Pop the champagne! Stars including Matthew McConaughey, Kerry Washington, Jimmy Fallon, and Lena Dunham woke up to some pretty great news on Thursday, July 10—that they had been nominated for a 2014 Primetime Emmy Award. Mindy Project star Mindy Kaling and Voice host Carson Daly announced the nominations from Hollywood this morning, giving many of TV's best and brightest a big reason to celebrate.
Among the nominees were actors and actresses from shows including Breaking Bad, The Big Bang Theory, Scandal, Modern Family, and True Detective. Find out how they reacted to the happy news! (Statements to Us Weekly, and via Twitter, The Hollywood Reporter, and ABC News.)
Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad: "What a beautiful way to wake up this morning. Thank you everyone for the incredibly kind words. I feel so blessed. #Emmys"
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dancing on the Edge: "I am delighted to be recognized by the Emmys for a role in a project that I am incredibly proud of. Working with Stephen Poliakoff and this amazing ensemble cast and getting to play such an extraordinary character was a tremendous experience."
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie: "What an exciting way to start the summer! Beyond my wildest dreams — the response we've had to our dysfunctional ER and its inhabitants. So thrilled to be recognized by the industry."
Dominic Monaghan, Wild Things With Dominic Monaghan: "Wild Things nominated for an #Emmy #EmmyNoms very excited to be recognized. More wildlife warriors out there!! #becurious"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family: "Very humbled by my Emmy nom. Thank you to the @PrimetimeEmmy 4 ALL the #ModernFamily love & congrats to my fellow nominees. #NomsAndNods"
Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show: "Yahooooooo!!!!! Whaaaaaaaa????!?!?!???? #Emmys So happy to be nominated for an Emmy this morning. And even happier to have an excuse for the champagne I was already drinking at 9am. So far – great day. Just found out we were nominated for an Emmy and my daughter said her first words: 'Go Daily Show!' #blessed #emmy"
Jon Hamm, Mad Men: "I can only humbly thank the Television Academy for again including me in such a talented group of individuals as well as express my sincere gratitude for the recognition of not only the show, but my fellow cast members Christina Hendricks and Robert Morse as well as our stellar crew who were recognized. Thanks to the Academy and the nominating committees."
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep: "This is an embarrassment of riches, and boy, am I happy to be embarrassed."
Kerry Washington, Scandal: "I'm so honored to be nominated. And so thrilled for Joe Morton and Kate Burton! I'm crazy grateful that the TV Academy has acknowledged our show in these ways." (Washington also tweeted: "Wow. Woke up to @TheEmmys nom & more #SCANDAL noms 4 @JOEtheMORTON & #KateBurton. AND so much luv from u guys. Truly gr8ful & crazy humbled. Also…Dear @shondarhimes and @beersbetsy, THANK YOU. I love my job! Love always, Kerry.")
Lena Dunham, Girls: "Thank you <3 We are very proud of Adam. He's a gift to our show and our lives! And he's too classy 4 twitter."
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex: "I can safely say that this is one of the few phone calls a person WANTS to get at an ungodly hour. I am shocked and thrilled and SHOCKED and really, really excited. Did I mention I'm shocked? Because I am SHOCKED. Champagne before 6 a.m. is okay, right?"
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes: "Wow, it's early…It's still dark outside, but thank you to The Academy! I'm truly honored to represent a project I'm so very proud of. And equally thrilled that our writers Jeffrey Klarik and David Crane were also nominated."
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective: "I am honored to be nominated with such a talented field of actors. This is a tremendous category filled with some riveting performances. Thank you for this recognition."
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory: "How incredibly humbling to be nominated not only a third time but among a group of such exceptionally talented and critically acclaimed actresses. This is truly proof that among women like this, the third time will NOT be the charm for me!!!"
Ricky Gervais, Derek: "I am over the moon. I cannot wait to fly to L.A. to see Louis C.K. win. Genuinely, though, I am absolutely thrilled."
