Emmy host Neil Patrick Harris

Emmy host Neil Patrick Harris

'American Horror Story' and 'Game of Thrones' lead this year's Emmy Award nominations.

The hit horror TV show and fantasy drama have received 17 and 16 nods respectively at the 65th annual US TV awards, with 'Game of Thrones' leading the Outstanding Drama Series category and the second season of Ryan Murphy's anthology show - titled 'American Horror Story: Asylum' - sweeping the miniseries categories.

As well as being up for the top prize, 'Game of Thrones' is celebrating numerous nominations, including Outstanding Supporting Actress for Emilia Clarke and Outstanding Supporting Actor for Peter Dinklage,

Other TV heavyweights competing in the Outstanding Drama category are 'Breaking Bad', 'Homeland', 'Downton Abbey', 'Mad Men', and newcomer 'House of Cards'.

'American Horror Story' actress Jessica Lange is up for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie prize in addition to the show's Outstanding Miniseries or Movie nomination.

Meanwhile, hit sitcoms 'The Big Bang Theory' and 'Modern Family' are strong favourites to win the Outstanding Comedy Series category,nominated alongside 'Louie', 'Girls', '30 Rock' and 'Veep'.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is shaping up to be a tough category with seven stars getting nods. Among the leading ladies up for the prestigious golden statue are Connie Britton ('Nashville'), Claire Danes ('Homeland'), Michelle Dockery ('Downton Abbey'), Vera Farmiga ('Bates Motel'), Elisabeth Moss ('Mad Men'), Robin Wright ('House of Cards') and Kerry Washington ('Scandal').

This year's Emmy Awards, hosted by 'How I Met Your Mother' funnyman Neil Patrick Harris, will take place in Los Angeles on September 22.

2013 Emmy Awards - selected nominees list:

Outstanding Drama Series

'Breaking Bad'

'Downton Abbey'

'Game of Thrones'

'Homeland'

'House of Cards'

'Mad Men'

Outstanding Comedy Series

'The Big Bang Theory'

'Girls'

'Louie'

'Modern Family'

'30 Rock'

'Veep'

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie

'American Horror Story: Asylum'

'Behind the Candelabra'

'The Bible'

'Phil Spector'

'Political Animals'

'Top of the Lake'

Outstanding Reality Competition Series

'The Amazing Race'

'Dancing With the Stars'

'Project Runway'

'Top Chef'

'The Voice'

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Hugh Bonneville, 'Downton Abbey'

Bryan Cranston, 'Breaking Bad'

Jeff Daniels, 'The Newsroom'

Jon Hamm, 'Mad Men'

Damian Lewis, 'Homeland'

Kevin Spacey, 'House of Cards'

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Connie Britton, 'Nashville'

Claire Danes, 'Homeland'

Michelle Dockery, 'Downton Abbey'

Vera Farmiga, 'Bates Motel'

Elisabeth Moss, 'Mad Men'

Kerry Washington, 'Scandal'

Robin Wright, 'House of Cards'

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin, '30 Rock'

Jason Bateman, 'Arrested Development'

Louis C.K., 'Louie'

Don Cheadle, 'House of Lies'

Matt LeBlanc, 'Episodes'

Jim Parsons, 'The Big Bang Theory'

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Laura Dern, 'Enlightened'

Lena Dunham, 'Girls'

Edie Falco, 'Nurse Jackie'

Tina Fey, '30 Rock'

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 'Veep'

Amy Poehler, 'Parks and Recreation'

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Bobby Cannavale, 'Boardwalk Empire'

Jonathan Banks, 'Breaking Bad'

Peter Dinklage, 'Game of Thrones'

Mandy Patinkin, 'Homeland'

Aaron Paul, 'Breaking Bad'

Jim Carter, 'Downton Abbey'

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Christine Baranski, 'The Good Wife'

Anna Gunn, 'Breaking Bad'

Christina Hendricks, 'Mad Men'

Maggie Smith, 'Downton Abbey'

Morena Baccarin, 'Homeland'

Emilia Clarke, 'Game of Thrones'

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Ty Burrell, 'Modern Family'

Adam Driver, 'Girls'

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, 'Modern Family'

Bill Hader, 'Saturday Night Live'

Ed O'Neill, 'Modern Family'

Tony Hale, 'Veep'

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Mayim Bialik, 'The Big Bang Theory'

Julie Bowen, 'Modern Family'

Anna Chlumsky, 'Veep'

Jane Krakowski, '30 Rock'

Sofia Vergara, 'Modern Family'

Merritt Wever, 'Nurse Jackie'

Jane Lynch, 'Glee'

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

Benedict Cumberbatch, 'Parade's End'

Matt Damon, 'Behind the Candelabra'

Michael Douglas, 'Behind the Candelabra'

Toby Jones, 'The Girl'

Al Pacino, 'Phil Spector'

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Jessica Lange, 'American Horror Story: Asylum'

Laura Linney, 'The Big C Hereafter'

Helen Mirren, 'Phil Spector'

Elisabeth Moss, 'Top of the Lake'

Sigourney Weaver, 'Political Animals'

Outstanding Reality Host

Tom Bergeron, 'Dancing With the Stars'

Cat Deeley, 'So You Think You Can Dance'

Heidi Klum/Tim Gunn, 'Project Runway'

Ryan Seacrest, 'American Idol'

Betty White, 'Betty White's Off Their Rockers'

Anthony Bourdain, 'The Taste'

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