"Mad Men" may be poised to win its record-breaking fifth Emmy for outstanding drama, but as Thursday's announcement of nominations indicated, this past season was really about madcap women.
"Girls" and "Veep," two new HBO sitcoms featuring heroines on the verge of a nervous breakdown, joined a list of Emmy veterans -- "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "30 Rock," "Modern Family," "The Big Bang Theory"-- to make one of the strongest slates of outstanding-comedy nominees in years.
Fox's "New Girl" didn't make that cut, but its star, Zooey Deschanel, snagged a nod for outstanding lead actress, a category so rich with talent that the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences made room for seven nominees, which include "Girls" creator Lena Dunham and "Veep" star Julia Louis-Dreyfus along with Edie Falco ("Nurse Jackie"), Amy Poehler ("Parks & Recreation"), Tina Fey ("30 Rock") and last year's winner, Melissa McCarthy ("Mike & Molly").
Dunham, 26, also was recognized in the writing and directing categories.
Just how strong is the competition for TV's best comedic actress? Consider that Laura Linney ("The Big C"), Laura Dern ("Enlightened") and Patricia Heaton ("The Middle") -- slam dunks in most years -- were passed over.
Women didn't make quite as strong a mark in the drama category, which was dominated by macho-heavy series "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "Game of Thrones" and "Boardwalk Empire." But "Downton Abbey," where Maggie Smith's barbs can be just as deadly as a warrior's sword, did get recognized, as did "Homeland," whose star, Claire Danes, has a strong chance of collecting her second Emmy as best actress.
One notable absentee: CBS's "The Good Wife." This is also the first time in Emmy history that the commercial broadcast networks have been shut out of the drama category.
Jessica Lange is a favorite
