On Saturday evening, winners of the Television Critics Associations awards will take the stage at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, smile profusely and thank the group graciously, noting that this award is really meaningful, coming as it does from people whose life’s work is given over to watching and championing quality television. They do all that, but in their hearts, they’ll be thinking one of two things:

* “I hope I can parlay this into an Emmy now.”
* “How meaningful is this award if it can’t even score me an Emmy nomination?”

Emmy nominations were announced this morning, and winners in the major categories will be announced Sept. 16. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced today that after consultations with the Federal Trade Commission regarding reservations registered over trophy safety and to alleviate production costs of the televised ceremony, ATAS has entered into an agreement with Apple and, for the first time, the spiky-winged angel holding aloft an empty globe will be replaced with a large, gold-plated iPhone.

Anyway, it was the usual mixed bag of nominations announced today, with the requisite perennials, a couple of mildly surprising inclusions, some heartening fresh blood and the usual vexing snubs. (Memo to self: Save this paragraph for use next year.)

“Sopranos:” You know the drill: 15 nominations, including three in the writing category alone, most of any series; 111 overall; show to beat. Otherwise: HBO, 11 fewer nominations than last year.

“Ugly Betty” and “30 Rock:” first-time comedies do swell, with 11 and 10 nominations overall, including Outstanding Comedy Series. NBC is praying “30 Rock’s” strong showing will translate into actual viewers next season, but look how well winning the Emmy worked out for “Arrested Development.” Go ahead and hand America Ferrera the acting trophy right now, just on the sheer likability factor (Emmy voters know just how difficult it is to fake being that sweet and kind and lovable.)

“Boston Legal:” Emmy voters love this show more than any other demographic on the planet: Six nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, a nomination that people who care enough about this sort of thing to fume over snubs charge could’ve and should’ve gone to either “The Wire” (boyoboy, when the history of Television is written, Emmy voters will look awfully stoopid for never giving this show its due) or “Friday Night Lights.”

No, really: I’d like to hear from someone who voted in this thing and watched “The Wire” and thought, “You know what? No. I’m voting for something else.” What do you want, for heaven’s sake?

A fairly reliable measure of what got snubbed in the Outstanding Series categories is to look at the writing and directing categories. Nominated in those categories: “Battlestar Galactica,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Extras,” “Scrubs” and “Lost.”

Ricky Gervais: Three nominations, for writing, directing and starring in “Extras.” Start polishing that “It’s an honor just to be nominated” speech now. Or, since he’s up against two scripts both from “The Office” and “30 Rock” in the comedy writing category, perhaps he’ll win as those cancel one another out.

An utter, jaw-dropping shocker: The two stars appearing this morning to announce the nominations – Kyra Sedgwick and Jon Cryer – went home with nominations themselves. Quite the gift bag.

“Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” got the most nominations of any production this year – 17 – and was also named “Worst TV movie or miniseries” in a critics’ poll in a trade publication. Both of which are wild over-reactions.

Three miniseries nominations – “Broken Trail,” “Prime Suspect” and “The Starter Wife.” What this means: Emmy voters couldn’t be bothered to pop their DVD screener of “The State Within” into their players for even five minutes, because otherwise it would’ve been on this list.

T.R. Knight got nominated for Best Supporting Actor/Drama for “Grey’s Anatomy.” Wonder if he’ll thank Isaiah Washington if he wins?

Funny how no one's talking about how Lauren Graham got snubbed this year.

“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” got 5 nominations!

And “Saturday Night Live’s” song “Dick in a Box,” an ode to Vice President Cheney and his undisclosed bunker, just might walk off with the highest honor the Television Arts has to offer.