Actors from Glee, from left to right: Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Amber Riley. The show leads Emmy nominations in the comedy series category, with 19 nods in all. Actors from Glee, from left to right: Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Amber Riley. The show leads Emmy nominations in the comedy series category, with 19 nods in all. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Glee is about to learn if the Emmys care to sing its praises, heading into the race with a leading 19 nominations in all.

The hit musical-comedy show about a high school glee club is bidding for best comedy series, and cast members Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Jane Lynch and Chris Colfer are up for acting awards.

Modern Family is another freshman comedy frontrunner, while 30 Rock is trying for its fourth consecutive best comedy series Emmy.

Meanwhile, Mad Men is up for its third drama series trophy and has collected 17 nods in total, with five of its main actors also nominated.

Others defending their title included Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad and Glenn Close of Damages, who claimed drama series acting honours last year, and, on the comedy side, Toni Collette of The United States of Tara and Alec Baldwin of 30 Rock.Jimmy Fallon, host of Sunday's 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, asked the public to submit material for the show. Jimmy Fallon, host of Sunday's 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, asked the public to submit material for the show. (Chris Pizzello/Associated Press)

Other Emmy contenders include Conan O'Brien's short-lived Tonight, which was nominated as best variety, music or comedy series, while the show with Jay Leno back in charge was snubbed. David Letterman's Late Show also missed out on a nod, but 2009 winner The Daily Show With Jon Stewart is nominated.

The final season of Lost competed for best drama series and for acting honours for star Matthew Fox and supporting cast members Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson, chosen as best supporting drama actor last year.

HBO came into the ceremony as the kingpin after claiming 17 awards at the Aug. 21 creative arts Emmys, followed by ABC with 15 and Fox with nine. CBS, NBC and PBS each claimed seven.

Heading into last weekend's creative arts awards, The Pacific, the Second World War miniseries produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, was the top nominee and captured a leading seven awards, which recognize technical and other achievements.

Jimmy Fallon is hosting the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards on NBC, broadcasting live starting at 8 p.m. ET. The public had a hand in writing some of Fallon's material. He planned to bring many celebrity presenters onstage with introductions submitted through Twitter.