“The Big Bang Theory,” “The Amazing Race” and “Mike and Molly” were among the CTV shows honoured with 2012 Emmy nominations Thursday morning.

In addition to a nomination for best comedy series, “The Big Bang Theory” also picked up acting nods, with Jim Parsons receiving a lead actor nomination for his role as Sheldon Cooper. Parsons has previously been nominated three times for the role and has won twice. Mayim Bialik scored her first Emmy nomination with a best supporting actress nod for her role as Amy Farrah Fowler.

Melissa McCarthy picked up a lead actress nomination for her role as Molly Flynn on “Mike and Molly” following in the footsteps of her win in 2011, while Ashley Judd was nominated for her role in a miniseries or a movie with “Missing.”

There were also plenty of nominations for guest actresses including Kathy Bates for her role as Charlie Harper in “Two and a Half Men,” Uma Thurman for her role as Rebecca Duvall in “Smash” and Loretta Devine for her role as Adele Webber in “Grey’s Anatomy,” who won an Emmy in the same category in 2011.

Although “Desperate Housewives” ended its eight-year run in May, the late Kathryn Joosten, who played Karen McCluskey, picked up a nomination for Supporting Actress. Joosten, who passed away in June of lung cancer, had previously won two Emmys for the role. Brenda Strong also received a nod for voice-over performance.

“Shark Tank” and the two-time Emmy nominee “Undercover Boss” picked up bids for best reality program, while the multiple Emmy Award winners “The Amazing Race,” “Dancing With the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” received nods for best reality-competition program, as did first-time nominee “The Voice.”

The reality series’ hosts also did well with “The Amazing Race’s” Phil Keoghan scoring a nod for best host, along with Tom Bergeron for “Dancing with the Stars,” Cat Deeley for “So You Think You Can Dance,” Ryan Seacrest for “American Idol” and 90-year-old Betty White for “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers.” 

Other nominees in major categories include (courtesy Associated Press):

Drama Series: "Boardwalk Empire," HBO; "Breaking Bad," AMC; "Downton Abbey," PBS; "Game of Thrones," HBO; "Homeland," Showtime; "Mad Men," AMC.

Comedy Series: "The Big Bang Theory," CBS; "Curb Your Enthusiasm," HBO; "Girls," HBO; "Modern Family," ABC; "30 Rock," NBC; "Veep," HBO.

Miniseries or Made-for-TV Movie: "American Horror Story," FX Networks; "Game Change," HBO; "Hatfields & McCoys," History; "Hemingway & Gellhorn," HBO; "Luther," BBC America; "Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)," PBS.

Actor, Drama Series: Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire," HBO; Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad," AMC; Michael C. Hall, "Dexter," Showtime; Hugh Bonneville, "Downton Abbey," PBS; Damian Lewis, "Homeland," Showtime; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men," AMC.

Actress, Drama Series: Glenn Close, "Damages," DirecTV; Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey," PBS; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife," CBS; Kathy Bates, "Harry's Law," NBC; Claire Danes, "Homeland," Showtime; Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men," AMC.

Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad," AMC; Giancarlo Esposito, "Breaking Bad," AMC; Brendan Coyle, "Downton Abbey," PBS; Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey," PBS; Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones," HBO; Jared Harris, "Mad Men," AMC.

Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad," AMC; Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey," PBS; Joanne Froggatt, "Downtonn Abbey," PBS; Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife," CBS; Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife," CBS; Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men," AMC.

Actor, Comedy Series: Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory," CBS; Larry David, "Curb Your Enthusiasm," HBO; Don Cheadle, "House of Lies," Showtime; Louis C.K., "Louie," FX Networks; Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock," NBC; Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men," CBS.

Actress, Comedy Series: Lena Dunham, "Girls," HBO: Melissa McCarthy, "Mike & Molly," CBS; Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl," Fox; Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie," Showtime; "Parks and Recreation," NBC; Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation," NBC; Tina Fey, "30 Rock," NBC; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep, HBO.

Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family," ABC; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family," ABC; Ty Burrell, "Modern Family," ABC; Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family," ABC; Max Greenfield, "New Girl," Fox; Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live," NBC.

Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory," CBS; Kathryn Joosten, "Desperate Housewives," ABC; Julie Bowen, "Modern Family," ABC; Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family," ABC; Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie," Showtime; Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live," NBC.

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Woody Harrelson, "Game Change," HBO; Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys," History; Bill Paxton, "Hatfields & McCoys," History; Clive Owen, "Hemingway & Gellhorn," HBO; Idris Elba, "Luther," BBC America; Benedict Cumberbatch, "Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)," PBS.

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Connie Britton, "American Horror Story," FX Networks; Julianne Moore, "Game Change," HBO; Nicole Kidman, "Hemingway & Gellhorn," HBO; Ashley Judd, "Missing," ABC; Emma Thompson, "The Song of Lunch (Masterpiece), PBS.

Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Denis O'Hare, "American Horror Story," FX Networks; Ed Harris, "Game Change," HBO; Tom Berenger, "Hatfields & McCoys," History; David Strathairn, "Hemingway & Gellhorn," HBO; Martin Freeman, "Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia (Masterpiece)," PBS.

Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Frances Conroy, "American Horror Story," FX Networks; Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story," FX Networks; Sarah Paulson, "Game Change," HBO; Mare Winningham, "Hatfields & McCoys," History; Judy Davis, "Page Eight (Masterpiece)," PBS.

Reality Program: "Antiques Roadshow," PBS; "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," ABC; "MythBusters," Discovery Channel; "Shark Tank," ABC; "Undercover Boss," CBS; "Who Do You Think You Are?" NBC.

Reality-Competition Program: "The Amazing Race," CBS; "Dancing With the Stars," ABC; "Project Runway," Lifetime; "So You Think You Can Dance," Fox; "Top Chef," Bravo; "The Voice," NBC.

Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "The Colbert Report," Comedy Central; "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central; "Jimmy Kimmel Live," ABC; "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," NBC; "Real Time With Bill Maher," HBO; "Saturday Night Live," NBC.

Children's Program: "Degrassi," TeenNick; "Good Luck Charlie," Disney Channel; "iCarly," Nickelodeon; "Victorious," Nickelodeon; "Wizards Of Waverly Place," Disney Channel.