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Report: Top 10 Emmy finalists for drama & comedy series
Low-rated critics' favorite "Friday Night Lights" made the top 10 list of Emmy finalists for best drama series, but "Brothers and Sisters" — packed with Emmy-friendly stars — did not, according to judges reporting to TheEnvelope.com.

Other surprises: "Rome" — a canceled show that aired its last episode in March — is included on the drama list, but not two current series that were considered shoo-ins by some Emmywatchers: "Rescue Me" and "The Tudors." "The Office" and "Weeds" made the cut-off for best comedy, but there's one surprise addition — "Extras," which has relatively low Nielsen ratings.

The HBO show got in over "New Adventures of Old Christine," which was expected to be on the list. NBC leads all networks with 6 shows in the two Top 10s. ABC has 5, HBO 4, Showtime 2, Fox 2, CBS 1. FX network was shut out.

The top 10 shows reaping the most votes for best drama and comedy series from a polling of members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences are being screened by judges this weekend at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the academy's North Hollywood headquarters.

ATAS has not announced which series are being screened, but judges dispatched Blackberry and text-message reports to TheEnvelope.com from the panel viewings. Screenings will continue this week in Los Angeles plus a location in New York City.

Judges must view all 10 contenders in one category and rank them against each other. To determine the final 5 nominees, accountants then use the same voting method used on "Dancing with the Stars" — combining judges' scores equally on a 50/50 basis with results of the original popular vote. The voting procedure is new.

Last year judges' scores alone determined the final five per category. The current method is also being used to determine the final five nominees in the acting races. However, those judges — all fellow actors deciding a peer-group award — may view DVD screeners at home, then send in a final ballot with a signed affidavit attesting that they watched all sample episodes (one per contender). Final nominations will be announced on July 19. Various independent reports sent to us unsolicited agree that these are the finalists in the top series races, but the information is unofficial and unverified.

Here are the views of a panelist (Judge #1) who evaluated the sample episodes submitted in both the comedy and drama races — CLICK HERE and HERE!

Compare those views with Judge #2 — CLICK HERE!

TOP 10 DRAMA SERIES FINALISTS
(In parens is name of sample episode viewed by judges)
Boston Legal ("Angel of Death")
Dexter ("Born Free")
Friday Night Lights (Pilot)
Grey's Anatomy ("From A Whisper to A Scream")
Heroes ("Genesis") House ("Half-wit")
Lost ("Through the Looking Glass")
Rome ("De Patre Vostro")
The Sopranos ("Soprano Home Movies")
24 ("Day 6: 6 a.m. - 7 a.m.")

Not Nominated:
Deadwood
Rescue Me
The Tudors
The Shield
Brothers & Sisters
Gilmore Girls
Battlestar Galactica
The Riches

TOP 10 COMEDY SERIES FINALISTS
(In parens is name of sample episode viewed by judges)
Desperate Housewives ("It Takes Two")
Entourage ("One Day in the Valley")
Extras ("Daniel Radcliffe")
My Name is Earl ("Robbed a Stoner Blind")
The Office ("The Coup")
Scrubs ("My Musical")
Thirty Rock ("Hard Ball")
Two and a Half Men ("Apologies For the Frivolity")
Ugly Betty (Pilot)
Weeds ("Cooking with Jesus")

Not Nominated:
The New Adventures of Old Christine
How I Met Your Mother
Everybody Hates Chris

James wrote:Wow. Some of those I just had to laugh at. The twins from Desperate Housewives for Supporting Actor? Sorry, can't take those seriously.

James wrote:it really pains me to see those people that sent in their tapes and unless hell freezes over, won't get chosen. Cases in point are The L Word and Nip/Tuck. Oh well, we can always hope that they are at least nominated in the Guest star categories, cause we all know they won't be in the other categories.

Anthony wrote:I agree 100% with you on Nip/Tuck. I have been hoping ever since the show started that the lead cast would be recognized (especially Joely Richardson and John Hensley). They better at least get a writing nomination or guest actor/actress. This season was filled with great guest actors (Kathleen Turner, Larry Hagman, Peter Dinklage, Jacqueline Bisset, just to name a few). But, alas, Emmy will probably ignore them yet again.

James wrote:Oh yeah, and I agree Lord of Sith- with Bang having been sent in, Felicity will definitely get a nom. Hopefully she can top Mariska Hargitay off the winners list this year.

James wrote:Oh right, sorry, forgot that. Thanks for the memo there.