`The Wire' among Emmy Award semifinalist nominees

The programs are among the 10 drama series and 10 comedies that emerged as the semifinalists in balloting by Academy of Television Arts & Sciences members, the academy said Thursday.

The final five nominees in each category will be determined with the help of blue-ribbon panels that are to screen submitted episodes for the top vote-getters this weekend. The results, based on both the academy vote and the panels' decisions, will be announced July 17.

The possibilities are tantalizing.

"The Wire," the critically acclaimed HBO drama that traces urban decay through the stories of police and drug dealers in Baltimore, has a last shot at ending years of Emmy snubs: it recently wrapped its fifth and final season.

It could help fill the void for HBO created by the end of "The Sopranos."

Basic cable has the chance for an unprecedented milestone, with AMC's "Mad Men," about Madison Avenue circa 1960, and FX's legal drama "Damages," starring Glenn Close, among the semifinalists. Although premium channels like HBO and Showtime routinely field nominees, basic cable has yet to nab a best drama or comedy series bid, the academy said.

"Family Guy" has the chance to achieve what has eluded even stellar veteran "The Simpsons": a best comedy series bid. "Family Guy" is on the short list for the category, and also submitted a special episode for best animated program longer than an hour.

"The Simpsons" made one effort at getting a comedy series bid, according to the academy, but it has routinely competed in--and often won--the category for animated series of a half-hour or less.

Premium cable and network shows are both well-represented on the comedy front with such shows as HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and NBC's "30 Rock," which was last year's winner in the category.