LOS ANGELES -- From long-running successes like "House" to newcomer smash hit "Mad Men," the stars of US television convene Sunday for the 60th annual Emmy awards, the small-screen equivalent of the Oscars.

Competing for best drama series are critics' favorite "Mad Men," set in a 1960s advertising agency; legal dramas "Damages" and "Boston Legal" as well as "Lost," "Dexter," and "House."

Actor Hugh Laurie, who plays the star doctor in "House," has received his third nomination for outstanding actor. He is one of the best paid actors on television, raking in 400,000 dollars per episode according to Hollywood reports.

Michael Hall, who plays a serial killer in "Dexter" and won the category last year, is nominated again along with Gabriel Byrne of "In Treatment," Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad," John Hamm of "Mad Men" and James Spader, who has won three Emmys since 2004 for his role in "Boston Legal."

The competition for best actress features some of the United States' biggest stars, including Glenn Close, who has received her 11th career nomination for her lawyer role in "Damages," and two-time Oscar winner and three-time Emmy winner Sally Field for "Brothers and Sisters."

Also nominated are Mariska Hargitay for "Law and Order Special Victims Unit," Oscar-winner Holly Hunter for "Saving Grace," and Kyra Sedgwick for "The Closer."

The comedy "30 Rock," which has landed the most nominations with 17, offers Alec Baldwin as a nominee for best actor in a comedy and Tina Fey as best comedy actress.

Fey, who won last year, is riding a fresh wave of popularity after her weekend appearance as vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the sketch show "Saturday Night Live."

Baldwin has been nominated six times but never won, and faces competition this year from Steve Carell of "The Office," Charlie Sheen in "Two and a Half Men," newcomer Lee Pace of "Pushing Daisies" and Tony Shalhoub for "Monk."

Fey is favored to win her field, which includes last year's winner America Ferrera of "Ugly Betty," Julia Louis-Dreyfus of "The New Adventures of Old Christine," Christina Applegate of "Samantha Who?" and Mary-Louise Parker, who plays a drug-dealing mom in "Weeds."

In addition to "30 Rock," competitors for best comedy are "The Office," "Two and a Half Men," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "Entourage."

The leader in nominations from all categories is the HBO historic seven-part series "John Adams," with 23.

It stars Paul Giamatti, of the film 2005 Oscar-winning film "Sideways," as the second president of the United States.

Other Hollywood big names to receive Emmy nods include Kevin Spacey, Ralph Fiennes, William Shatner, Laura Dern, Judi Dench and Laura Linney.

HBO leads with 85 nominations, ahead of the three major networks ABC with 76, CBS with 51 and NBC with 50.

The Emmys are awarded by the The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to shows that aired between June 2007 and May 31, 2008. The awards have been around since 1949.