There’s nothing like your first time.
The 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Award nominees were announced Thursday with newcomers making up a major portion of the performing categories, resulting in a number of extremely surprised reactions.
First-time nominee Connie Britton, whose “Friday Night Lights” co-star Kyle Chandler also landed his first nod for the NBC drama, actually doubted the news when she got it.
“The first two calls I had this morning, I still was like, “Are you sure? There must be some mistake,” Britton told EW.com after missing out on a nod for the past four seasons.
“Lost” star Matthew Fox, who earned his first-ever nomination, was equally surprised.
“Me personally, I didn’t even know the nominations were happening today,” he told Variety on Thursday. “It wasn’t until I was awakened by a barrage of phone calls and text messages when it suddenly clicked it must be some kind of awards day.”
Another first-time nominee, “Mad Men’s” buxom red-head Christina Hendricks, who was nominated for best supporting actress alongside co-star Elisabeth Moss, experienced more of a bitter sweet reaction.
“My cheeks hurt from smiling” she told Variety.
“Glee’s” Matthew Morrison found it equally difficult to maintain a poker face.
“I want to say this stuff doesn’t matter to me right now, but I can’t wipe the smile off my face,” he told the Hollywood Reporter.
Co-star Lea Michele was doubly excited about her best actress nomination.
“The ceremony is on my birthday,” she told AP, “so it’s like the best birthday present in the entire world.”
But another “Glee” star was less focused on her own nomination. Best supporting actress nominee Jane Lynch put in her vote for Glenn Close, who is up once again for best actress for her role as Patty Hewes “Damages.”
“Get ready for a big, humiliating loss fellow nominees,” she told The Insider of the woman she says inspired Sue Sylvester.
Neil Patrick Harris, who earned two nominations, one for his guest appearance on “Glee” and one for his supporting role in “How I Met Your Mother,” has big plans for his future with the Academy.
“Maybe next year I’ll get three!,” he quipped in a statement. “At that rate, by the year 2107 I’ll be a lock for every single category. Wish me luck.”
Another optimistic nominee, Conan O’Brien, seemed to be reaping the benefits of TBS’ push to have him nominated for his short-stint as the host of “The Tonight Show” on NBC.
“Congrats to my staff on 4 Emmy nominations,” he tweeted. “This bodes well for the future of “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.” ‘
The sweetest reactions came from the duo who plays the gay couple in “Modern Family,” both of whom scored best supporting actor nominations.
‘I now know what people mean when they say “it was a complete surprise,”‘ Jesse Tyler Ferguson tweeted. “I am sending big wet kisses to my tv lover @ericstonestreet…[and]…Keeping it real moment # 1: My Dad’s (awesome) German wife asked me if the Emmys are for TV or Theater.”
Meanwhile, his co-star stuck to a string of advectives with the Twitter message, “humbled, honored, excited, thankful, happy. very happy.”
The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon on Aug. 29 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
