US: The popular television series based on the disreputable life and times of a New Jersey Mafia family, The Sopranos, led the field of prime-time series announced yesterday as contenders for US television's highest honours, with 20 Emmy nominations, including one for for best drama.
The Sopranos, made by HBO, and overshadowed in three previous Emmy Award ceremonies by The West Wing, the series based around the fictional White House staff of US "President Bartlet" starring Martin Sheen, will compete again with the NBC political drama and two other nominees from last year - Fox espionage thriller 24 and TV's highest-rated drama, CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Among those nominated for best actor in a drama were Sopranos heavy James Gandolfini, who won last year, and Sheen for West Wing.
Also joining this year's roster of best-drama contenders is first-time challenger Joan of Arcadia, the CBS show about a teenage girl who talks with God.
The nomination of The West Wing puts the show in the running for re-election to a record fifth term as best dramatic series.
The only other prime-time show in Emmy history to claim five best series victories was the long-running comedy Frasier, which bowed off NBC last season.
HBO's popular but newly departed Sex and the City was the most nominated sitcom, gaining recognition in 11 categories, including best comedy series.
Fox's offbeat family sitcom Arrested Development, a low-rated but critically favoured freshman show, also snagged a best-comedy nomination, break- ing into an otherwise familiar pack of returning Emmy contenders. The other nominees were NBC's Will & Grace, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, and last year's champion, CBS's Everybody Loves Raymond, headed into a ninth and final season.
Angels in America, which starred Al Pacino, got 21 nominations.