Emmy Winers Get Their Hardware Sunday

Jon Hamm of Mad Men

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It's an honor just to be nominated for an Emmy given the more than 400 scripted TV shows broadcast or streamed on U.S. television in a year, but only a few will take home a Primetime Emmy Award on Sunday.

Here are four key races to be decided at Sunday's award show which will be broadcast on Fox at 8 pm ET.

BEST DRAMA SERIES:

The biggest prize in the TV industry looks like a close race between "Mad Men" and "Game of Thrones."

• "Mad Men" - the 1960s advertising show ended in May. If it wins on Sunday, it will make Emmy history as the winningest drama ever, with a record five victories.
• "Game of Thrones" - the fantasy series based on the books of George R.R. Martin has a huge fan base and a leading 24 nominations overall. It has never won the top award in four years on the air.

Last year's winner: "Breaking Bad."

BEST COMEDY SERIES:

The award for the funniest show on TV shapes up as a three-way tie.

• "Modern Family" - the mockumentary about families of many hues has never lost this category since it first aired in 2009. A sixth win would make Emmy history.
• "Transparent" - the show about an older man transitioning to become a woman put Amazon.com's original TV content on the map.
• "Veep" - the satirical look at dysfunctional White House politics aired its fourth season just as the 2016 U.S. presidential race was heating up.

Last year's winner: "Modern Family."

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES:

A race between two actresses of color. No African-American actress has ever won an Emmy in this category

• Viola Davis, "How to get Away With Murder" - Davis missed out on an Oscar in 2012 for "The Help" and here she plays tough but vulnerable criminal defense attorney Annalise Keating who's not above bending the law.
• Taraji P. Henson, "Empire" - The hit series about a hip-hop family business was snubbed in the best drama category but Henson is nominated for playing strong-willed matriarch Cookie Lyon.

Last year's winner: Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife."

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES:

A three-way contest between two established comediennes and a rising star.

• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep" - The former "Seinfeld" star's bumbling, egotistical Selina Meyer captures the worst of Washington politics, and has won three times.
• Amy Schumer, "Inside Amy Schumer" - Star and creator of her own irreverent sketch show, Schumer is comedy's brightest newcomer, boosted by her hit summer movie "Trainwreck."
• Lily Tomlin, "Grace and Frankie" - Beloved actress Tomlin's hippie art teacher Frankie Bergstein struggles to start a new life after her husband leaves her for another man.

Last year's winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep."

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant; Editing by Andrew Hay)


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