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BEVERLY HILLS — We caught up with a handful of Emmy nominees at the recent Television Critics Association press tour to discuss their nominations, what they think their chances might be, and, in some cases, who they would be happy to clap and smile politely for if they don’t win Sunday.

JIMMY KIMMEL , show host, nominated for variety series for “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

On discovering his nomination while announcing them:

“It was weird to read my own name, and I’m glad that I did because it would have been extremely uncomfortable otherwise. It would have been even better if mine was the only name that I read, but short of that, it was good.”

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Actor Louis C.K.

LOUIS C.K. , nominated for comedy actor, writing for a comedy series, and directing for a comedy series for “Louie,” among seven total nominations

On setting a record for most nominations for one person:

“Well, the record was previously held by David Lynch, who is a big hero of mine. I love him, so to take something away from him is bittersweet. I think records and competition is more of an athletics thing. With creative television and writing, it’s kind of silly a little bit. But it’s nice for all the people who work for me and for the network. I was really glad to get FX a whole bunch of nominations. That’s what I really wanted for them more than me. It’s nice, though.”

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Hugh Bonneville.

HUGH BONNEVILLE , nominated for drama actor, “Downton Abbey”

On hearing the news of the show’s

16 nominations:

“We have a word in England which is ‘gobsmacked.’ I don’t know if it translates. Overwhelmed is an understatement, to have been in my

category, to hear my name in the same breath, so to speak, as Jon Hamm and Damian Lewis and the others. It’s a tremendous honor. It really is.’’

DAMIAN LEWIS, nominated for drama actor, “Homeland”

On his response to the nod:

“It’s unthinkable. There’s not a chance in hell of winning, so I’m going to go and really enjoy myself and probably get quite drunk.”

On whom he’d be willing to lose to:

“I’m a little bit in love with Jon Hamm and Don Draper [of “Mad Men”] because something crystallized in that show and his performance that I just adore and long for. And so I’d love Jon to win. Bryan [Cranston of “Breaking Bad”]? He’s not allowed to win anymore, even though probably he’s the person most likely to. [“Dexter” star] Michael [C. Hall] has already won it. [joking]. Steve [Buscemi of “Boardwalk Empire”] is one of my wife’s favorite actors, so obviously I don’t like him already, so he’s not allowed to win it. And Hugh [Bonneville of “Downton Abbey”] just can’t win it because I know him. I know his tricks. I see what he did in that. I’ve seen it all before, frankly.”

GIANCARLO ESPOSITO, nominated for drama supporting actor, “Breaking Bad”

On whose name he would like to hear called, if not his own:

“It’s mind-boggling for me. I’m just happy to be in that group. I don’t know who I’d be pulling for because I have such deep respect for Jared Harris’s work [on “Mad Men”] and deep respect for [“Breaking Bad” costar] Aaron Paul’s work. In my world it would be kind of wonderful to have some kind of tie. Of course everyone loves to win.” (Laughs.)

JAKE KASDAN, nominated for directing for a comedy series, “New Girl”

On whom he would feel comfortable losing to:

“A few of those people are friends of mine. I think what Lena [Dunham] did this year [on HBO’s “Girls”] is just so incredible and a lot of that is directing, by the way. I would be thrilled if she won.”