Emmy nominees' favorite old TV shows

Long before Kevin Costner, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks and Julia Louis-Dreyfus were Emmy nominees, they were kids who loved watching TV.

"I liked 'Man from U.N.C.L.E.' and 'High Chaparral,'" Costner said. "I really, really liked that when I was a kid." "I remember the transition from black-and-white to color," continued Costner, who is nominated as both star and producer of the TV movie "Hatfields & McCoys" at this year's Emmys (Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC/7) "One by one, the televisions in my neighborhood became color TVs, and we would all go look at each other's color TVs and ooh and aah at 'Bonanza.' "

Cranston, who is nominated for his role on "Breaking Bad" -- which won him the Emmy Award three years in a row, grew watching "The Andy Griffith Show." "I love the character of Barney: Classic comic character of the absolute confident man with no ability whatsoever. Always funny. The calm and comforting tones of Andy Griffith, who we lost recently," the actor said. "I think there was just something very sweet and comforting about watching that show, and the simplicity of the lifestyle and a days-gone-by kind of thing."

Hendricks, nominated for the third consecutive time for her supporting role in "Mad Men," said her all-time favorites were "M*A*S*H" and "Northern Exposure." "Both of them had a sense of real community and camaraderie among the cast, a sense of friendship in this world that I remember responding to," she said.

Mayim Bialik of "The Big Bang Theory" was also a "Northern Exposure" fan.

"They had every kind of possible character," said the actress, who remembered watching the show while starring on "Blossom." "I would have loved to be anything on 'Northern Exposure,' but mostly Rob Morrow's love interest. That would have been my choice."

Louis-Dreyfus, a 14-time Emmy nominee and two-time winner, wants to bring back her favorite show from childhood: "Flipper." "Talking dolphin. How can you beat it?" she said. "Well, sort of talking. It communicated. A dolphin who beats the bad guy every week. I think we should redo that. I think I'm going to pitch that. That's my new HBO show: 'Flipper: Part II.' "