Online Drama Competes with Traditional TV Series for Emmy Top Honors

"House of Cards." Image: Christianpost.com

The Primetime Emmy has never been this much exciting as the online drama "House of Cards" aims to trump traditional TV series for the Emmy top honors this Sunday, September 22.

The Netflix political drama is top-billed by screen veteran Kevin Spacey and is the first and so far the only web series to get a major nod at the 65th annual Primetime Emmy awards, television's match to filmdom's Academy Awards.

While House's nomination was a feat in its own, it does not go without stiff competition. Critically-acclaimed thriller "Breaking Bad," is another Emmy frontrunner as well, after its 5th nomination.

The terrifying thriller "Homeland" and the Emmy-winning "Mad Men" have also been shortlisted for the best drama category, while "American Horror Story: Asylum" is hoping to become this year's runaway winner, after earning 17 nominations.

Of course, the period drama and perennial Emmy favorite "Downton Abbey" once again scored an outstanding drama series nomination.

Among the night's highlight is Elton John's debut appearance as he gives a tribute to piano legend Liberace, who was also the subject of highly-praised biopic "Behind the Candelabra," which scooped 15 nominations. Just last week, "Candelabra" won 8 trophies at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards for its outstanding production.

Here's the list of nominees:

Drama Series

"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"House of Cards"
"Mad Men"

Drama Actor:

Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Jeff Daniels, "Newsroom"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damien Lewis, "Homeland"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"

Drama Actress

Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Connie Britton, "Nashville"
Kerry Washington, "Scandal"

Supporting Actor in a Drama

Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"
Jonathan Banks, "Breaking Bad"
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"
Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"

Supporting Actress in a Drama

Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"
Maggie Smith, "Downtown Abbey"
Emilia Clark, "Game of Thrones"
Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
Morena Baccarin, "Homeland"
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"

Comedy Series

"The Big Bang Theory"
"Girls"
"Louie"
"Modern Family"
"30 Rock"
"Veep"

Comedy Actor

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Louis C.K, "Louie"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"

Comedy Actress

Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"

Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Adam Driver, "Girls"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"
Tony Hale, "Veep"

Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"
Jane Lynch, "Glee"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"
Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"

Miniseries or Movie

"American Horror Story: Asylum"
"Behind the Candelabra"
"The Bible"
"Phil Spector"
"Political Animals"
"Top of the Lake"

Actor in a miniseries or movie

Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"
Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"
Toby Jones, "The Girl"
Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End"
Al Pacino, "Phil Spector"

Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Laura Linney, "The Big C: Hereafter"
Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"
Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals"
Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake"