Long before big stars were Emmy nominees, they were kids who loved watching TV. The Associated Press found out some of their favorite shows.

Kevin Costner, nominated as star and producer of Hatfields & McCoys. “I liked Man from Uncle and High Chaparral,” the 57-year-old Californian said. “I remember the transition from black-and-white to color. It was like 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. I’m kind of glad I saw it all, in a way. I remember the TV would shut off at 11 and just play the national anthem all night long.”

Bryan Cranston, nominated for his role on Breaking Bad, which won him the Emmy Award three years in a row: The 56-year-old, also a California native, grew up on 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, whom 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.”

Christina Hendricks, nominated for the third consecutive time for her supporting role in Mad Men: All-time faves: MASH 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,” said the 37-year-old, who is from Knoxville, Tenn.

Nicole Kidman, a first-time Emmy nominee for her lead role in Hemingway & Gellhorn: The 45-year-old was raised on The Brady Bunch and Bewitched. “Growing up in Australia, the miniseries was such a big, big thing. It was something that launched my career because I did miniseries in Australia,” she said. “I did a thing called Bangkok Hilton and one called Vietnam, which was on the Vietnam War in the ’60s and was a hugely rated show.”

Maya Rudolph, nominated for hosting Saturday Night Live: One of the Gainesville-born comedian’s early dreams was to join The Cosby Show. “I would have to be a fictional cousin, because I don’t think they needed any more children,” said Rudolph, 40. “But, listen, if Denise needed a best friend to go shopping with, that’s who I would be.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, a 14-time Emmy nominee and two-time winner: The former Seinfeld star, 51, wants to bring back a childhood classic: Flipper. “Talking dolphin. How can you beat it?” said the native New Yorker. “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.”

Sarah Paulson, nominated for her supporting work in Game Change: Who’s the Boss? was the 36-year-old Tampa girl’s go-to program. “Angela and Tony were who I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to have that relationship,” she said. “I watched a lot of television growing up, and they were like my surrogate parents.”

The Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented 7 p.m. Sunday at the Nokia Theatre and broadcast live on ABC.