20 Emmy Finalists Announced with a Few Surprises

It was a historic day for the Emmy awards. For the first time in their history, the show announced the top 10 comedies and dramas under consideration for nomination. The actual awards will be presented in September.

Getting down to it, the drama finalists are: Lost, Boston Legal, House, Grey's Anatomy, Friday Night Lights, Dexter, Mad Men, Damages, The Tudors and The Wire.

Only one show, in the absence of The Sopranos, has previously taken home the top prize, and that is Lost. But the most noteworthy shows on the list are NBC's critically-acclaimed (but rarely watched) Friday Night Lights and HBO's vastly underrated The Wire.

Neither show has ever been nominated, even though most TV critics would argue that their exclusion is ludicrous.

There weren't many surprises on the comedic front. The nominees for Best Comedy include: 30 Rock, The Office, Two and a Half Men, Family Guy, Pushing Daisies, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Flight of the Conchords, Ugly Betty and Weeds.

The 60th Primetime Emmys will occur on September 21. Look for both The Office and 30 Rock to contend for the Emmy in Best Comedy.