my breath for that one.

[ColdLinoleum]

I'm all for Grey's, 24, The Shield, The Sopranos, and House

[Jacob1983]

Arrested Development and Everwood definately should be nominated. AD is one of the funniest comedies ever. It's a shame that FOX and The WB gave up hope on those shows.

[cls21c]

I'd like to see Invasion get nominated. That show was really good and now it's cancelled.

[piscesgirl389]

I'm super excited!!

Anyone doing predictions? I'll post my later. I'm not done with them yet.

[Nayden-fan868]

They should have been nominating shows on smaller channels a long time ago.

There are so many good actors who have given excellent performances on the WB, UPN, Fox, etc.

It's not their faults that ABC, NBC, and CBS only have room for a certain number of shows so they get shut out just because of the station their on. That's crap

[mcdreamylover]

In a little over 9 hours we'll have the Emmy nominations!

[Instant Karma]

I'm hoping Patrick Dempsey gets a nomination. I love all his work.

[janeway1390]

I'm really excited too. I hope some shows and actors I like are nominated, but past experiences with the Emmys has taught me not to hold my breath. I've had a grudge against them for a long time because Buffy was never nominated for big awards.

[Sheebs]

I hope Scrubs and Everwood get some noms!!