Stritch, Parker, Marshall, Etc. Receive Emmy Nominations

Dozens of theatre stars are among the nominees of the 59th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which will be broacast live from L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium on Sunday, September 16th at 8 PM on FOX.

Nominated as Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series were, among others, Sir Ian McKellen for "Extras," and Stanley Tucci for "Monk."  Eli Wallach (for "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"), John Goodman (also for "Studio 60") and Tim Daly (for "The Sopranos") were among the nominees for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series.  The Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series included as nominees Elaine Stritch (for "30 Rock"), Dixie Carter (for "Desperate Housewives"), Laurie Metcalf (for "Desperate Housewives") and Judith Light (for "Ugly Betty"). Nominees for Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series included Jean Smart (For "24"), Kate Burton (for "Grey's Anatomy"), Leslie Caron (for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") and Marcia Gay Harden (for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit").

The nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series  included Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock") and Tony Shalhoub ("Monk"), while James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos") was among the nominees as Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series.  The Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie category included William H. Macy (for "The Ron Clark Story").  Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series were Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives") and Mary-Louise Parker ("Weeds"), among others.  Edie Falco and Sally Field were also nominated as Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series for "The Sopranos" and "Brothers & Sisters," respectively. The nominees for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie included Queen Latifah ("Life Support"), Helen Mirren ("Prime Suspect: The Final Act"), Mary-Louise Parker ("The Robber Bride") and Gena Rowlands ("What If God Were the Sun").

Nominated as Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series were Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother") and Jeremy Piven ("Entourage"), among others. Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos") and T.R. Knight ("Grey's Anatomy") were among the nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series.  Nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie included Aidan Quinn ("Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee") and Joe Mantegna ("The Starter Wife").  The Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series category included Vanessa Williams ("Ugly Betty") and Holland Taylor ("Two and a Half Men").  Lorraine Bracco and Aida Turturro were both nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series category - both for their work in "The Sopranos."  Anna Paquin ("Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee") and Toni Collette ("Tsunami: The Aftermath") were nominated as Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie.

In addition, Rob Marshall was nominated as Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program for his work on "Tony Bennett: An American Classic." Marshall, with John DeLuca, received another nod for the same program in the category of Outstanding Choreography.  Theatre director Scott Ellis was among the nominees for Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series for the "The Breakup" episode of "30 Rock."  Avenue Q Tony Award-winners Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx were also honored in the Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics category for penning (with Debra Fordham) "Everything Comes Down to Poo" for "Scrubs: The Musical;" Paul F and Fordham's "Guy Love" from "Scrubs: The Musical" was also recognized in that category.

Visit www.emmys.tv for more information and a full list of Emmy Award nominees.

Photo of Elaine Stritch by Linda Lenzi