'West Wing,' 'Sopranos' Top Emmy Nods

This year's Emmy nominations honored many of this season's critical favorites, but the nods came with few surprises.

HBO's "The Sopranos" and NBC's "The West Wing" each received 18 nominations, including best drama series and nods to their lead actors, James Gandolfini and Martin Sheen.

The two shows share their best drama nomination with NBC's "ER" and "Law & Order," as well as ABC's "The Practice."

Lead actor in a drama series nominations went to "The Sopranos'" Gandolfini, "West Wing's" Sheen, Sam Waterston and Jerry Orbach, both of NBC's "Law & Order," and Dennis Franz of ABC's "NYPD Blue."

"NYPD Blue" alum and star of "Judging Amy," Amy Brenneman, received a best lead actress in a drama series nomination for her CBS show. Her competition is Sela Ward of ABC's "Once and Again," Julianna Margulies, who left NBC's "ER" this season, and Lorraine Bracco and Edie Falco, both of HBO's "The Sopranos."

Best supporting actor in a drama series nominees are Michael Badalucco and Steve Harris of ABC's "The Practice," Dominic Chianese of "The Sopranos," and Richard Schiff and John Spencer, both of "The West Wing."

Supporting actress in a drama series nods went to Tyne Daly of "Judging Amy," Holland Taylor of "The Practice" and Stockard Channing and Allison Janney, both of "The West Wing." The late Nancy Marchand of "The Sopranos" was also nominated.

HBO's "Sex And the City" and CBS' "Everybody Loves Raymond" go head-to-head in the best comedy series category against NBC's "Frasier," "Friends" and "Will & Grace."

Both of "Will & Grace's" title characters were nominated in the best lead acting in a comedy series categories.

Debra Messing was nominated, along with Patricia Heaton of "Raymond," Sarah Jessica Parker of "Sex and the City," Jenna Elfman of "Dharma & Greg," and Jane Kaczmarek of the freshman Fox comedy "Malcolm in the Middle."

Lead actor in a comedy series nominees are Eric McCormack of "Will & Grace," "Frasier's" Kelsey Grammar, Ray Romano of "Everybody Loves Raymond," "3rd Rock from the Sun's" John Lithgow and Michael J. Fox, who left ABC's "Spin City" this season.

Two female "Friends" received nominations in the best supporting actress in a comedy series category -- Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow -- but none of the men on the NBC show were nominated. Matthew Perry had taken his name out of contention for a nomination when he was mistakenly placed in the best lead actor category. All six cast members agreed to run only in the supporting actor category.

Kudrow and Aniston are up against Kim Cattrall of "Sex and the City," Megan Mullally of "Will & Grace" and Doris Roberts of "Everybody Loves Raymond."

Best supporting actor in a comedy series nominees are Peter Boyle and Brad Garrett of "Everybody Loves Raymond," Sean Hayes of "Will & Grace," David Hyde Pierce of "Frasier" and Peter MacNicol of "Ally McBeal."

In the best made-for-television movie category, HBO received three of the five nominations for "If These Walls Could Talk 2," "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" and "RKO 281." ABC's "Annie" and "Oprah Winfrey Presents Tuesdays with Morrie" were also nominated.

Overall, "RKO 281," a biopic about Orson Welles and the making of "Citizen Kane," received 13 nominations, including a best lead actor in a television movie nod for Liev Schreiber.

"Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" received 11 nominations, including one for lead actress Halle Berry. Berry previously received a Golden Globe and an NAACP Image Award for the role.

Best miniseries nominees are ABC's "Arabian Nights" and "The Beach Boys: An American Family," CBS' "Jesus," HBO's "The Corner" and A&E's "P.T. Barnum."

NBC received the most nomination of any network with 97. HBO followed with 86, ABC with 64, CBS with 41 and Fox with 26.

Last year's Emmy winners Falco and Badalucco announced the nominations for the 52nd annual Prime-Time Emmy Awards Thursday morning in North Hollywood. The awards wil be presented live Sept. 10 on ABC.