Emmy Nominees React! Who Said What?

Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) – Lead Actor in a Comedy

"In a year when nothing much has happened on our show and you could barely find a word about me or my co-stars on the Internet, it is lovely to be recognized by the Academy in this way!" (Statement c/o Radar Online)

Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) – Lead Actor in a Drama

"My wife shoved me in the pool as a celebratory gesture — that's how she told me I was nominated. And then I asked whether Connie [Britton] was nominated. Because if I get nominated and she doesn't, she'll come hunt me down.… The show getting nominated [for Outstanding Drama] was awesome. It's finally a chance for all those people who allowed us to do what we did to get our nominations to get recognized. Connie and I were talking about that this morning, talking about how this was not a normal episode in an actor's life, where you get together with these kind of folks from the very top to the very bottom. It was an incredible experience."

Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe on the nominations for So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol

"I'm delighted that American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance have received 18 nominations between them [including both for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program]. I wish everyone who's nominated luck. I'm particularly thrilled for [SYTYCD's] Cat [Deeley], who richly deserves this recognition [as a Reality Host nominee]."

Mary McDonnell (The Closer) – Guest Actress in a Drama

"Honest to God truth, I didn't even realize it was Emmy [nominations] day. I was just preparing for work when the phone rang, and I thought, 'It's really early — it must be an emergency.' And it was my publicist. It was so thrilling and shocking and surprising.... [Playing Capt. Raydor] has been a blast. Right from the very get-go, when I started to interact with [series creator] James Duff and realized the way his mind works and the daring he had with this character, I knew the potential for her to be quite special was there."

Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory) – Lead Actor in a Comedy

"All the coffee in Columbia could not catch my brain up to my heart's pace this morning — I couldn't possibly be more thrilled, honored and touched by the news of this nomination. And I am absolutely ecstatic that the show itself [nominated for Outstanding Comedy] and everyone's hard work there has been recognized as well."

Laura Linney (The Big C) – Lead Actress in a Comedy

"I am so proud to be a part of such a special show, and thrilled to be included in such a kick ass group of nominees. Cancer and Comedy – how 'bout that??"

Ty Burrell (Modern Family) – Supporting Actor in a Comedy

"I'm grateful to the TV Academy and so proud to be sharing this nomination with Ed [O'Neill], Jesse [Tyler Ferguson], Eric [Stonestreet], Julie [Bowen] and Sofia [Vergara]. I love them all inappropriately. I want to congratulate [series creators] Chris [Lloyd] and Steve [Levitan] who run this ship, along with the rest of our huge Modern Family family. I would like to propose that these awards be settled by feats of strength. I would still lose to everyone, including [fellow nominees] Chris Colfer and Jon Cryer, but it would be worth it to see us all in singlets."

The Good Wife co-creator Robert King on the show's nine nominations, including Outstanding Drama, Lead Actress (Julianna Margulies), two each for Supporting Actress (Archie Panjabi and Christine Baranski) and Supporting Actor (Josh Charles and Alan Cumming), and Guest Actor (Michael J. Fox)

"It's a real lift because we start shooting tomorrow [July 15], so for the cast to come in with that kind of feeling is really good. Our hope is that it gives us another layer of attention for [the time slot move to] Sundays in the fall. [Being an Emmy-caliber series] is not something we thought was even possible. We thought we'd do 13 episodes and be out!"

Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation) – Lead Actress in a Comedy

"I am so pumped about the [show's Outstanding Comedy nod]. I talked to [fellow EP] Mike Schur last night and asked him if he was going to watch [the announcement] live and he said, 'No, it makes me too nervous.' And I said, 'F— that, it's The Secret! Turn around and look at it in the eye — it's going to happen!' I'm so excited. I've had, like, four sugar donuts and I'm eating Greek yogurt with honey and I'm about to blast out of here."

Kristin Chenoweth (Glee) – Guest Actress on a Comedy

"I was up really late last night singing at the Crystal Palace in Bakersfield (Calif.), so I didn't set my alarm or anything. I just thought, 'If it happens it would be lovely, and if it doesn't it'll be OK.' And then Danielle my manager called me this morning and told me. I screamed. I just screamed."

Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) – Lead Actress in a Drama

"I was in fact asleep during the nominations – it truly is the 'I'm in bed asleep' story — 'cause, you know, I'm in L.A. and it's freakin' early, dude! Then my publicist called me and told me. I actually had a weird dream in the middle of the night that we didn't get nominated and Kyle [Chandler] and I were talking, like, 'Yeah, we didn't get nominated.' So I woke up from a series of bad dreams to have a very happy reality. Kyle called me and was like, 'I just jumped in the pool with my wife!' 'Cause he's in Austin, and he was thrilled. I told him he better not blow out of the Emmys early like he did last year."

Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) – Supporting Actor in a Drama

"I think everyone would agree that my being asked to play Eli Gold was so from left field, but it has been such a blast and an education for me as an actor. And to be honored in this way just adds to the surprise and the delight I feel at being a part of such a great show. I am sure Eli is in a photo copy room somewhere doing a little silent celebratory jig!"

Friday Night Lights EP Jason Katims, on the show's nominations for Outstanding Drama, Lead Actor (Kyle Chandler), Lead Actress (Connie Britton) and Writing

"What a complete shock and surprise. I am beyond thrilled and excited for the Emmy nominations that Friday Nights has received. It's like an episode of the show — a 'Hail Mary' pass in the last seconds of the game. What a great moment to share with the crew, cast, writers, directors, producers, NBC, DirecTV — all who have contributed in a seminal way to this show that I'm so proud of. Additionally, I am so proud of Connie and Kyle for their much deserved recognition. Individually, they have given extraordinary nuanced performances and together have created one of the sweetest and poignant depictions of marriage on television."

Michelle Forbes (The Killing) – Supporting Actress in a Drama

"I was dead asleep and then the phone went off. I was planning on going back to sleep [after getting the news], but then your phone starts going and everything starts beeping — so it was time to get up. [Laughs] At this stage in my life I've learned to not have very many expectations when it comes to this industry. The doing of the work is certainly the most rewarding. This is just icing on the cake, which is so nice. I know people say this all the time, but it really is humbling to be with these formidable extraordinarily talented women in this category."

John Slattery (Mad Men) – Supporting Actor in a Drama

"I was actually out of the house, taking my friends to the ferry on Fire Island, so I was away when I got the first couple of calls. It would be silly to start to expect things like this to happen. So yes, I was surprised. The good thing about being on Fire Island is that Internet-wise, it's like 1982 there. It's pretty easy to disconnect."

Matt LeBlanc (Episodes) – Lead Actor in a Comedy

"I'm honored to be considered and very proud of our show. Everyone worked so hard, and I'm even more excited about the writing nomination for [series creators] Jeffrey [Klarik] and David [Crane]. They definitely deserve it. I'm looking forward to going back to work soon on Season 2. It's going to be a blast."

Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope) – Lead Actress in a Comedy

"Woke up this morning to the incredible news that I was nominated for an Emmy, and a shower full of dog poop. Apparently my dog is so excited, she has explosive diarrhea. I truly could not be more thankful to the Emmy voters for including me in this brilliant company of extraordinary women. Every single one of them is an actual hero of mine and I'm really blown away. And I could not be more grateful to Greg Garcia for creating this fantastic character and this wonderful show. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go clean up an enormous amount of dog poop out of my shower. Yay!"

Dexter EP Sara Colleton – Outstanding Drama Series

"This year there are so many great new shows — The Killing, Justified, Game of Thrones — and there are only so many slots, so that it was really a pleasant surprise that we were nominated. We've gotten nominations in the past, but when you're faced with so many new shows you think, 'Well, we had a great run!" So it's all that more sweet. We were very proud of last season."

Louis CK, (Louie) – Lead Actor in a Comedy

"Finding out [that I was nominated for acting] was like I'd just won the Indy 500 — it's crazy! I kind of expected the writing for the special [to be nominated] because I really worked hard on that and there aren't too many of those out every year. The editing nomination was nice because that's something I enjoy and really work hard on. The writing nomination for Louie I was really hoping for and really happy to get because that reflects on the whole show. And the acting — Jesus Christ, that's just crazy. [Laughs]"

Hugh Laurie (House) – Lead Actor in a Drama

"I am very excited. This time I'm going to put a whole rabbit on my keychain." (This is Laurie's sixth nomination for House; to date he has yet to grab gold.)

Betty White (Hot in Cleveland – Supporting Actress in a Comedy

"I am going to sit here in shock and celebrate that I am working with three wonderful women -– Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick."

Julia Stiles (Dexter) – Guest Actress in a Drama

"I knew that the Emmys were coming up because they send you all the screeners, but I didn't know they were today. So when I got a phone call [from my manager] early this morning, I figured it would be important — it was way too early to be getting a call. I'm really excited. It's just nice to be invited to the party. And this is a unique category, so I guess it's to two parties! This is icing on the cake. The experience of working on the show was so great that this is just an added bonus."

Walton Goggins (Justified) – Supporting Actor in a Drama

"I woke up early this morning, as I do most mornings with my six-month old. He usually gets up around 5:45, but I woke up 15 minutes early today. I had a cup of coffee and just sat down in a chair by myself and watched the announcements. And when they got to [Lead] Actor in a Drama and Tim Olyphant's name was read, I started screaming — and that woke up my little boy and he started screaming, but for a different reason. And then I got a call from my publicist and manager telling me I got nominated too, and I made them take an instant lie detector test that I keep on my phone. It's extraordinary."

Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) – Lead Actor in a Comedy

"I'm in New York right now. I was up, I had had my coffee, the Today Show was on. It was so civilized. I can't believe the civilized way in which New Yorkers get to hear these things. I've only known them as [happening in L.A. at] 5 am, crack-of-dawn, the sun's not up even… you can't get your bearings about you. This was just like a day at the office -– a happy one.... The very first text I got was from [costar] Simon Helberg's wife, Jocelyn. That's a good friend. She beat my mother by at least 30 minutes. I'm not kidding."

Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie) – Lead Actress in a Comedy

"I am thrilled and honored to be in the company of such talented women." (Falco won the category in 2010.)

Jon Hamm (Mad Men) – Lead Actor in a Drama

"I am beyond thrilled that our show has achieved such recognition from the Academy. It is testament to the hard work of all our cast and crew and indicative of the pride we take in making each episode. Additionally, I'm very excited to be included in such an amazing group of individuals for lead actor. All in all a great morning."

Edgar Ramirez (Sundance Channel's Carlos) – Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

"It's been a very good morning. I am so honored and excited to be nominated for an Emmy Award, alongside such talented actors. Williiam Hurt, who is a very good friend of mine and someone I admire greatly, actually assisted me in preparing for my role in Carlos, so it is very special for me to be able to share this moment with him. It has been very touching for me to see how well this project and my performance have been received by the community."

Chris Colfer (Glee) – Supporting Actor in a Comedy

"There was almost more pressure this year because I was nominated last year. Last year everyone was kind of like, 'What? That's crazy that I was nominated.' So this year I think a lot of people were expecting me to get nominated, but I was not one of them; I honeslty didn't think there was going to be room for me in the category this year. The category is so vast and a lot of my stuff is so dramatic on the show that I didn't think I was going to be included."

Idris Elba – Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie (for Luther) and Guest Actor in a Comedy (for The Big C)

"This has been such an amazing morning for me! I am extremely honored to be nominated in two categories. Luther has been such a passion project for me and working on The Big C was a great time. Also, my daughter told me I am going to be as famous as the guy from Twilight."

Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) – Lead Actor in a Drama

"I'm so appreciative of the support Boardwalk has been given. It's the role of a lifetime."