1. Big Love (Best Drama Series)

Why It's a Surprise: This is the third year that HBO's polygamy drama has been on the air, and it barely earned any Emmy recognition before. It's also the least buzzworthy of HBO's dramas, and this spot was reserved for In Treatment or True Blood. Even more surprisingly, this was Big Love's one and only Emmy nomination -- technical categories included -- which means it probably just scraped by.

2. Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program (Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series)

Why It Shouldn't Have Been Too Much of a Surprise: Last year, Silverman picked up a nomination for her guest spot on Monk, and she even placed in the top ten finalists for this category -- but she didn't earn a nomination.

Why It's a Surprise: This year, she wasn't on anyone's radar while Amy Poehler and Billie Piper were the names being thrown around. She managed to sneak in one year after many thought she would, and she even got past conservative voters who might not be able to handle her objectionable material.

3. Simon Baker, The Mentalist (Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series)

Why It Shouldn't Have Been Too Much of a Surprise: Awards guru Tom O'Neil somehow foresaw Baker being included.

Why It's a Surprise: The show doesn't fit the general description of a typical Emmy-worthy series, but it's a ratings success. Baker somehow rode its popularity to edge out past winners like Kiefer Sutherland and James Spader. This category is chock full of actors on immensely respected shows, and The Mentalist is hardly of that caliber.

4. Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords (Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series)

Why It's a Surprise: Buzz is way down for HBO's offbeat comedy since the show got cancelled back in March. It's also interesting that Jemaine, who shares equal screen time with bandmate Bret McKenzie, was singled out.

5. Family Guy (Best Comedy Series)

Why It Shouldn't Have Been Too Much of a Surprise: Last year, Family Guy submitted on a technicality in this category (a TV movie special was eligible for animated program) and was one of the ten finalists, but it was not one of the final five nominees. An expanded number of nominees this year looks it made the difference, making history in the process.

Why It's a Surprise: It's only the second animated series ever to earn a nomination for Best Series -- The Flintstones was the first way back in 1961.

1. Jeremy Piven, Entourage (Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series)

Why It's a Surprise: Piven has been the default winner in this category for the past three years. He was the most secure contender in this category, especially since Entourage was nominated again for Best Comedy Series. Did Piven's questionable departure from Broadway leave voters doubting his commitment to his craft?

2. Boston Legal (Best Lead Actor; Supporting Actress; Drama Series)

Why It's a Surprise: David E. Kelley's show made the Best Drama Series list the past two years, much to the chagrin of some TV fans. This year, its supporting actors, Christian Clemenson and William Shatner, are in, but two-time winner James Spader and supporting actress Candice Bergen are out. Emmy voters may finally have acknowledged that some of the public detests the show, dropping it from the Best Drama Series list and acknowledging more publicly-supported deserving contenders.

3. Two and a Half Men (Best Comedy Series)

Why It's a Surprise: It's always been a bit of a mystery how CBS' childish sitcom was on the list to begin with, but its sudden removal this year is strange. With an expanded field of nominees, Two and a Half Men was one of the frontrunners. Actors Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer still made the cut, but the show didn't. At least CBS and laugh-track sitcoms are still represented in the category by new entry How I Met Your Mother.

4. January Jones, Mad Men (Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series)

Why It's a Surprise: AMC's wildly popular drama series picked up 16 nominations this year, but Jones wasn't one of them. She earned rave reviews for her portrayal of housewife Betty Draper in Mad Men's second season, and a move up from the supporting category last year to lead this year should have ensured her a place. The new sixth slot did go to a Mad Men leading lady, it turns out, but not Jones. Her costar Elisabeth Moss, who also earned buzz for playing secretary-turned-copywriter Peggy Moss, beat her out, implying that there's only room for one Mad woman in the category.

5. John Mahoney and Allison Pill, In Treatment (Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Drama Series)

Why It's a Surprise: The Frasier vet and relative newcomer each earned spectacular praise for their roles as an overworked CEO and cancer-stricken architecture student, respectively, on HBO's therapy drama. Mahoney was a sure bet; Pill was likely. Last year, In Treatment patients Blair Underwood and Mia Wasikowska found themselves in a similar situation – and didn't get nominated. Mahoney is more of an Emmy favorite than Underwood, and therefore his omission is puzzling. Pill, on the other hand, lost her spot to costars Hope Davis and Dianne Wiest, who are far more established, esteemed actresses. Seven weeks of therapy may help you work out some issues, but if you're an unknown actress, you don't get to take home an Emmy.

6. New Shows

Why It's a Surprise: Last year, nominees came from freshman series like Breaking Bad, Damages, In Treatment, Mad Men, Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who, and Saving Grace. This year, only two new shows made it onto Emmy voters' radar – The Mentalist and The United States of Tara, each of which earned one bid apiece for their lead star. The series categories are full of fresh faces, but all six first-time entries – Big Love, Breaking Bad, Family Guy, Flight of the Conchords, How I Met Your Mother, and Weeds – aren't new shows. They just haven't made the list before. Where are new series like Better Off Ted, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Parks and Recreation, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Sons of Anarchy, Southland, and True Blood? The Mentalist and Tara weren't the only new shows worthy of recognition, so why are they the only ones represented?