HBO grabs most Emmy nominations; cable in spotlight

By Paul Thomasch

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - HBO got the most Emmy recognition of any U.S. network on Thursday as "John Adams" and "Recount" helped the cable channel grab 85 award nominations and burnish its reputation for quality programs.

HBO, the perennial favorite for Emmy nominations, was shut out of the race for best drama series for the first time in a decade but still emerged No. 1 overall thanks to "John Adams," a seven-part production about the second president of the United States.

Starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, "John Adams" had 23 nominations, the most of any program this year. "Recount," the made-for-TV movie about the disputed 2000 U.S. presidential election, gave HBO another 11 nominations.

Behind HBO was broadcast network ABC, with 76 nominations total, followed by CBS with 51 and NBC with 50.

This year's Primetime Emmys, U.S. television's top awards, will be given out by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at a gala show in Los Angeles on September 21.

Nominations and wins can provide valuable attention for little-seen shows and could prove particularly helpful this year for a crop of nominees from basic cable, including AMC's "Mad Men," a portrait of the 1960s Madison Avenue advertising industry, and the FX courtroom drama "Damages."

HBO used the critical acclaim and Emmy recognition for the likes of "Sex and the City" and "The Sopranos" to market itself to potential subscribers as a home for high-end shows.

But high marks from critics and Emmy voters do not always translate into stronger revenues for a network, experts say.