2014 Emmys: Will Orange is the New Black laugh last?

Television's biggest stars will strut their stuff in Los Angeles tonight as the industry observes the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Late Night funnyman Seth Myers will preside over the small screen love-in, which airs on a weeknight for the first time in 40 years.

HBO's fantasy drama Game of Thrones goes into the competition with 19 nominations, followed closely by the shot-in-Calgary drama Fargo with 18, and FX's bewitching thriller American Horror Story: Coven with 17.

Tonight's real drama, however, may come the race for best comedy with Netflix's prison series Orange is the New Black threatening to unseat four-in-a-row Emmy winner Modern Family.

Time for a new winner?

Orange is the New Black actor Laverne Cox says it's time for a new show to win best comedy, and is up against multiple winner Modern Family, among other shows. (Bryan Bedder/Logo TV/Getty Images)

Netflix raised some eyebrows by submitting Orange in the comedy category, but the strategy may pay off for the streaming service as it gives it potential winners in two main categories. (Its Washington political drama House of Cards is on the board again this year in the outstanding drama category.)

Despite its dismal setting in a female prison, many critics predict Orange will get the last laugh.

Orange star Laverne Cox admits she loves the cast of Modern Family, but the trailblazing transgender actress explained to The Associated Press that she thinks "it's time for a new show" to win best comedy, and she's pulling for her own show to do it.

Other nominees in the comedy category are:

The Big Bang Theory
Louie
Modern Family
Orange Is the New Black
Veep
Silicon Valley

Best drama series:

Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
House of Cards
Mad Men
Game of Thrones True Detective

Actor in a drama series:

Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Matthew McConaughey, True Detective
Woody Harrelson, True Detective
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom

Actress in a drama series:

Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Robin Wright, House of Cards
Kerry Washington, Scandal
Julianna Margulies, Good Wife
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex

For a full list of nominees and winners see the official Emmy website.

Remembering Robin Williams

The star-studded broadcast will also pause to remember Robin Williams, the Hollywood and TV star who died in a suicide at his home two weeks ago. His longtime friend and fellow comedian, Billy Crystal, slated to oversee a special tribute section of the show.

The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast from the Nokia Theatre starting at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.