Reaction to 61st annual Emmy Award nominations

Reaction to 61st annual Emmy Award nominations

Quotes from some of the Emmy Award nominees:

“It’s been a long time between ‘Guiding Light’ and now. I got the news and I woke (wife, actress Kyra Sedgwick) up and she was on her way to work. I haven’t really spoken to her. She just texted me to say, ‘So what are you doing, fielding offers?’ … It’s a thrill to share good news with somebody that you love. We’re really looking forward to going.” — Kevin Bacon on being nominated for lead actor in a miniseries for “Taking Chance.”

“I’m in shock. It really does mean so much because I think Mary Griffith’s story is so wrenching, and the courage she has to share this story with all of us so other families don’t make this mistake, to me that’s the way that’s carried this tiny movie along. Our producers who worked for 13 years to get this made, they are jumping up and down. So it’s wonderful for us. … We’re all in shock.” — Sigourney Weaver on her lead-actress nomination for the Lifetime movie “Prayers for Bobby.”

“I am supremely honored to be nominated for an Emmy for the third time. They say good things come in threes, like comets, omens and Jonas Brothers. God bless these United States of America.” — Rainn Wilson on his supporting-actor nomination for NBC’s “The Office.”

“I got a call from my manager. He said, ‘Dude, dude, you’re nominated!’ Then I fell back asleep. I was out cold. LeBron James got into my dreams. He said I was nominated!” — Tracy Morgan on how he learned of his nomination for supporting actor in the NBC comedy “30 Rock.”

“It’s one of those things where you get the call in the morning and you think, ‘Oh, my God, somebody died.’ You can’t imagine what that is for a split-second. You think no good can happen that early in the morning.” — Bryan Cranston on waking up to the news that he was nominated for his leading role on AMC’s “Breaking Bad.”

“What a wonderful thing to wake up to. I think I might treat myself to a doughnut.” — Kristen Chenoweth on her nomination for supporting actress in the now-canceled ABC comedy series, “Pushing Daisies.”

“I was in shock because we come from the land of misfit toys over here. I didn’t expect it and it’s really great.” — Sarah Silverman on her nomination for lead actress on Comedy Central’s “The Sarah Silverman Program.”

“I never thought I’d work in television and when this show came along I was just so excited to work on something so original and had such amazing dialogue and the story is just incredible and has endless possibilities. Then for it to go on and be recognized in this way is a complete delight. It’s a surprise and also quite joyous.” — Toni Collette on her nomination for the Showtime comedy “United States of Tara.”

“This gives me an excuse to drink before noon.” — “Family Guy” creator Seth McFarlane on his show’s nomination in the comedy category.

“I freaked out and I jumped up and down and I ran downstairs to tell my mom, and I said, ‘Mom,’ I go, ‘Mom, we got nominated for an Emmy.’ She was in her bed and I woke up my mom and my step dad and I was freaking out and I don’t remember what happened after that because I was too excited.” — Teen star Selena Gomez on learning Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” was nominated for its first Emmy, for outstanding children’s program.

“Will I get a chance to celebrate? Perhaps when I go home tonight I’ll have a glass of champagne, and I would have chocolate but I think maybe rice cakes now since I’ve got an Emmy dress to fit into.” — Julia Louis-Dreyfus on her nomination for lead actress in a comedy series for CBS’ “The New Adventures of Old Christine.”

“It’s great to have some new people in the category, because it’s some new people I can lose to. This year, I’ve decided that if I lose I’m just going to lose it completely and beat the crud out of somebody sitting near me. … I think people will watch the Emmy telecast just to see who in the heck I beat up.” — Jon Cryer on his fourth consecutive Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a comedy series for CBS’ “Two and a Half Men.”

“This summer is just fantastic. The Tony, and a hit play that we’re going back to. I have a fantastic birthday coming up this summer. It’s just that it’s all happening. I don’t feel like I’ve ever felt happier or healthier, more delighted with the work. I feel showered with blessings.” — Tony Award winner Marcia Gay Harden on her Emmy nomination for supporting actress in a miniseries or movie for “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler.”

“Will I be celebrating? Well, I’m going to be at work all day, and then I have to pack to go back to New York. But that’s a good idea. Maybe I’ll go have a random steak and a bottle of Jack Daniels. No, I’m totally completely kidding.” — Mary-Louise Parker on her nomination for best actress in a comedy series for Showtime’s “Weeds.”

“My first reaction, because I couldn’t find the list online, I was like, ‘No, no, send me the list. I do not believe this is real. You have to prove it to me by seeing it in writing.’” — Jane Krakowski on her first-ever Emmy nomination, for supporting actress in NBC’s “30 Rock.”

“Our land line was ringing and nobody ever calls on that line unless it’s a fax or telemarketers. I thought, ‘6 a.m. is early for a telemarketer,’ so I got up and turned on my cell phone and right then Amy Adams was calling me. Two-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams was calling me! And she was telling me congratulations. And then I started getting all these phone calls so I knew something was up but then I couldn’t find the Web site that would list everything. It was not a good start. It was a very clunky start for me.” — Jack McBrayer on his first Emmy nomination, for supporting actor in a comedy series for NBC’s “30 Rock.”

“I was awake already and I had forgotten that this was the morning. I’m way up north at my cabin in the woods in northern Minnesota. And I thought it was somebody calling to talk to me about my bat problem here in the cabin. So I was very relieved and it was an unanticipated bit of joyful information.” — Jessica Lange on her nomination for best actress in a miniseries or movie for HBO’s “Grey Gardens.”

“It’s very bittersweet. Farrah passed away three weeks ago today. It’s quite a coincidence that three weeks later we find out about the Emmy nomination. I know that she would be so, so happy. This was so important to her, this project. She’s been nominated before, and I just know that this would be the most important one of all. It’s a wonderful way to honor her legacy … I’m thrilled about it and I want to cry at the same time.” — Farrah Fawcett’s friend Alana Stewart, a producer of NBC’s “Farrah’s Story.”

“I was honestly — I give you a caveat because it sounds like a cliche — but I was honestly overwhelmed. I thought we were eligible for nine nominations and when I found out that we had 17, I clearly hadn’t done my math right, I started crying. I was extremely proud.” — Michael Sucsy, director of HBO’s “Grey Gardens.”

“I’m in such a dream state right now. I really hope I’m not dreaming this.” — Aaron Paul on his nomination for supporting actor, drama series, in AMC’s “Breaking Bad.”

“It means we all get to get dressed up and go to a big party. And that’s good enough for me.” — Carter Bays, co-executive producer of CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother,” a nominee for best comedy.

AP Entertainment Writers Sandy Cohen and Derrik Lang, and Associated Press Writers John Rogers and Solvej Schou in Los Angeles; Television Writer David Bauder in New York and AP Television producer Marcela Isaza in Santa Monica, Calif., contributed to this report.