AMERICAN IDOL host Ryan Seacrest and supermodel Heidi Klum have picked up their first Emmy nominations, after the 2008 Primetime TV Awards introduced the category of top host for a reality competition show.

The presenters will go up against Dancing With the Stars' Tom Bergeron, as well as Deal or No Deal's Howie Mandel and Survivor's Jeff Probst to take home the first honour.

Mad Men is leading the nominations after picking up 16 nods, the most nominations of any drama series, including Best Dramatic Series and Best Actor for its lead, Jon Hamm.

Hamm will face actors Hugh Laurie, for House; Michael C. Hall, for Dexter; Gabriel Byrne, for In Treatment; Bryan Cranston, for Breaking Bad; and James Spader, for Boston Legal.

Meanwhile, 30 Rock was the frontrunner in the comedy category, with 17 nominations, including best series - a gong the show took home last year - and leading actor, Alec Baldwin, and actress for Tina Fey, the show's creator.

The winners for the 60th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be unveiled on 21 September (08) at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

A list of nominees is as follows:

Best Series, Drama:

Boston Legal

Damages

Dexter

House

Lost

Mad Men

Best Series, Comedy:

30 Rock

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Entourage

The Office

Two And A Half Men

Best Actor, Drama:

James Spader - Boston Legal

Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad

Michael C. Hall - Dexter

Hugh Laurie - House

Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment

Jon Hamm - Mad Men

Best Actor, Comedy:

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock

Tony Shalhoub - Monk

Lee Pace - Pushing Daisies

Steve Carell - The Office

Charlie Sheen - Two And A Half Men

Best Actress, Drama:

Sally Field - Brothers + Sisters

Glenn Close - Damages

Mariska Hargitay - Law + Order: Special Victims Unit

Holly Hunter - Saving Grace

Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

Best Actress, Comedy:

Tina Fey - 30 Rock

Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures Of Old Christine

America Ferrera - Ugly Betty

Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds

Best Supporting Actor, Drama Series:

William Shatner - Boston Legal

Ted Danson - Damages

Zeljko Ivanek - Damages

Michael Emerson - Lost

John Slattery - Mad Men

Best Supporting Actor, Comedy Series:

Jeremy Piven - Entourage

Kevin Dillon - Entourage

Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother

Rainn Wilson - The Office

Jon Cryer - Two And A Half Men

Best Supporting Actress, Drama Series:

Candice Bergen - Boston Legal

Rachel Griffiths - Brothers + Sisters

Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy

Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy

Dianne Wiest - In Treatment

Best Supporting Actress, Comedy Series:

Kristin Chenoweth, Pushing Daisies

Jean Smart, Samantha Who?

Amy Poehler, Saturday Night Live

Holland Taylor, Two And A Half Men

Vanessa Williams, Ugly Betty

Outstanding Reality Competition Program:

American Idol

Dancing With The Stars

Project Runway

The Amazing Race

Top Chef

Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality Competition Program:

Ryan Seacrest, American Idol

Tom Bergeron, Dancing With The Stars

Howie Mandel, Deal Or No Deal

Heidi Klum, Project Runway

Jeff Probst, Survivor.