According to AWN, FAMILY GUY is the first animated series in 50 years to transcend the cartoon barrier and get a Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy.  This will stack the animated show against the best of TV this year; FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS, THE OFFICE, 30 ROCK, ENTOURAGE, WEEDS, and HOW I MET YOU MOTHER.

In the catagory of Outstanding Animated Program (1/2 hour), the Emmy staples are taking the stage once again.  The nominations are, AMERICAN DAD for “Sixteen-Hundred Candles,” SOUTH PARK for “Margaritaville,” THE SIMPSONS for “Gone Maggie Gone,” ROBOT CHICKEN for “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II.”   FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS “Destination Imagination” and AFRO SAMURAI: RESURRECTION got the nod for Outstanding Animated Program (over 1/2 hour), and Animated Short Program went to SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS “Dear Vikings,”and PHINEAS AND FERB “The Monster Of Phineas-N-Ferbenstein.”

The nominations for the Emmys’ Outstanding Special Visual Effects For A Series went to BATTLESTAR GALACTICA “Daybreak (Part 2),” SANCTUARY “Sanctuary For All,” GHOST WHISPERER “Ghost In The Machine,” FRINGE “Pilot,” and HEROES “The Second Coming/The Butterfly Effect.”

For a full list of Emmy nominations, click here.