Emmy nominations make history as online-only 'House of Cards' receives major nominations

The Emmy nominations were led by 'American Horror Story: Asylum' and 'Game of Thrones,' which scored 17 and 16 nods, respectively. The Emmy nominations also honored series such as 'Mad Men' and 'Downton Abbey.'

Netflix scored big with Thursday's Emmy nominations as its "House of Cards" picked up nominations for Outstanding Drama Series and for leads Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, while "Arrested Development" star Jason Bateman picked up another nod.

The big question of the day was whether the world of television would welcome an online streaming service to its party. It opened its arms wide, making Netflix the first streaming service to score nods in several major categories.

It was a day of many surprises, including a nod for "Enlightened" star Laura Dern, even though her show HBO show was little-watched and canceled, and "Newsroom" star Jeff Daniels, even though his show received mixed reviews.

"Breaking Bad," "Downton Abbey," "Game of Thrones," "Homeland," "House of Cards" and "Mad Men" were the nominees for Outstanding Drama Series.

"30 Rock," "The Big Bang Theory," "Girls," "Louie," "Modern Family" and "Veep" were the Outstanding Comedy Series nominees.

The Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series nominees were Bryan Cranston, Jeff Daniels, Jon Hamm, Damian Lewis, Kevin Spacey and Hugh Bonneville.

The Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama nominees included Connie Britton, Claire Danes, Michelle Dockery, Vera Farmiga, Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington and Robin Wright.

Both Matt Damon and Michael Douglas were nominated for their "Behind the Candelabra" in the Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie category, alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, Tony Jones, and Al Pacino.

In the corresponding lead actress category, the nominees included Pacino's "Phil Spector" co-star, Helen Mirren, as well as Jessica Lange, Laura Linney, Sigourney Weaver, and, in her second category, Moss.

The Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nominees included Bateman, Alec Baldwin, Louis C.K., Don Cheadle, Matt LeBlanc and Jim Parsons. The corresponding actress nominees were Laura Dern, Lena Dunham, Edie Falco, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Amy Poehler.

The nominations were announced by Aaron Paul and Neil Patrick Harris. Harris filled in for "House of Cards" star Kate Mara, whose flight was delayed.

The trophies will be given out Sunday, Sept. 22.

Here is the list of nominees in the major categories:

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey" 

Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad" 

Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom" 

Jon Hamm, "Mad Men" 

Damian Lewis, "Homeland" 

Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards" 

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Connie Britton, "Nashville" 

Claire Danes, "Homeland" 

Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey" 

Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel" 

Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men" 

Kerry Washington, "Scandal" 

Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End"

Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"

Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"

Toby Jones, "The Girl"

Al Pacino, "Phil Spector" 

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum" 

Laura Linney, "The Big C Hereafter" 

Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector" 

Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake" 

Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals" 

OUTSTANDING REALITY HOST

Tom Bergeron, "Dancing With the Stars" 

Cat Deeley, "So You Think You Can Dance" 

Heidi Klum/Tim Gunn, "Project Runway" 

Ryan Seacrest, "American Idol" 

Betty White, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" 

Anthony Bourdain, "The Taste" 

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" 

Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development" 

Louis C.K., "Louie" 

Don Cheadle, "House of Lies" 

Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes" 

Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" 

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Laura Dern, "Enlightened" 

Lena Dunham, "Girls" 

Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie" 

Tina Fey, "30 Rock" 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep" 

Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation" 

OUTSTANDING REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM

"The Amazing Race" 

"Dancing With the Stars" 

"Project Runway" 

 "Top Chef" 

"The Voice" 

OUTSTANDING VARIETY SERIES

"The Colbert Report" 

"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" 

"Jimmy Kimmel Live" 

"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" 

"Real Time With Bill Maher" 

"Saturday Night Live" 

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES OR MOVIE

"American Horror Story: Asylum" 

"Behind the Candelabra" 

"The Bible" 

"Phil Spector" 

"Political Animals" 

"Top of the Lake" 

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

"The Big Bang Theory" 

"Girls" 

"Louie" 

"Modern Family" 

"30 Rock" 

"Veep" 

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

"Breaking Bad" 

"Downton Abbey" 

"Game of Thrones" 

"Homeland" 

"House of Cards" 

"Mad Men" 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire" 

Jonathan Banks, "Breaking Bad" 

Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones" 

Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland" 

Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad" 

Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey" 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife" 

Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad" 

Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men" 

Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey" 

Morena Baccarin, "Homeland" 

Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones" 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Ty Burrell, "Modern Family" 

Adam Driver, "Girls" 

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family" 

Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live" 

Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family" 

Tony Hale, "Veep" 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory" 

Julie Bowen, "Modern Family" 

Anna Chlumsky, "Veep" 

Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock" 

Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family" 

Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie" 

Jane Lynch, "Glee"