Netflix's "House of Cards" made Emmy history Thursday with a top drama series nomination, the first time that television's leading awards have recognized a program delivered online as equal in quality to the best that TV has to offer.

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The nomination, one of nine nods earned by the political thriller, is a marker in the unfolding revolution in how we get and watch video entertainment.

The most Emmy nominations, 17, went to "American Horror Story: Asylum." Close behind was "Game of Thrones" with 16 nods, while "Saturday Night Live" and the Liberace biopic "Behind the Candelabra" earned 15 nominations each, including nods for stars Michael Douglas and Matt Damon.

"House of Cards" stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright received acting bids, along with a number of other primarily big-screen actors who have migrated to TV for powerhouse projects, with Douglas and Damon among them.

Another Netflix series, "Arrested Development," didn't earn a best comedy series but scored three nominations, including one for star Jason Bateman.

Joining "House of Cards" and "Game of Thrones" in the best drama series category are "Breaking Bad," ''Downton Abbey," ''Mad Men" and last year's winner, "Homeland."

Actors Aaron Paul (L) and Neil Patrick Harris announce the nominees for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards
Actors Aaron Paul (L) and Neil Patrick Harris announce the nominees for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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"Mad Men," which last year missed out on the best drama trophy that would have been its record-setting fifth, eclipsing fellow four-time winners "Hill Street Blues," ''L.A. Law" and "The West Wing," gets another shot this year.

The major broadcast networks were shut out of the prestigious category, a repeat of last year and a particular blow with the entry of Netflix's streamed drama. "Boardwalk Empire" was the only show not to return in the category, its spot claimed by "House of Cards."

In the comedy series category, nominees are "The Big Bang Theory," ''Girls," ''Louie," ''Modern Family," ''Veep" and "30 Rock," recognized for its final season. Another outgoing comedy, "The Office," didn't receive a best series nod.

A 6-year-old TV academy rules change allows online entries to compete with cable and broadcast programs, although so far Internet shows have popped up only in lower-profile categories. That changed with the 65th Primetime Emmys.

"It certainly is a marker of the new era. ... It will send shock waves through the industry," said Tim Brooks, a TV historian and former network executive, predicted on the eve of the nominations.

They were announced by Aaron Paul, a previous winner for "Breaking Bad" and nominated again this year, and, in a surprise, Emmy host Neil Patrick Harris. He filled in "House of Cards" actress Kate Mara, kept in Santa Fe, N.M., by a plane's mechanical malfunction.

Patrick, an in-demand emcee, earned his own bid for hosting this year's Broadway's Tony Awards.

Joining Spacey in the contest for best drama series actor are Hugh Bonneville of "Downton Abbey"; Jon Hamm of "Mad Men"; Jeff Daniels of "The Newsroom" and Damian Lewis of "Homeland," last year's winner.

Kevin Bacon, one of the big-screen stars trying their hand at TV, was not recognized in the category for "The Following."

Actresses nominated for their drama series work besides Wright include Vera Farmiga of "Bates Hotel"; Michelle Dockery of "Downtown Abbey"; Elisabeth Moss of "Mad Men"; Connie Britton of "Nashville"; Kerry Washington of "Scandal"; and last year's winner, Claire Danes from "Homeland."

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Emmy ceremony will air Sept. 22 on CBS.

Nominees in major categories for the 2013 Emmy Awards

Drama Series: "Breaking Bad," AMC; "Downton Abbey," PBS; "Game of Thrones," HBO; "Homeland," Showtime; "House of Cards," Netflix; "Mad Men," AMC.

Comedy Series: "The Big Bang Theory," CBS; "Girls," HBO; "Louie," FX Networks; "Modern Family," ABC; "30 Rock," NBC; "Veep," HBO.

Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie: "American Horror Story: Asylum," FX Networks; "Behind the Candelabra," HBO; "The Bible," HISTORY; "Phil Spector," HBO; "Political Animals," USA; "Top of the Lake," Sundance Channel.

Actor, Drama Series: Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad," AMC; Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey," PBS; Damian Lewis, "Homeland," Showtime; Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards," Netflix; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men," AMC; Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom," HBO.

Actress, Drama Series: Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel," A&E; Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey," PBS; Claire Danes, "Homeland," Showtime; Robin Wright, "House of Cards," Netflix; Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men," AMC; Connie Britton, "Nashville," ABC; Kerry Washington, "Scandal," ABC.

Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire," HBO; Jonathan Banks, "Breaking Bad," AMC; Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad," AMC; Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey," PBS; Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones," HBO; Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland," Showtime.

Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad," AMC; Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey," PBS; Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones," HBO; Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife," CBS; Morena Baccarin, "Homeland," Showtime; Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men," AMC.

Actor, Comedy Series: Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development," Netflix; Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory," CBS; Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes," Showtime; Don Cheadle, "House of Lies," Showtime; Louis C.K., "Louie," FX Networks; Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock," NBC.

Actress, Comedy Series: Laura Dern, "Enlightened," HBO; Lena Dunham, "Girls," HBO; Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie," Showtime; Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation," NBC; Tina Fey, "30 Rock," NBC; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep," HBO.

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Adam Driver, "Girls," HBO; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family," ABC; Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family," ABC; Ty Burrell, "Modern Family," ABC; Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live," NBC; Tony Hale, "Veep," HBO.

Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory," CBS; Jane Lynch, "Glee," FOX; Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family," ABC; Julie Bowen, "Modern Family," ABC; Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie," Showtime; Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock," NBC; Anna Chlumsky, "Veep," HBO.

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra," HBO; Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra," HBO; Toby Jones, "The Girl," HBO; Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End," HBO; Al Pacino, "Phil Spector," HBO.

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum," FX Networks; Laura Linney, "The Big C: Hereafter," Showtime; Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector," HBO; Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals," USA; Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake," Sundance Channel.

Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: James Cromwell, "American Horror Story: Asylum," FX Networks; Zachary Quinto, "American Horror Story: Asylum," FX Networks; Scott Bakula, "Behind the Candelabra," HBO; John Benjamin Hickey, "The Big C: Hereafter," Showtime; Peter Mullan, "Top of the Lake," Sundance Channel.

Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Sarah Paulson, "American Horror Story: Asylum," FX Networks; Imelda Staunton, "The Girl," HBO; Ellen Burstyn, "Political Animals," USA; Charlotte Rampling, "Restless," Sundance Channel; Alfre Woodard, "Steel Magnolias," Lifetime.

Reality Program: "Antiques Roadshow," PBS; "Deadliest Catch," Discovery Channel; "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," Food Network; "MythBusters," Discovery Channel; "Shark Tank," ABC; "Undercover Boss," CBS.

Reality-Competition Program: "The Amazing Race," CBS; "Dancing With the Stars," ABC; "Project Runway," Lifetime; "So You Think You Can Dance," FOX; "Top Chef," Bravo; "The Voice," NBC.

Variety Series: "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central; "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central; "Jimmy Kimmel Live," ABC; "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," NBC; "Real Time With Bill Maher," HBO; "Saturday Night Live," NBC.

Children's Program: "Good Luck Charlie," Disney Channel; "iCarly," Nickelodeon; "Nick News With Linda Ellerbee — Forgotten But Not Gone: Kids, HIV & AIDS, Nickelodeon; "The Weight of the Nation for Kids: Quiz Ed!," HBO; "A YoungArts Masterclass," HBO.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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