The nominees for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards were announced by Aaron Paul and Neil Patrick Harris on Thursday, July 18. And the nominees are ...
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Louis CK, "Louie"
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Jim Parsons, "Big Bang Theory"
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Outstanding comedy series: "The Big Bang Theory"
Outstanding comedy series: "Girls"
Outstanding comedy series: "Louie"
Outstanding comedy series: "Modern Family"
Outstanding comedy series: "Veep"
Outstanding comedy series: "30 Rock"
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Damian Lewis, "Homeland"
Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Connie Britton, "Nashville"
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Kerry Washington, "Scandal"
Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
Outstanding drama series: "Breaking Bad"
Outstanding drama series: "Downton Abbey"
Outstanding drama series: "Game of Thrones"
Outstanding drama series: "Homeland"
Outstanding drama series: "House of Cards"
Outstanding drama series: "Mad Men"
- "Breaking Bad" is leading Emmy contender for Sunday night's awards
- Show has 13 nominations; competition includes "House of Cards," "Mad Men"
- "Louie" has a shot at outstanding comedy series
(CNN) -- As the clock ticks down toward Sunday night's 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, all signs are pointing toward a big evening for "Breaking Bad."
The AMC series is wrapping up its final season with a bang, with high ratings, breathless news coverage and clamorous social media chatter. Its star, Bryan Cranston, appears to be everywhere.
And the show, which received 13 Emmy nominations this year, is the odds-on favorite to win outstanding drama.
It's even competing against itself. The show's second-to-last episode airs at 9 ET tonight, opposite the second hour of the Emmys.
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But its victory is by no means assured.
Netflix nudged its way into the Emmy conversation with nine nominations for its series about a clever Washington congressman, "House of Cards." The service, once best known for its DVDs in red envelopes, received 14 nominations overall, including nods for "Arrested Development" and "Hemlock Grove."
In 1983, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences rounded up the best in the industry, such as "Dynasty's" Joan Collins, to honor that year's outstanding TV performances. But while the names and faces have changed for Emmy voters over the past 30 years, one thing remains the same: The red carpet is the "must-see TV" of the ceremony.
In 1985, James Brolin attended the Emmys with his "Hotel" co-star Connie Sellecca.
A young Joey Lawrence attended the 1986 Emmys with his younger brother, Matthew.
"Family Ties" star Tina Yothers wore a scene-stealing -- and era-appropriate -- dress to the 1986 Emmys.
"Growing Pains" patriarch Alan Thicke donned pinstripes to the 1986 event. Like father like son?
In 1987, "Designing Women" actress Delta Burke chose a black dress for the Emmys, but it was anything but basic.
"Murder, She Wrote" star Angela Lansbury killed in a sleek black gown at the 1987 awards show.
Siblings Jason and Justine Bateman were nearly matching at the 1987 Emmy Awards.
Raquel Welch's little black dress stole the spotlight at the 1987 Emmys.
"Wonder Years" actress Danica McKellar stole hearts at the 1990 Emmys in a sweet layered dress.
Dana Delany, who was starring in "China Beach" at the time, was an eye-catching outstanding lead actress nominee at the 1990 Emmys. (She later won for the same role in 1992.)
Glenn Close went for a classic little black dress with a twist for the 1991 Emmy Awards. She was nominated for the TV special "Sarah, Plain and Tall."
The stars of "Beverly Hills, 90210" -- (from left) Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty and Luke Perry -- could've been mistaken as posing for a prom photo at the 1991 Emmys.
"Home Alone" star Macaulay Culkin put on his kid-sized best for the 1991 Emmys.
"Married, With Children" actress Christina Applegate wore a mature (but stylish for the time) skirt suit to the 1991 Emmys.
"Northern Exposure" actress Janine Turner had impeccable style at the 1992 Emmys.
Cindy Crawford crossed over from high fashion to Hollywood with her appearance at the 1992 Emmys.
"Beverly Hills, 90210" star Jennie Garth stuck with fail-proof strapless black in 1992.
"Fresh Prince" Will Smith looked regal at the 1993 Emmys alongside his wife at the time, Sheree.
"Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" co-stars Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain stuck close on the red carpet at the 1993 Emmy Awards. The series recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of its pilot episode.
Ellen DeGeneres wore her signature sneakers-with-a-suit to the 1994 Emmys.
Cicely Tyson cut a striking figure in white at the 1994 Emmy Awards, when she won for outstanding supporting actress in a TV miniseries or special with "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All."
Actress Michelle Pfeiffer glowed next to TV powerhouse husband David E. Kelley at the 1995 Emmy Awards.
"Seinfeld" star Jerry Seinfeld (seen here with then-girlfriend Shoshanna Lonstein) broke out the velvet for his appearance at the 1996 Emmys. He was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series that year.
George Clooney, who was starring in "ER" at the time, attended the 1996 Emmys with French girlfriend, Celine Balitran. He was nominated for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for the second time.
At the 1996 Emmys, Quentin Tarantino and Mira Sorvino made a memorable pair on the red carpet. Sorvino was nominated for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in the TV movie "Norma Jean and Marilyn."
"Seinfeld" actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus wore an elegant gown to the 1997 Emmy Awards, a year following her win for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy.
Back when they were still together, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore made a sophisticated couple on the red carpet, as they did here at the 1997 Emmys. Moore's "If These Walls Could Talk" was nominated for an Emmy.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star Sarah Michelle Gellar channeled some of her character's California cool on the red carpet of the 1998 Emmys.
"Dawson's Creek" co-stars Katie Holmes and James Van Der Beek walked the red carpet of the 1998 Emmys together.
Actress Garcelle Beauvais wore red on the carpet at the 1998 Emmys, but she certainly didn't blend in with this stunner.
"Friends" actress Lisa Kudrow left her character's quirky wardrobe at the set for 1998's Emmy Awards.
Halle Berry showed off her curves in a belly-baring dress at the 1999 Emmy Awards.
Sarah Jessica Parker's dress at the 2000 Emmys could've doubled as one of her "Sex and the City" character's fashion-forward picks.
Courteney Cox went with a breezy, casual look at the 2003 Emmy Awards.
"Mad Men" actress January Jones did an updated take on old Hollywood glamour at the 2009 Emmy Awards.
In 2009, actress Kate Walsh was one of the year's best-dressed stars with a beautifully pleated gown.
"Mad Men" actress Christina Hendricks may have chosen a pale color for the 2010 Emmys, but the way she looked in her dress was impossible to miss.
Claire Danes might've been thinking ahead at the 2010 Emmys. The star's golden, sparkling gown matched well with the outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or a movie Emmy she won that night with "Temple Grandin."
Heidi Klum always dares to be different. Where most opt for a longer dress, Klum rocked a fun mini to the 2010 Emmys.
Emmy Awards: 30 years of red carpet fashion
Also up for best drama: HBO's "Game of Thrones," AMC's "Mad Men," Showtime's "Homeland" and PBS' "Downton Abbey."
The award for best comedy, which has been the province of ABC's "Modern Family" for three straight years, is considered a tough race this year. "Family" is up against CBS' "The Big Bang Theory," HBO's "Girls" and "Veep," NBC's "30 Rock" and FX's "Louie."
The sentimental favorite might be "30 Rock," which concluded its seven-season run early this year and also has three best comedy series Emmys to its credit. But don't count out "Louie," says Goldderby.com awards watcher Tom O'Neil.
O'Neil is predicting star Louis C.K. will win best actor in a comedy series, and the show has a good chance to take the comedy series crown, he says.
"I think that's where we're going to have the shakeup on Emmy night -- we're going to see some big surprises in terms of winners," he says.
There have already been some surprises for TV's most prestigious award. At the Creative Arts Emmys last week, Bob Newhart -- who has been nominated seven times over a more than five-decade career -- finally won, for a guest role on "The Big Bang Theory."
"They wrote an awful good script," Newhart said of his "Big Bang Theory" colleagues. "They gave me a lot of hanging curveballs, and I kept swinging at them."
Bob Newhart finally wins first Emmy
Melissa Leo won a trophy for her turn on "Louie," and Dan Bucatinsky won for outstanding guest actor for "Scandal." "Behind the Candelabra," the HBO film about Liberace and companion Scott Thorsen, did exceedingly well, picking up eight Emmys.
Tonight's show will have its share of showcases. There will be a segment on the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. The "In Memoriam" segment will feature tributes to stars by colleagues and friends, including Edie Falco on James Gandolfini and Robin Williams on Jonathan Winters.
But the main attraction of the evening -- besides the outfits, of course -- is the question: Who's gonna win?
And in that respect, the stiffest Emmy competition may not come from inside Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre. Not only is the show going up against a new "Breaking Bad" episode, it also has to compete against NBC's powerhouse "Sunday Night Football."
Fortunately, the Emmys have a secret weapon, and his name is Neil Patrick Harris. The multitalented star is handling the hosting duties, something he's done to perfection on the Tonys and previous Emmy broadcasts.
"I want it to be classy and smart," he told Entertainment Weekly. "If I can make the three-hour show feel even like it's two and a half hours long, then I've done my job."
The Emmys air at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
