The Primetime Emmy nominations were announced on July 14 and both broadcast and cable series had something to smile about.  It’s no surprise AMC’s Mad Men earned a Best Drama nomination, plus 18 more for a leading 19 nominations. HBO’s Boardwalk Empire was close behind with 18 nominations, including Outstanding Drama, but will be competing against fellow HBO series Game of Thrones for the big award.

ABC’s Modern Family scored the most comedy nominations, with 17. Fox’s Glee picked up nominations in the Outstanding Comedy, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor categories.  The Big Bang Theory, The Office, Parks & Recreation and 30 Rock joined Modern Family and Glee as the nominees in the Outstanding Comedy category.

On the drama side, Friday Night Lights earned a much deserved Best Drama nomination. It also took home nominations for Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton in the Lead Actor and Actress categories. The critically acclaimed CBS legal drama The Good Wife didn’t need an injunction to get nominations for Outstanding Drama, Lead Actress, two Supporting Actor nominations and two Supporting Actress nominations. Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins and the brilliant Margo Martindale earned nominations for FX’s Justified in the Lead Actor, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress categories, respectively. Peter Dinklage earned Game of Thrones its only acting nomination in the Supporting Actor category, for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister. Showtime’s Dexter joined Boardwalk Empire, Friday Night Lights, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife and Mad Men with a Best Drama nominations. 

What do you think of this year's Emmy nominations? Is there any series or actor who you think was snubbed of a nomination. AMC's The Walking Dead could make a strong argument for being robbed of an Outstanding Drama nomination. See the full list after the jump!

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On today’s Pop Confidential podcast Jamey Giddens, Luke Kerr, Jillian Bowe, Regan Cellura and Melodie Aikels dish the latest celebrity, TV, movie and music news, including:

Prince William and Kate tour North American, visiting Canada and Hollywood. Casey Anthony was found not guilty of murdering her daughter Caylee.  Maria Shriver drops $10 million on a Brentwood Mansion.

Jamey is ecstatic that TNT has picked up Dallas. A preview for Dallas will air during the premieres of The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles. What did the Pop Confidential gang think of the first two episodes of True Blood? Did they live up to expectations or did they fall short? Luke loved the premiere of Torchwood: Miracle Day, but what did Jamey think of it and Alexa Havins' character?  Has Pretty Little Liars become plot driven? Jamey and Luke try to convince their co-hosts to check out MTV's Teen Wolf.

Transformers 3 topped the box office for the second week in the row, while Jennifer Anniston’s Horrible Bosses came in at No. 2. Should a third Bridget Jones movie be made or has the franchise run its course?

Joe Jonas wants to tour with Chris Brown. What does the PC gang think of Beyonce’s 4? Jillian is loving Jill Scott’s new CD, but what are the others listening to on their iPods? All this and much more on today’s show.

All this and much more on today’s show!

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Kyra Sedgwick returns as Brenda Leigh Johnson, when The Closer kicks off its new season of crime solving on July 11. The series, which is spinning off Mary McDonnell’s Captain Sharon Raydor in Major Crimes in 2012, has a catchy new promo you can check out after the jump. Watching it almost makes me wish I grew up to be a big city crime fighter, or I should go buy a box of Ding Dongs. I can’t decide which.

In other TNT news, the cable network has renewed the intense sci-fi series Falling Skies for a 10-episode second season, according to Zap2it.

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I can check off one of my New Year’s Resolutions! Today, TNT officially announced Major Crimes, The Closer's spinoff starring Mary McDonnell.  The procedural received a 10-episode order and will premiere in 2012. Fifteen episodes of The Closer’s final season will air in 2011, while the remaining six will air in 2012. Also, returning to the network are Rizzoli & Isles, Men of a Certain Age, Leverage, HawthoRNe, Memphis Beat and Southland.

In June, TNT premieres two new series. Falling Skies, starring Noah Wyle, is about the aftermath of an alien invasion. Franklin & Bash, starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer, is about two friends who literally "nab a client within seconds after a car accident, arrest for solicitation or any other incident where their legal services may be needed. "  Unfortunately, TNT made no mention of the much discussed Dallas pilot in their press release, which you can read at Deadline. READ MORE

Remember my New Year’s resolution to campaign to get Mary McDonnell a spinoff of The Closer? It looks like I may not need to. According to TV Line, McDonnell has been upgraded to a series regular on The Closer. Best of all, the article suggests the case for McDonnell taking over, after Kyra Sedgwick departs, is getting stronger. However, the possible spinoff Major Crimes, with or without McDonnell, is still an option.

The likeliest scenario has the network folding some of Closer‘s current cast into a spinoff titled Major Crimes. While it’s unclear if McDonnell would be included in such an offshoot, it’s safe to say producers are keeping their options open.
 

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Will The Closer live on? According to TV Line the soon-to-be defunct show may continue without lead actress Kyra Sedgwick.  Sedgwick announced plans to depart after the current, seventh season of the smash hit ends.  Once the actress made her announcement , TNT chose to end the series. However, TV Line's Michael Ausiello alleges the show may expand the last season's episodes up from 15 to to 21,  push forward with a spin off and/or continue with a new lead.

Photo Credit: TNT