Emmy nominees list announced

‘Game of Thrones’ slashes its way to 32 nods for its final season.

HBO’s “Game of Thrones” slashed its way to a record-setting 32 Emmy nominations Tuesday for its eighth and final season, leading HBO back to dominance over Netflix, the streaming service that bumped it last year from atop the increasingly crowded television heap.

The bloodthirsty saga’s total eclipsed the all-time series record of 27 nods earned by “NYPD Blue” in 1994.

If “Game of Thrones” successfully defends its best drama series title and claims a fourth trophy, it will join the quartet of most-honored dramas: “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” “The West Wing” and “Mad Men.”

A wealth of acting nominations for the cast and guest stars, including the show’s sole previous winner, Peter Dinklage, helped boost “Game of Thrones” to a new record of 160 total nominations — breaking its own previous record of 128.

Series star Emilia Clarke’s decision to seek a best actress nomination after a series of supporting actress bids paid off. She’s competing in a category that’s notable for its diversity, including past winner Viola Davis for “How to Get Away with Murder” and repeat nominee Sandra Oh for “Killing Eve,” who has another chance to become the first actress of Asian descent to win the trophy. She lost last year to Claire Foy for Netflix’s “The Crown.”

Last year’s best comedy series, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” led the comedy pack with 20 bids, including for its star and defending champion Rachel Brosnahan.

She’ll vie with Emmy record-holder Julia LouisDreyfus of “Veep,” who didn’t compete in last year’s awards because her breast cancer treatment delayed production of the political satire.

Louis-Dreyfus, who with Cloris Leachman shares the record for most Emmys won by a performer, eight, has a shot at solo glory if she wins again.

“Veep” received a total of nine nominations for its final season, a warm farewell and one that wasn’t to be for “The Big Bang Theory,” the long-running sitcom that failed to capture a best comedy nod or any for its actors.

The 71st Emmy Awards will air Sept. 22 on Fox, with the host yet to be announced.