The eagerly anticipated Emmy Awards went off without a hitch on Sunday night in Los Angeles as the popular White House series The West Wing claimed top honours for Outstanding Drama Series. And while the ceremony was a more low-key affair than in recent years, having been postponed twice in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks, A-list celebrities including Ally McBeal’s Calista Flockhart and diva Barbra Streisand dazzled on stage, paying tribute to the best in TV and the victims of the September 11 atrocities.
Host Ellen DeGeneres, whose new sitcom The Ellen Show suffers from low ratings despite having scored with the critics, set the tone for the evening, joking: “What would bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?”
“I think it’s important for us to be here. Terrorists can’t take away our creativity, our striving for excellence, our joy,” said Ellen, before deadpanning: “Only network executives can do that.” Ellen received a standing ovation from the Shubert Theatre crowd after the three-hour show, and was applauded for deftly handling what could have been a difficult ceremony.
The West Wing and The Sopranos went head to head again this year, and while the political drama scored the top prize for the second-year-running, The Sopranos lead actors both picked up gongs.
“Thank you to the City Of New York, where I live,” said Edie Falco, who plays Carmela Soprano on the celebrated mob drama. “Thank you to the New York Yankees, to the Yankee fans and to our fair mayor Rudy Giuliani.” Her on-screen hubby Tony Soprano, aka James Gandolfini, was named Best Actor but opted out of the ceremony.
Sex And The City was named Best Comedy, a historic win as the HBO-produced show became the first cable programme to score the coveted award. “There would be no Sex and the City without the city,” said series creator Darren Star. “That city is New York, whose people have embraced us so generously.”
Brits Sir Derek Jacobi and Kenneth Branagh were also honoured for their work. Jacobi scored for his one-off Frasier appearance while the Shakespeare veteran was named Outstanding Lead Actor for the war drama Conspiracy. Emma Thompson’s moving film Wit was named Best Made For TV Movie.
Other winners included Patricia Heaton and Doris Roberts of Everybody Loves Raymond and Will & Grace star Eric McCormack. Oscar winner Sally Field picked up a trophy for her guest spots on ER.Among the tributes during the broadcast was a Larry King segment on USO entertainers, a chorus of America The Beautiful sung by university students and a speech by veteran newsman Walter Cronkite, which brought Frasier star Kelsey Grammer to tears.
But the highlight for many was the finale in which Barbra Streisand – who won for Individual Performance In A Music Or Variety Programme – belted out the Carousel ballad You’ll Never Walk Alone in front of a memorial to the victims. “It’s a very sad time in our history, a frightening time,” she said backstage. “I wanted to give something back to the people, to our country.”
The 53rd annual Emmys – dubbed “the semi-Emmys” by some – was originally scheduled to air on September 17 but was later shuffled to October 7. However, the start of air strikes in Afghanistan once again forced a date change. The Sunday evening broadcast saw tightened security as stars were asked to pass through metal detectors. The sky above the famed theatre was also declared a “no fly” zone for the night.
Security concerns were not the only obstacle the Emmys faced this year, however. Due to a twist of fate, the final game of the World Series – the baseball showdown of the year – aired opposite the awards. And even host Ellen found herself torn between the two events. “This is the place to be, because in addition to what we’re doing… we’re going to let you know what is going on with the game,” she joked. “I don’t think they’re going to break in and let you know who just won for Best Supporting Actress.”
FOX network executives did flash the Emmy winners across the screen throughout the baseball game, in which the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees to take the championship.
For more on the Emmys check out HELLO's special report.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
