The "divisive" finale season of "Game of Thrones" smashed the record for most Primetime Emmy nominations by a drama series in a single year, earning a whopping 32 nods on Tuesday. The show is the most decorated fictional show in the awards' seven-decade history, and now has 161 nominations overall, including 47 wins. 

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" -- Amazon's story of a 1950 housewife-turned-standup comic -- was a distant second with 20 nominations. As well as "Maisel," dark British comedy "Fleabag" performed well for Amazon, with five of its actresses receiving nominations, including lead Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

HBO's acclaimed limited series "Chernobyl" placed third overall this year with 19 nominations, ahead of perennial Emmy powerhouse "Saturday Night Live" with 18.

This year's nominations saw HBO reclaim its title for most-nominated network from web streaming giant Netflix, which last year had ended its 17-year winning streak. HBO claimed 137 nods to Netflix's 117 -- a record for each -- meaning the pair tighten their joint stranglehold on the prestigious awards.

A number of high-profile film stars are among the first-time Emmy nominees this year. They include Amy Adams, a six-time Oscar nominee, for "Sharp Objects;" Hugh Grant, a five-time Golden Globe nominee, for "A Very English Scandal;" Oscar and Golden Globe winner Benicio Del Toro, for "Escape at Dannemora;" and Oscar and Globe nominee Rosamund Pike, for "State of the Union." 

Final-round voting will now begin to pick winners who will be revealed at a glitzy Los Angeles show on September 22. 

(With input from AFP, AP)

(Cover image via hiptoro. com)