• by Wayne Friedman , July 7, 2006

From a marketing spin point of view, ABC will have a lot to tout about going into the Emmy Awards presentation next month, as it scored the most nominations of any broadcast network.

ABC is the only network to show gains from a year ago--improving the number of nominations by 14 to 65 versus 51 a year ago. This leads all broadcast networks--CBS had 47, down from 59; NBC was at 46, down from 54; and Fox came in with 41, down from 49.

That said, ABC's big shows--"Lost" and "Desperate Housewives"--were shut out in all big show/acting categories. Last year, both were heavily nominated, with "Lost" winning the Best Drama award. But "Lost" got nine nominations and "Housewives" seven in other creative arts categories.

Still, ABC had "Grey's Anatomy," with 11 nominations--including one for best drama, as well as one for best supporting actress column for Sandra Oh.

While Fox was off the mark this year versus last, its "24" garnered more nominations--12--than any other regularly scheduled series. Fox's "American Idol" was also nominated again for best reality show. TNT's miniseries "Into the West" scored the most nominations for any single series--16.

Overall, HBO was again far and away the leader in nominations--grabbing 95 nominations and seven for "The Sopranos," including one for best drama.

For the relatively new category of best commercial, here are the nominees:

"Clydesdale American Dream" - Budweiser

PYTKA, Production Company

DDB Chicago, Ad Agency

"Concert" - AmeriQuest

MJZ, Production Company

DDB Los Angeles, Ad Agency

"Required Reading" - Hallmark

The Institute for the Development of Enhanced Perceptual Awareness, Production Company

Leo Burnett Chicago, Ad Agency

"Stick" - FedEx

Partizan, Production Company BBDO New York, Ad Agency

The Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast from Los Angeles on NBC on August 27.