TV's Star-Studded Night

Red-carpet addicts can set up camp on their couches tonight for CBS’ presentation of the 61st annual Emmy Awards. The show will be hosted by How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris, who is now firmly planted as Hollywood’s 'It' Boy fresh off rave reviews for his emcee work at the Tony Awards this summer. As in the past few years, cable series dominate the nominations, with 16 just for AMC’s retro drama Mad Men, and a total of 99 nominations for shows on HBO. Apparently a multitasker, Mad Men dreamboat Jon Hamm is nominated both for his lead role in the series and for his guest run on NBC comedy 30 Rock. The Tina Fey-fronted comedy is nominated for a total of 22 awards, including Alec Baldwin’s nod for Best Actor in a Comedy. Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick—nominated for HBO’s Taking a Chance and The Closer, respectively—are on board to present together. Sounds like an awards show that may actually live up to its three-hour run time.