Golden Globe TV nominations: the snubs and surprises

Despite a blockbuster season--which included becoming the first cable series on any network to win the overall fall TV ratings war in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demo--AMC’s “The Walking Dead� couldn’t gorge up a Golden Globe nomination.

The zombie drama wasn’t the only one left out in the cold when nominations were announced Thursday morning. It’s hard to really classify a no-mention for “Sons of Anarchy� a snub, since the show is always overlooked, but considering its daring season and impressive viewership this season, it could’ve been the FX drama’s year for recognition.

HBO’s “Game of Thrones� also got passed over after making a showing last year. Taking its place--somewhat surprisingly, considering the army of critics who have panned it--was HBO’s “The Newsroom,� whose headliner Jeff Daniels also racked up a nomination for his portrayal of prickly cable news anchorman Will McAvoy.

LIST: Complete list of Golden Globe nominees

Instead, “The Newsroom� will be joined by “Homeland,� “Boardwalk Empire,� soon-to-be-ending “Breaking Bad� (Finally--after never receiving one!) and the only non-cable candidate, “Downton Abbey.�

That means “American Horror Story� was not recognized in the drama category after last year’s debut. A bit startling, considering the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. seems to be a big fan of Ryan Murphy’s work--but even usual suspect “Glee� didn’t get a nomination.

And wait, there’s no “Mad Men� love? The awards favorite got shut out of the drama category--though it kept its name in the game with Jon Hamm’s lead actor nomination.

PHOTOS: Globe nominations snubs & surprises

A welcome surprise was the nomination in the supporting role for “Homeland’s� Mandy Patinkin for his role as Saul, the bearded voice of reason on the Showtime thriller. The actor was overlooked last year by the Globes (and the Emmys!).

“Homeland� co-creator Howard Gordon said Patinkin’s nomination was the one that made him “smile the biggest.�

“It is so well-deserved, and belated,� Gordon said, jokingly adding that the beard is a “huge part� of Saul’s appeal: “It’s remarkable. You can lose yourself in it.�

On the comedy front, NBC comedy “Parks and Recreation� didn’t earn a nomination--even though its leading lady is host of the awards ceremony, proving that no good deed goes unpunished. On the bright side, the “SNL� alum was nominated for her turn as hopeless, Joe Biden-loving Leslie Knope.

And we’re leaving it up to you to label whether Lindsay Lohan’s omission for her portrayal of Elizabeth Taylor in the Lifetime opus, “Liz & Dick,� was a snub or a surprise.

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Golden Globe nominations: The complete list