AMC

By The Associated Press

''Mad Men,'' a piercingly bleak portrait of a 1960s American anti-hero, earned a leading 17 Emmy nominations Thursday and the chance to set a new record as the most-honored drama in television history.

''Mad Men,'' which has won four best drama series trophies and is tied with ''Hill Street Blues,'' ''L.A. Law'' and ''The West Wing,'' received a fifth bid in the category.

The miniseries ''American Horror story,'' a nightmarish saga about a haunted house, received a matching 17 awards, including an acting nod for star Connie Britton.

Other leading nominees include the elegant British-born soap opera ''Downton Abbey,'' which earned 16 bids, and two miniseries, ''Hatfields & McCoys,'' with 16, and ''Hemingway & Gellhorn'' with 15.

''Modern Family,'' honored as best comedy series for two years, was the sitcom leader with 14 bids.

Top nominations were announced by Kerry Washington of ''Scandal'' and by Jimmy Kimmel, who will host the awards and who filled in Thursday for Nick Offerman of ''Parks and Recreation,'' who was held up by weather-related travel delays on the East Coast.

''This is a sex dream, isn't it,'' joked Kimmel, ABC's late-night host, who arrived on stage at the TV academy dressed in pajamas.

Partial list of nominees:

Best Actress in a Television Drama

Glenn Close, ''Damages"; Michelle Dockery, ''Downton Abbey"; Julianna Margulies, ''The Good Wife"; Kathy Bates, ''Harry's Law"; Claire Danes, ''Homeland"; and Elisabeth Moss, ''Mad Men.''

Best Actor in a Television Drama