PRIMETIME EMMY

The nominations for 69th annual Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced, and sci-fi western thriller series, Westworld, and long-running variety show, Saturday Night Live, are on top, bagging 22 nods each.

Westworld will battle it out for outstanding drama series alongside Better Call Saul, House of Cards, Stranger Things, The Crown, The Handmaid’s Tale and This Is Us. Notably missing from the list were Homeland and The Americans.

Westworld also ruled the acting categories, with Anthony Hopkins and Evan Rachel Wood nominated for best lead actors, and Thandie Newton and Jeffrey Wright recognised in the supporting actor categories.

As for Saturday Night Live, there’s a nod for Alec Baldwin and his impression of President Donald Trump, while Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Vanessa Bayer, were recognised in the best supporting actress in a comedy series category.

Among others, a new dystopian drama series, The Handmaid’s Tale, bagged 13 nominations, whereas fan favourite show, This Is Us, landed 11 nominations. Game of Thrones which has won best drama the last two years, was ineligible this year because of a later start date.

The list of actors to have won nominations also include Indian-origin star Aziz Ansari (in the best comedy category).

The nominations were announced by Veep actor Anna Chlumsky and the Criminal Minds star Shemar Moore. The awards will be held in Los Angeles, US on September 17.