Cherry Jones and Sir Ian McKellen get Emmy nods

Cherry Jones is simply terrific in the role of the President of the United States Allison Taylor on 24.

But will she be able to win an Emmy to place alongside her two Tony Awards?

Miss Jones will have to beat a formidable group of actresses in this category starting with Dianne Wiest who won last year and is up again for In Treatment. Hope Davis is also nominated for In Treatment and Rose Byrne is up for Damages. Rounding out the category are perennial Grey’s Anatomy nominees Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh.

I hope Cherry wins so she can give girlfriend Sarah Paulson a big smooch on the lips just as she did when she won the Tony for Doubt.

As for out actor Sir Ian McKellen, he has been nominated in the category of outstanding performance by a lead actor in a TV movie or miniseries for the title role in PBS’ King Lear.

It is McKellen’s fourth Emmy nod and he has yet to win. If he takes home the prize, he’ll have to beat Kiefer Sutherland (24: Redemption), Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance), Kevin Kline (Cyrano de Bergerac), Brendan Gleeson (Into The Storm), and Kenneth Branagh (Wallander: One Step Behind).

Here is a LINK to a full list of Emmy nominees.