Emmy nominee reactions 2011

“We set out to share my story honestly, hoping to help others. The staggering response we’ve received culminating in this huge honor of being nominated for an Emmy is simply amazing.”  (Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)

“It was a little like the day before Christmas. You hope for the best; they certainly all deserve it. But you don’t know. You never know. ... You never want to get too excited. And you wait and see, and you’re fine either way. But then the phone rang, and I jumped out of bed. And the phone’s been ringing off the hook since. You just celebrate.”  (Peter Kramer / Associated Press)

“I’m grateful to the TV academy and so proud to be sharing this nomination with Ed, Jesse, Eric, Julie and Sofia. I love them all inappropriately. ... I would like to propose that these awards be settled by feats of strength. I would still lose to everyone, including both Chris Colfer and Jon Cryer, but it would be worth it to see us all in singlets.”   (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images)

“I was expecting to be disappointed. My highest hope was maybe I’d get the writing Emmy. ... I’m pretty outclassed there. I think it’s really nice that I’m in there, but I’m not in serious consideration.”  (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images)

“I had no idea it was going to happen, this deep into the show. It was really exciting. ... We’re a very superstitious bunch of people, so we try to do everything exactly the same way. We decided that no matter what happened today, we’re going to get together and drink tonight. And we will probably drink during the day here also, which will probably limit our productivity. ... There’s something extra sweet about it because four years into it, you just don’t expect to be in it.”  (Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)

“I feel like I’m floating in a vat of liquid gratitude. It’s surreal. This may never happen again in my lifetime, but to go through this experience now, it doesn’t get better than this.”  (Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)

“The ceremony itself will be a chance to celebrate the show. It received, what, seven nominations? Lots of us will be there. That’ll be a great chance to formally celebrate. We work today; we’re a third of a way done with the next season. It will definitely give us all a spring in our step.”  (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

“You know, it’s happened before. But it would be presumptuous to expect anything. It’s still a surprise, and it’s exciting. That doesn’t really go away. The ritual of the experience is more familiar, but it doesn’t dampen the excitement. ... You think, ‘All right, we’ve had our fun, and now it’s someone else’s turn.’ And then it gets more than last year!”  (Ben Gabbe / Getty Images)

“Having the show nominated is having every single crew member and the writer -- everyone as a team -- recognized for all their work. This whole experience, the five years of “Friday Night Lights,” has been one of the more memorable experiences of my life. It’s just been such a hell of a ride. All this recognition just warms my heart.”  (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

“I am so honored that ‘The Killing’ has received six Emmy nominations. ... Our cast and crew are true masters of their crafts; they have put their hearts into telling this story, and it shows. Writing this pilot was thrilling, terrifying, the start of a true adventure.”  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images for 20th Century Fox)

“To be included in this group of women is an honor and awesome. The fact that the show got nominated is so exciting. I’m so happy that the whole cast is going to be there, and we’ll all get to celebrate together. ... We’ve had an interesting road, so I guess this is a sort of validation. Nomination and validation are similar words. So is determination and United Nations.”   (Peter Kramer / Associated Press)

“I had no idea. Oh my God. I thought the nominations was next week. ... I couldn’t be more ecstatic for the show to be nominated. I’m very close with the 200-plus people in the show. I’m just ... absolutely, very thrilled and humbled and honored.”  (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)

“The whole gang, we’re all together. We’re excited, and we’re celebrating. We’re going to open a bottle of champagne. We have to have a little bit of alcohol. The original crew from “Project Runway” are all here together. We go back a long ways; we’ve been together for 14 years. We do celebrate a milestone throughout each year and different things together. It doesn’t always happen that we’re together to celebrate, but it’s even greater when we do. ... We’ll probably have cupcakes. And a few bottles of something bubbly.”  (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

“For me to come to America, to have won an Emmy, to be the only girl in this category is absolutely amazing. ... I heard about the news in bed. We taped the show yesterday. I’m literally running around right now, I’ve got wet hair, and I’m still standing in my underwear. I kept saying to everybody, ‘No, it’s not gonna happen.’ It’s just incredible.”  (Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

“I’m so excited, I’m beside myself. ... I know there was a lot of buzz about me and the show this season, but buzz doesn’t necessarily mean a nomination. The critics seemed to be on my side. But honest to goodness, I feel like I already won, just by getting this part. This kind of role comes along once in a lifetime. It’s a wonderful, poetic, fabulous show, and I would have done it for free.”  (Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images)

“I decided to sleep during the nominations this morning. I thought, ‘If the phone rings, it’s probably for a good reason.’ ... Actually, I really was doubtful that anything would happen to ‘The Killing’ at any level because it’s the first season.”  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

“I’m very excited. This time I’m going to put a whole rabbit on my keychain.”  (Paul Buck / EPA)

“Today is the exciting day. The awards show is kind of a chore; there’s a lot of hoopla and stuff going on. I’d love to stay at home and watch it on TV.”  (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

“I am so proud for the show, I am so proud for the cast, and I am truly humbled and honored to be nominated once again. This is a special moment to be part of something as universally appreciated as the show is, and it’s a testament to our writers, cast and crew.”  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images for 20th Century Fox)

“Total adrenaline rush. I was in bed asleep. ... Honestly, this one actually feels the most amazing because the show finally got a nomination. After five seasons, it just feels incredible to have the show recognized. It was long deserved, I think.”  (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

“Yeah, I know all about this thing. I’m familiar with not winning. If I don’t win, you’ll find me out at the bar. But, really, just to be nominated -- I know everyone says that -- but it really is a validating thing. I took five years off, and to come back to this project and for it to be recognized is a blessing. I really have a good time. I really love every scene. Great to be part of something like this.”  (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)

“I think I’ve gotten to the point where now if someone calls me that early in the morning, I know it’s good news. I was asleep in my bed; I wrapped late last night on the film I’m doing. I slept right through. And it was cool because I got a call from my parents first. They beat everyone to the punch, and I was happy with that.”  (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

“It’s incredible. You wait for one bus and two come along. They’re both great surprises, but I really did forget about the one for ‘The Big C.’ I didn’t know they had nominations for guest actors. I only did four episodes. I’m typically known as a dramatic actor, so I’m really surprised. ... I believe this is all about acknowledging hard work. We have a saying in our production company that it’s a 24-hour business. I really believe if you work hard enough, you will succeed. And right now there seems to be a lot of good will for my career.”  (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

“I’m in London, getting ready to shoot a new project. I’m with my husband and baby daughter, and I knew with the time difference that I should be available. So we stopped strolling and had some lunch and then I got the call. ... I’m a little embarrassed to say that I didn’t watch the [other] shows.”  (Jason Merritt / Getty Images)

“I was sleeping! I am still, like, dead from my trip to Italy and doing promotion for ‘Smurfs.’ I was enjoying my sleep, but this is better than coffee. ... I’m working -- I’m shooting my Kmart commercial. I guess the big celebration will have to wait ‘til the Emmys. It’s work, work, work right now.”  (Charles Sykes / Associated Press)