And three nods for Veep

Modern Family leads the comedy field at this year’s Emmy awards for American TV.

The sitcom – which airs on Sky 1 in the UK –  has a total of 14 nominations in the newly-annouced shortlists, including best comedy.

Ed O’Neill (who plays Jay); Julie Bowen (Claire), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell); Eric Stonestreet (Cameron) Ty Burrell (Phil) and Sofia Vergara (Gloria) are all in the running for acting awards

Meanwhile, Armando Iannucci’s Veep is also up for three awards: best comedy, best actress for star Julia Louis-Dreyfus and best casting.

Here are the shortlists for some of the main comedy categories.

Best comedy: Girls, Veep, The Big Bang Theory, Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock.

Lead actor in a comedy series: Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Jon Cryer in Two And A Half Men, Louis CK in Louie, Jim Parsons in Big Bang Theory, Don Cheadle in House Of Lies and Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock.

Lead actress: Zooey Deschantel in New Girl, Lena Dunham in Girls, Edie Falco in Nurse Jackie, Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation, Tina Fey in 30 Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Veep and Melissa McCarthy in Mike & Molly.

Supporting actor: Ed O’Neill, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ty Burrell and Eric Stonestreet all for Modern Family; Max Greenfield for New Girl and Bill Hader for Saturday Night Live.

Supporting actress: Mayim Bailik in Big Bang Theory, Kathryn Joosten in Desperate Housewives, Merritt Wever in Nurse Jackie, Kristen Wiig for Saturday Night Live and Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara, both for Modern Family.

Direction: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Girls, Louie, Modern Family, New Girl

Writing: Community, Girls, Louie, Parks and Recreation

Variety series: The Colbert Report, the Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Real Time With Bill Maher, Saturday Night Live.

Published: 19 Jul 2012