If you heard someone momentarily flatlining in the audience at the reading of the Emmy nominations Thursday morning, that was me. They were announcing the best drama series candidates and I was mostly on board as I checked my list in the back of the TV Academy theater. Damages. Yay! House. OK. Boston Legal. I dont approve, but Im no longer surprised. Lost. OMG! Dexter. OM-Freaking-G! Wait. Thats five. Surely they didnt leave out . . .

And they didnt. AMCs dazzling Mad Men, the last to be announced, not only made the cut, it made history. With 16, its the most nominated drama of the year, and with FXs Damages (seven nominations total), represents basic cables first-ever breakthrough into the top tier of Emmy accolades for best series. Mad Men also has to be seen as the odds-on favorite for best drama at this point.

While were on this category"and lets face it, this is the golden age of TV drama, so this really is the nights top prize"lets hail the Emmy voters for recognizing the creative rebirth of Lost this season, which had fallen off the list since winning best drama for its first season. And what a pleasant shock to see the Emmys embrace (only a year late) the twisted brilliance of Dexter in its second year for coming into its own with plotting that never stopped. Of the three cable dramas vying for the Emmy, Dexter was a much bigger surprise for me than the success of Mad Men and Damages, which despite not airing on pay cable have the look and feel of first-class blue-chip entertainment. (I secretly suspect Emmy voters were confused about Mad Men having been created by a former Sopranos writer and just assumed it aired on HBO, since it surely looks like it does.)

Now that Ive gushed, lets pause for a moment to lament the final snub for HBOs searing urban masterpiece The Wire (a single writing nomination) and another cold shoulder for Friday Night Lights (a casting nomination, but no acting honors yet again). I guess the Emmy voters must somehow think these shows are documentaries, not dramas. And because they take place on those strange, obscure planets of Texas and Baltimore, the Hollywood contingent simply cant be bothered.

God forbid theyd favor either of these shows over the cartoonish pandering of Boston Legal (seven nominations, including three for acting and one for directing). Im a little irked as well by the rote nomination of House (four nominations, including no-brainer Hugh Laurie and directing) after a lukewarm season marred by awkward cast transitions. A few killer episodes, especially toward the end, does not a deserving season make, but no argument about Hugh Laurie.

Speaking of best drama actor, which like the best-drama category made room for six nominees, how does one choose among Laurie, Jon Hamm, Michael C. Hall, Bryan Cranston (an inspired choice for AMCs other new drama, Breaking Bad; what a great year for AMC), In Treatments brooding Gabriel Byrne and the inevitable James Spader. Laurie is overdue, but Im torn between Hamm and Hall. An embarrassment of riches.

The best drama actress category is more clear-cut. Some terrific contenders in past winners Sally Field and Mariska Hargitay, plus TNT queens Kyra Sedgwick and the over-the-top Holly Hunter, but this ones going to Damages Glenn Close for her ferocious performance as the cunning Patty Hewes. (Kudos to Ted Danson and Zeljko Ivanek for earning supporting nominations for Damages as well.)

Few surprises in the various comedy categories. I was bummed that Pushing Daisies, despite earning 12 nominations (second only to 30 Rocks 17 in the comedy field), didnt crack the best-comedy category. I blame the strike, which kept Daisies from completing more than nine episodes. I also blame the Emmy voters infatuation with HBO, because Entourage certainly didnt deserve a nod for its most recent subpar season. (No such argument with Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillons supporting nominations.) But Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office, 30 Rock and Two and a Half Men were all expected to make the cut, and did.

A quick note on the movies/minis categories. As usual, HBO leads the pack with its epic miniseries John Adams earning 23 nominations. Its only real rival: PBS Masterpieces delightful Cranford, with eight. The movie prize will come down to HBOs politically charged satire Recount and ABCs beautifully rendered remake of A Raisin in the Sun, unless HBOs Extras movie finale is a spoiler. ( Raisins Phylicia Rashad, who won a Tony for the role, should be a shoo-in for movie actress despite tough competition from Laura Linneys Abigail Adams and Dame Judi Denchs poignant Cranford spinster. With lesser competition, John Adams Paul Giamatti is probably a lock for best actor, unless Extras Ricky Gervais pulls off another upset.)

Some thoughts on other major categories (for a full list, go here):

Comedy actor: Nice to see Pushing Daisies charming Lee Pace break into a tight category. But 30 Rocks Alec Baldwin, denied a win last year, will take this one. (I knew it was a long shot for this year, but I'm hoping the Emmys will soon discover The Big Bang Theory's truly hilarious Jim Parsons.)

Comedy actress: Ditto Christina Applegate, joining a list of worthy repeat nominees. Id love to see Julia Louis-Dreyfus hysterical Old Christine win again. That underappreciated show could use the boost.

Supporting/guest nominations: Shout-outs to Losts Michael Emerson and Greys Anatomys Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson for representing their otherwise neglected ensembles; to How I Met Your Mothers Neil Patrick Harris and Mad Men's John Slattery; to Saturday Night Lives versatile Amy Poehler for forcing the Emmys to consider work in late-night comedy worthy of inclusion in the comedy category; and while Desperate Housewives' regular cast was entirely shut out, heres to guest actresses Kathryn Joosten and Polly Bergen for keeping Wisteria Lane on the map.

Reality: How likely is it that The Amazing Race will once again beat American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Bravos Project Runway and Top Chef for reality-competition? Very likely. But Race's Phil Keoghan was left out of the new reality-host race, which should go to Dancings unflappably appealing Tom Bergeron (his competition: Heidi Klum, Jeff Probst, Ryan Seacrest and, gulp, Howie Mandel, who can now add Emmy nominee to his resume). Still the wackiest category: Outstanding Reality Program, a grab-bag that includes Antiques Roadshow, Dirty Jobs, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Intervention and Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List"who will she tell to suck it should she win again?

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