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Emmy Awards ceremony under way in Los Angeles

By KAREN BUTLER, United Press International
Image courtesy of CBS.
Image courtesy of CBS.

Neil Patrick Harris kicked off the Emmy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Sunday night with a segment showing him attempting to binge-view an entire TV season.

Harris then took the stage to begin his monologue, but was hilariously interrupted by past Emmys emcees Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Jane Lynch and Conan O'Brien.

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Kevin Spacey then revealed from his seat in the audience that he sent the comedians on-stage to sabotage Harris and it was all going according to his evil plan.

FX's hospital thriller "American Horror Story: Asylum" went into the prize presentation with a leading 17 nominations.

HBO's medieval fantasy series "Game of Thrones" follows close behind with 16 nods, while the cable network's Liberace bio-picture "Behind the Candelabra" and NBC's sketch comedy series "Saturday Night Live" are each in the running for 15 awards.

AMC's drug-themed drama "Breaking Bad" and NBC's sitcom "30 Rock" are up for 13 prizes apiece, while PBS' "Downton Abbey," AMC's "Mad Men" and ABC's "Modern Family" have each earned 12 nominations.

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"Breaking Bad," "Downton Abbey," "Game of Thrones," "Homeland," "House of Cards" and "Mad Men" are nominated for the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy.

In the running for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie are "American Horror Story: Asylum," "Behind the Candelabra," "The Bible," "Phil Spector," "Political Animals" and "Top of the Lake."

Shortlisted in the Outstanding Comedy Series category are "The Big Bang Theory," "Girls," "Louie," "Modern Family" and "30 Rock."

Among the celebrities booked to appear as presenters on the show are Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Hamm, Alyson Hannigan, LL Cool J, Malin Akerman, Stephen Amell, Connie Britton, Dan Bucatinsky, Emilia Clarke, Tim Gunn, Mark Harmon, Mindy Kaling, Heidi Klum, Melissa Leo, Julianna Margulies, Dylan McDermott, Bob Newhart, Dean Norris, Jim Parsons, Carrie Preston, Cobie Smulders and Blair Underwood.

The late TV stars James Gandolfini, Cory Monteith, Jean Stapleton and Jonathan Winters are to be honored -- along with producer Gary David Goldberg -- outside the show's traditional "In Memoriam" segment.

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Those who will provide special tributes include Edie Falco, who will remember her "Sopranos" co-star Gandolfini; Michael J. Fox, who will honor his "Family Ties" producer Goldberg; Jane Lynch, who will talk about her friend and "Glee" co-star Cory Monteith; Rob Reiner, who will pay tribute to his long-time "All in the Family" co-star Jean Stapleton; and Robin Williams, who will remember his friend and mentor Winters.

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