FX’s acclaimed legal thriller “Damages” led in series nominations for the 65th annual Golden Globe Awards as several breakout cable programs made strong showings.

“Damages” received four nominations for its debut season, including best drama series. That category includes fellow cable standouts HBO’s “Big Love,” Showtime’s “The Tudors” and AMC’s “Mad Men,” along with broadcast hits ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and Fox’s “House.”

The ratings-challenged “Damages” was thought to be on the bubble for a renewal until FX decided to grant the show two more seasons last month. “Damages” also received an acting nod for star Glenn Close and supporting player Rose Byrne.

"There was never a moment that we didn't want to pick it up," said John Landgraf, president and general manager, FX. "It really had to do with the international marketplace. I think people thought it was very ambitious."

AMC’s first original series under current management, “Mad Men,” has had similarly modest viewership, but critics have swooned for the show and lead actor Jon Hamm, who received an acting nomination. “[I’m happy for] the people who worked so hard on building something distinctive,” said Charlie Collier, executive VP and general manager of AMC. “And to be told you’re one of the best, it’s just great.”

Among the networks, HBO once again had the most nominations with 18, including four honors for the telepic “Longford,” and three each for series “Big Love” and “Entourage.” The network’s more recent series such as “Tell Me You Love Me” and “John From Cincinnati” were shut out, however.

ABC was second with 11 nominations, led by three for freshman series “Pushing Daisies” (which was submitted as a comedy despite its hour length). “Daisies” was nominated for comedy series along with NBC’s “30 Rock,” Showtime’s “Californication,” HBO’s “Entourage” and “Extras.”

All told, five freshman shows received series nominations, continuing the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s penchant for honoring newer titles. Cable networks accounted for about two-thirds of the nominations. The honors follow the lead of television critics, who have oft declared that cable efforts are overshadowing broadcast shows this year.

NBC and Showtime tied for third place with six nominations apiece. “30 Rock” led NBC’s honors with three nods, while Showtime’s “The Tudors” led its pack with two.

Notably absent from the list of nominations: NBC’s “Heroes” and “Friday Night Lights” and ABC’s “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives.” ABC’s critical favorite “Ugly Betty,” NBC’s “The Office” and the final season of HBO’s “The Sopranos” earned only one nomination each.

The Globes will be held Jan. 13 in Beverly Hills and telecast on NBC.

The ongoing writers strike threatens to overshadow the awards ceremony, however. The HFPA has requested a waiver from the Writers Guild of America that would allow the awards show to use writers. If the WGA rejects the request, some talent likely will refuse to cross a picket line to attend the event. Others could show up and use the ceremony as an opportunity to make statements from the podium in favor of the writers.

Hugh Laurie, who received an actor nomination for “House,” got into the union-boosting spirit early.

“I’m extremely honored to be included in such company,” the actor said in a statement Thursday morning. “But now, especially now, I have to emphasize how much I owe to David Shore and all the writers on ‘House.’ Without them, I wouldn’t even know how to finish this sentence without … you know ….”

(Jon Lafayette and Andrew Krukowski contributed to this report.)

Click here for more Globes coverage, including nominee reactions and analysis.

The television nominees are:

Television Series – Drama
"Big Love" (HBO)
"Damages" (FX)
"Grey’s Anatomy" (ABC)
"House" (Fox)
"Mad Men" (AMC)
"The Tudors" (Showtime)

Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Patricia Arquette - "Medium"
Glenn Close - "Damages"
Minnie Driver - "The Riches"
Edie Falco - "The Sopranos"
Sally Field - "Brothers & Sisters"
Holly Hunter - "Saving Grace"
Kyra Sedgwick - "The Closer"

Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Michael C. Hall - "Dexter"
Jon Hamm - "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie - "House"
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - "The Tudors"
Bill Paxton - "Big Love"

Television Series – Comedy or Musical
"30 Rock" (NBC)
"Californication" (Showtime)
"Entourage" (HBO)
"Extras" (HBO)
"Pushing Daisies" (ABC)

Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Christina Applegate - "Samantha Who?"
America Ferrera - "Ugly Betty"
Tina Fey - "30 Rock"
Anna Friel - "Pushing Daisies"
Mary-Louise Parker - "Weeds"

Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin - "30 Rock"
Steve Carell - "The Office"
David Duchovny - "Californication"
Ricky Gervais - "Extras"
Lee Pace - "Pushing Daisies"

Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
"Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" (HBO)
"The Company" (TNT)
"Five Days" (HBO)
"Longford" (HBO)
"The State Within" (BBC America)

Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Bryce Dallas Howard - "As You Like It"
Debra Messing - "The Starter Wife"
Queen Latifah - "Life Support"
Sissy Spacek - "Pictures of Hollis Woods"
Ruth Wilson - "Jane Eyre" (Masterpiece Theatre)

Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
Adam Beach - "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee"
Ernest Borgnine - "A Grandpa for Christmas"
Jim Broadbent - "Longford"
Jason Isaacs - "The State Within"
James Nesbitt - "Jekyll"

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries O\or Motion Picture Made for Television
Rose Byrne - "Damages"
Rachel Griffiths - "Brothers & Sisters"
Katherine Heigl - "Grey’s Anatomy"
Samantha Morton - "Longford"
Anna Paquin - "Bury My Heart at Wounded - Knee"
Jaime Pressly - "My Name Is Earl"

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries O\or Motion Picture Made for Television
Ted Danson - "Damages"
Kevin Dillon - "Entourage"
Jeremy Piven - "Entourage"
Andy Serkis - "Longford"
William Shatner - "Boston Legal"
Donald Sutherland - "Dirty Sexy Money"

Totals:
HBO -- 18
ABC -- 11
NBC -- 6
Showtime -- 6
FX Networks -- 5
BBC America -- 3
TNT -- 3
AMC -- 2
Fox -- 2
CBS -- 1
Hallmark Channel -- 1
PBS -- 1
USA Network -- 1

Updated 8:15 AM