Emmy Awards open field to more nominees

[February 05, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- More TV shows and stars will be going for the gold at this fall's Emmy Awards ceremony.

The TV academy's board of governors voted to expand the number of nominees from five to six in 10 major prime-time Emmy categories, including best comedy and drama series and lead actor and actress in a comedy and drama.

The change announced Wednesday is intended to accommodate what the TV academy called "an abundance of outstanding programs and performances" and follows a review of voting patterns. Final voting is unchanged.

The review found a series of ties over the past three years already had produced plenty of six-nominee categories, including the 2008 drama series in which AMC's "Mad Men" was the winner.

[Associated Press]

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