HAMM

LOS ANGELES Mad Men, AMC’s sleek drama set in the advertising world circa 1960, and FX’s legal thriller Damages made Emmy nominations history yesterday as the first basic cable programs to gain best-series nods.

The HBO historical drama John Adams was the overall frontrunner, with 23 bids, including a lead-actor nomination for Paul Giamatti’s turn as one of America’s founding fathers.

30 Rock, last year’s best comedy Emmy winner, was the top nominee among sitcoms, with 17 bids. Mad Men was the leading drama series contender, with 16 nominations, including one for star Jon Hamm.

The Wire, the just-ended, critically acclaimed HBO drama about police and drug dealers in Baltimore, lost its last shot at a best-drama nod after years of Emmy snubs. It received one nomination yesterday, for writing.

But other cable series made a serious dent in several top categories as broadcast networks watched their share of Emmy nominations glory erode.

In the lead drama actor category, four of the five nominees were stars of cable shows In the corresponding actress category, three of the slots went to cable series stars, including Glenn Close of Damages.

HBO failed to field a best-drama series contender for the first time in nearly a decade, after The Sopranos claimed the honor last year. But the premium cable channel had a leading 85 bids overall, followed by ABC with 76.

Network audience favorites that failed to make a serious showing included Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives, both left out of the best-series categories, although Grey’s stars Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson received supporting actress nominations.

Lost, rebounding with a well-received season, joined Mad Men, Damages, Boston Legal, Dexter and House in the best drama series.

In addition to 30 Rock, the best comedy series nominees were Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, The Office and Two And a Half Men.

Joining Hamm with lead drama acting nods were last year’s winner James Spader, Boston Legal; Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Hugh Laurie, House; and Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment.

Close’s competition for lead drama actress honors includes 2007 winner Sally Field for Brothers & Sisters; Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; and Holly Hunter, Saving Grace.

Actresses nominated for best comedy series were Tina Fey of 30 Rock, the series she created; last year’s honoree America Ferrera, of Ugly Betty; Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?; and Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds.

Nods for comedy series actors went to Tony Shalhoub for Monk; Steve Carrell, The Office; Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies; Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; and Charlie Sheen, Two And A Half Men.

The Emmy Awards ceremony will be held Sept. 21 and broadcast on ABC (Ch. 5, 6).