The fact that millions of Americans don’t have cable is well known and that meant, for a long time, that people or series receiving awards at the Emmys were complete strangers to most of the watchers. Things may change from now on, as more and more basic-cable channels receive the critics’ recognition.

After September 13th, when The Creative Arts Emmy ceremony was held, like the smaller version of the real deal, which, in advance of the main awards, recognizes technical and other achievements, things seem to look brighter for channels other than FOX or HBO.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' 60th annual Emmy awards are to be aired 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 on WEWS Channel 5. But this year’s surprise is that shows on basic-cable are receiving more and more critical acclaim.

One of them is "Mad Men," the dark drama about a 1960s advertising agency, which took home four statuettes, more than any other series, at the Creative Arts and it looks like it could create a whole new standard of quality TV.

The AMC network's period piece set in the social cross-currents of New York's Madison Avenue in the early 1960s is beautifully created and performed, which is what could bring the mad men the prize for best drama series, along with other awards, as they have 16 nominations, the most of any series.

Another basic-cable nominee is FX legal drama, “Damages," starring Glenn Close, who is also a favorite in the best actress in a drama category, against Holly Hunter of "Saving Grace" and Kyra Sedgwick of "The Closer," both on TNT along with Sally Field for ABC's "Brothers & Sisters," who took the Emmy last year, and Mariska Hargitay for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," who won in 2006.

Other favorites, as the media speculates, are “30 Rock,” with nominations including best comedy, best actress (Tina Fey) and best actor in a comedy series (Alec Baldwin).

For Best comedy, the contestants are " The Office," which took the Emmy in 2006 and HBO’s "Entourage" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm,” while Fey runs against Mary-Louise Parker of Showtime's “Weeds,” nominated for a second time, Christina Applegate of ABC's " Samantha Who?,” last year's winner, America Ferrera of ABC's " Ugly Betty" and former Seinfeld star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus of CBS's "The New Adventures of Old Christine," who won in 2006.

The funniest guys on TV this year, aside from Mr. Baldwin, are three-time winner Tony Shalhoub of USA's "Monk," Steve Carell of "The Office," Charlie Sheen of "Two and a Half Men" and Lee Pace of ABC's “Pushing Daisies."

On the more serious side, in the battle for best drama, along with “Mad Men” and “Damages” also run Showtime’s “Dexter,” Fox's "House and ABC's "Lost" and "Boston Legal,” while the dramatic men are Hugh Laurie of "House," Michael C. Hall of "Dexter,” Gabriel Byrne of HBO's "In Treatment,” Jon Hamm of "Mad Men” and Bryan Cranston, who has been nominated three previous times for his work as the dad in the comedy "Malcolm in the Middle," now up for a dramatic Emmy as a science teacher turned meth manufacturer in a second AMC drama, "Breaking Bad."

May the best win and let there be more good TV for all to see in the coming year!