PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL

New shows join a list of past favorites as the Emmy nominations are announced. Last year's winner for best TV drama, "Mad Men" and new thriller "American Horror Story" lead the pack with 17 nominations. The British drama "Downton Abbey" was close behind with 16 nods.

Reigning best TV comedy champ "Modern Family," pulled in 14 nominations.

The Emmys are the top TV awards in the United States given out by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The winners will be announced on September 23rd.

Katie Holmes is returning to star on Broadway for the first time in four years starring in a new play, "Dead Accounts," set to open this fall.

Holmes earlier this month reached a high profile divorce settlement with actor Tom Cruise. Holmes made her Broadway debut in the 2008 production of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons."

Actor Morgan Freeman is the latest Hollywood figure to join the ranks of million dollar donors to Democratic President Barack Obama's re-election effort with his donation in June to the "Super PAC" helping Obama.

Freeman is in the Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" opening in theaters on Friday.

Comedic actor Fred Willard was arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (July 18) for lewd conduct in an adult movie theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles police said.

Willard, 72, known for his roles in films such as "This Is Spinal Tap" and "Best In Show" as well as an Emmy Award-winning turn in the TV series "Everybody Loves Raymond," was booked for lewd conduct and later released.

John Russell, Reuters.