This Sunday night, September 23, 2012 at 5pm PT / 8pm ET, television celebrates its best and brightest when the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences hands out their golden trophies at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards, live from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

Hosting the festivities this year is late-night funny guy Jimmy Kimmel. This will be Kimmel’s first time hosting the Primetime Emmy telecast. In an interview with "Entertainment Weekly," he said "I am gonna do something very weird during the show. I think it could possibly be the biggest prank ever pulled, as far as number of people involved. Possibly. I haven't researched it, but it'll definitely be right up there." Kimmel won't be up there alone, he'll be aided by a star-studded lineup of presenters including:

• Aziz Ansari – ­ Star of the NBC series PARKS AND RECREATION
• Kathy Bates –  ­ Winner of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (TWO AND A HALF MEN)
• Andre Braugher – Star of the upcoming ABC series LAST RESORT
• Connie Britton – Star of the upcoming ABC series NASHVILLE
• Steve Buscemi – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (BOARDWALK EMPIRE)
• Louis C.K. – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (FX series LOUIE)
• Stephen Colbert – Nominee for Outstanding Variety Series (THE COLBERT REPORT)
• Jon Cryer – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (TWO AND A HALF MEN)
• Claire Danes – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (HOMELAND)
• Jeremy Davies – Winner for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (JUSTIFIED)
• Kat Dennings – Star of the CBS series 2 BROKE GIRLS
• Zooey Deschanel – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (NEW GIRL)
• Giancarlo Esposito – Nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (BREAKING BAD)
• Jimmy Fallon – Winner for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE)
• Tina Fey – Nominee for three Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (30 ROCK)
• Michael J. Fox – Nominee for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (THE GOOD WIFE) and Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM) 
• Ricky Gervais – Creator of the THE OFFICE
• Ginnifer Goodwin – Star of the ABC series ONCE UPON A TIME
• Jon Hamm – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (MAD MEN)
• Ron Howard – Producer of the upcoming series ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
• Mindy Kaling – Star of the upcoming FOX series THE MINDY PROJECT
• Jane Levy – Star of the ABC series SUBURGATORY
• Lucy Liu – Star of the upcoming series ELEMENTARY
• Seth MacFarlane – Nominee for Outstanding Animated Program (AMERICAN DAD)
• Julianna Margulies – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (THE GOOD WIFE)
• Melissa McCarthy – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (MIKE & MOLLY)
• Julianne Moore – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Movie or Miniseries (GAME CHANGE)
• Hayden Panetteire – Star of the Upcoming ABC series NASHVILLE
• Jim Parsons – Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (THE BIG BANG THEORY)
• Matthew Perry – Star of the NBC series GO ON
• Martha Plimpton – Winner for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (THE GOOD WIFE)
• Amy Poehler– Nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (PARKS AND RECREATION)
• Kiefer Sutherland – Star of the series TOUCH
• James Van Der Beek – Star of the ABC series DON'T TRUST THE B IN APARTMENT 23
• Emily VanCamp – Star of ABC’s REVENGE
• Kerry Washington – Star of ABC’s SCANDAL
• Damon Wayans Jr. – Star of the ABC series HAPPY ENDINGS

BROADCAST SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, THE 64th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS

Pre EMMYS Shows (Sunday 2 - 5pm PT / 5 - 8pm ET)

• E! COUNTDOWN TO THE RED CARPET: The 2012 Primetime Emmy® Awards with Hosts Giuliana Rancic, George Kotsiopoulos and Kelly Osbourne, airing from 2 – 3pm PT / 5 – 6pm ET
• E! LIVE FROM THE RED CARPET with Hosts Ryan Seacrest And Giuliana Rancic  along with Ross Mathews and Kelly Osbourne From The E! Skybox, airing from 3 – 5pm PT / 6 – 8pm ET
• ABC EMMYS RED CARPET LIVE with hosts Josh Elliott and Laura Spencer from GOOD MORNING AMERICA, Chris Harrison from THE BACHELORETTE and Clinton Kelly from THE CHEW, airing from 4 - 5pm PT / 7 - 8pm ET.
  

The EMMYS (Sunday, LIVE on ABC starting at 5pm PT / 8pm ET)

• Fans at home can get an exclusive look at everything that is happening behind the scenes of television’s biggest night: “Backstage LIVE” is a free “all access pass” to the Emmys, streaming simultaneously to the live telecast, which can be streamed at Emmys.com or ABC.com.

After the EMMYS Fashion Specials (Monday 8 - 11pm ET/PT)

• 2012 EMMY AWARDS FASHION WRAP on TV Guide Network, with host Ali Landry and a panel of experts, airing on Monday, September 24 at 8 and 9pm ET/PT
• FASHION POLICE on E!, with hosts Joan Rivers, Kelly Osbourne, Giuliana Rancic and George Kotsiopoulos dishing the best and worst of Emnny night fashions on Monday, September 24 at 10pm ET/PT

NOMINEES FOR THE 64th PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

• THE BIG BANG THEORY
• CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
• GIRLS
• MODERN FAMILY
• 30 ROCK
• VEEP

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

• Lena Dunham as Hannah Horvath in GIRLS
• Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn in MIKE & MOLLY
• Zooey Deschanel as Jess Day in NEW GIRL
• Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton in NURSE JACKIE
• Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in PARKS AND RECREATION
• Tina Fey as Liz Lemon in 30 ROCK
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer in VEEP

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

• Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in THE BIG BANG THEORY
• Larry David as Himself in CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
• Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan in HOUSE OF LIES
• Louis C.K. as Louie in LOUIE
• Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy in 30 ROCK
• Jon Cryer as Alan Harper in TWO AND A HALF MEN

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

• Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler in THE BIG BANG THEORY
• Kathryn Joosten as Karen McCluskey in DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES
• Julie Bowen as Claire Dunphy in MODERN FAMILY
• Sofia Vergara as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in MODERN FAMILY
• Merritt Wever as Zoey Barkow in NURSE JACKIE
• Kristen Wiig as Various characters in SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

• Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Mitchell Pritchett in MODERN FAMILY
• Ed O'Neill as Jay Pritchett in MODERN FAMILY
• Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker in MODERN FAMILY
• Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy in MODERN FAMILY
• Max Greenfield as Schmidt in NEW GIRL
• Bill Hader as various characters in SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

BOARDWALK EMPIRE BREAKING BAD DOWNTON ABBEY GAME OF THRONES HOMELAND MAD MEN

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

• Glenn Close as Patty Hewes in DAMAGES
• Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley in DOWNTON ABBEY
• Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick in THE GOOD WIFE
• Kathy Bates as Harriet "Harry" Korn in HARRY'S LAW
• Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in HOMELAND
• Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson in MAD MEN

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

• Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson in BOARDWALK EMPIRE
• Bryan Cranston as Walter White in BREAKING BAD
• Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan in DEXTER
• Hugh Bonneville as Robert, Earl of Grantham in DOWNTON ABBEY
• Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor in FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
• Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody in HOMELAND
• Jon Hamm as Don Draper in MAD MEN

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

• Anna Gunn as Skyler White in BREAKING BAD
• Maggie Smith as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham in DOWNTON ABBEY
• Joanne Froggatt as Anna in DOWNTON ABBEY
• Archie Panjabi as Kalinda Sharma in THE GOOD WIFE
• Christine Baranski as Diane Lockhart in THE GOOD WIFE
• Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris in MAD MEN

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

• Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman in BREAKING BAD
• Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo 'Gus' Fring in BREAKING BAD
• Brendan Coyle as John Bates in DOWNTON ABBEY
• Jim Carter as Mr. Carson in DOWNTON ABBEY
• Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister in GAME OF THRONES
• Jared Harris as Lane Pryce in MAD MEN

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES OR MOVIE

• AMERICAN HORROR STORY
• GAME CHANGE
• HATFIELDS & MCCOYS
• HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN
• LUTHER
• SHERLOCK: A SCANDAL IN BELGRAVIA

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

• Connie Britton as Vivien Harmon in AMERICAN HORROR STORY
• Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in GAME CHANGE
• Nicole Kidman as Martha Gellhorn in HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN
• Ashley Judd as Rebecca Winstone in MISSING
• Emma Thompson as She in MASTERPIECE: THE SONG OF LUNCH

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

• Woody Harrelson as Steve Schmidt in GAME CHANGE
• Kevin Costner as 'Devil' Anse Hatfield in HATFIELDS & MCCOYS
• Bill Paxton as Randall McCoy in HATFIELDS & MCCOYS
• Clive Owen as Ernest Hemingway in HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN
• Idris Elba as John Luther in LUTHER
• Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in SHERLOCK: A SCANDAL IN BELGRAVIA

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

• Frances Conroy as Moira in AMERICAN HORROR STORY
• Jessica Lange as Constance Langdon in AMERICAN HORROR STORY
• Sarah Paulson as Nicolle Wallace in GAME CHANGE
• Mare Winningham as Sally McCoy in HATFIELDS & MCCOYS
• Judy Davis as Jill Tankard in MASTERPIECE: PAGE EIGHT

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

• Denis O'Hare as Larry Harvey in AMERICAN HORROR STORY
• Ed Harris as John McCain in GAME CHANGE
• Tom Berenger as Jim Vance in HATFIELDS & MCCOYS
• David Strathairn as John Dos Passos in HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN
• Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson in SHERLOCK: A SCANDAL IN BELGRAVIA

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES

• THE COLBERT REPORT
• THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART
• JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE
• LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON
• REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER
• SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

OUTSTANDING REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM

• THE AMAZING RACE
• DANCING WITH THE STARS
• PROJECT RUNWAY
• SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
• TOP CHEF
• THE VOICE

OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM

• Phil Keoghan, Host of THE AMAZING RACE
• Ryan Seacrest, Host of AMERICAN IDOL
• Betty White, Host of BETTY WHITE'S OFF THEIR ROCKERS
• Tom Bergeron, Host of DANCING WITH THE STARS
• Cat Deeley, Host of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

2012 EMMYS GOVERNORS BALL

When the 3,800 guests at the Governors Ball enter the gigantic West Hall of the L.A. Convention Center, they will be awed by a phantasmagoric explosion of red: massive rose “petals” dramatically suspended overhead, 200,000 fresh-cut red roses adorning 380 guest tables (all of which will be draped with red linens) and 20-foot-high stylized rose panels highlighting the location of bars and dessert stations placed throughout the West Hall.  And 36-foot-high black starlit LED curtains featuring 2,400 sparkling pinpoint bulbs will cocoon the entire ballroom.

Guests will dine on a three-course menu prepared by the Patina Restaurant Group, which also provided the accompanying photos:

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE 2012 EMMYS GOVERNORS BALL

• 3,800 Guests
• 3,800 Place Settings
• 10,000 Pieces of China
• 3,500 Champagne Flutes
• 1,200 Staff On-Site
• 200 Technicians
• 205 Cooks in the Kitchen
• 18 Executive Restaurant Chefs on-site in the Kitchen
• 85 Managers
• 45 Bartenders
• 2 Grey Goose Ice Bars
• 5,940 Bottles of Beaulieu Vineyard® Wine
• 360 Bottles of Beaulieu Vineyard® Dessert Wine
• Beaulieu Vineyard Wine Bar featured in the center of the ballroom
• 3,800 California Avocados
• 400 Pounds Windrose Farm Heirloom Tomatoes
• 1,425 Pounds of Filet Mignon
• 600 Pounds of Smoked Salmon 
• 170 Pounds of Arctic Char 
• 180 Pounds of Cucumbers 
• 200 Pounds of Golden Apples 
• 250 Pounds of Hearts of Palm
• 250 Pounds of Brentwood Corn 
• 80 Pounds of Red Radishes 
• 300 Pounds of Porcini Mushrooms
• 400 Pounds of Baby Spinach 
• 250 Pounds of Sunchokes 
• 50 Pounds of Ubriaco Cheese 
• 200 Pounds of Rainbow Swiss Chard 
• The basic prep takes place at the Patina Central Catering Kitchen over a 5-day period by a crew of 50 people per day
• Most of the proteins and basic components are cooked at the event site, immediately before service
• 27 World-Class performers for guests' entertainment