The official list of acting contenders for the Emmy Awards makes for very interesting reading.

There are 16 acting races with eight apiece for men and women –- lead and supporting in comedy series, drama series, and minis/movies as well as guest spots in a comedy and drama series. Eligible voters will choose their Top 10 for all of these races, save for minis/movies, in which it is five per category.

Of the 1,082 entries, men make up 57% with 614 contenders while women comprise 43% with 468 vying. And when you consider just the lead races, there is almost equal representation of women with men (110 to 119 entries, respectively).

LEADING MEN (119 entries)
Comedy series – 27
Drama series – 58
Minis/movies – 34

LEADING WOMEN (110 entries)
Comedy series – 25
Drama series – 51
Minis/movies – 34

However, the numbers are nowhere near as equitable when it comes to the supporting races with men outnumbering women by a margin of 110 contenders.

SUPPORTING MEN (347 entries)
Comedy series – 113
Drama series -179
Minis/movies – 55

SUPPORTING WOMEN (237 entries)
Comedy series – 70
Drama series – 130
Minis/movies – 37

With the showcase guest spots, the breakdown is fairly even with men ahead of women by only 27 entries.

GUEST MEN (148 entries)
Comedy series - 65
Drama series – 83

GUEST WOMEN (121 entries)
Comedy series – 41
Drama series – 80