Emmy Awards Dominated By Departed Shows
Posted August 27, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
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The night was defined by bittersweet irony, as several of the biggest winners were shows no longer on the air.
Sure, heavy favourites like 24 and The Office won for best drama and best comedy, but departed former stalwarts like The West Wing, Will & Grace and Huff also made their mark. Alan Alda’s best supporting actor in a drama series win for West Wing nosed the series past Hill Street Blues and L.A. Law on the all-time Emmy list with its 26th win overall.
Of course winning doesn’t take the sting out of losing a job for many of those shows’ cast members.
“It’s not supposed to work this way, is it, when you say goodbye to something?” said Blythe Danner, named best supporting actress in a drama for the cancelled Huff.
“I guess I have to thank Showtime, even though they cancelled us,” she added with a smile.
Jeremy Piven of Entourage was named best supporting actor in a comedy while Julia Louis-Dreyfus surprised many by taking the best supporting actress in a comedy for The New Adventures of Old Christine.
“I’m not one who believes in curses,” the former Seinfeld star said, a reference to being typecast by her old gig.
The night’s biggest winner was probably Toronto-raised Kiefer Sutherland, who took home best actor in a dramatic series for his part on 24. He accepted the award with his father, Donald, sitting in the audience.
“What a nice evening this has been for us. My father’s sitting over there. We’re going to have to go out for dinner now,” he said.
Late night talk show host Conan O’Brien hosted the awards for the second time and was well received for his comedic interludes, including an opening with him sipping champagne aboard a jetliner. “What could possibly go wrong tonight?” O’Brien says – before the plane crashes onto an island.
But some critics complain that sketch should have been edited out, after a real plane crash took 49 lives in Kentucky earlier in the day.
When statues weren’t being handed out, tribute was being paid to Dick Clark, who’s been recovering from a stroke he suffered in 2004 and deceased producer Aaron Spelling.
“I have accomplished my childhood dream, to be in show business. Everybody should be so lucky, to have their dreams come true. I’ve been truly blessed,” said Clark, his speech slow and slurred.
Of course what awards show would be complete with some controversy? Many complained that the TV academy’s revamped nominations process led to omitting shows like Lost, which was last year’s best drama series but only up for writing and directing this time around.
Other big winners included The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a satirical newscast that grabbed two Emmys, for best variety, music or comedy and the writing award for that category.
Stewart was typically self-deprecating in his speech, saying: “I think this year you actually made a terrible mistake. But thank you.”
Here’s a list of the winners at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards presented in Los Angeles:
Dramatic Series: 24
Comedy Series: The Office
Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Comedy Central.
Made for TV Movie: The Girl in the Cafe, HBO.
Reality-Competition Program: The Amazing Race, CBS.
Actor, Drama Series: Kiefer Sutherland, 24
Actress, Drama Series: Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order, SVU
Actor, Comedy Series: Tony Shalhoub, Monk, USA.
Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine.
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Andre Braugher, Thief, FX Network.
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Alan Alda, The West Wing, NBC.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jeremy Piven, Entourage, HBO.
Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Jeremy Irons, Elizabeth I, HBO.
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Blythe Danner, Huff, Showtime.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Megan Mullally, Will & Grace, NBC.
Supporting Actress, Miniseries or a Movie: Kelly MacDonald, The Girl in the Cafe, HBO.
Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Barry Manilow, Barry Manilow: Music and Passion, PBS.
Directing for a Drama Series: 24, 7:00 – 8:00 AM, Fox.
Directing for a Comedy Series: My Name Is Earl: Pilot, NBC.
Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Elizabeth I, HBO.
Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: 78th Annual Academy Awards, ABC.
Writing for a Drama Series: The Sopranos: Members Only, HBO.
Writing for a Comedy Series: My Name Is Earl: Pilot, NBC.
Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: The Girl in the Cafe, HBO.
Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Comedy Central.
While the Emmys don’t have the same cachet as the Oscars, the Golden Globes or even the Tonys (and ironically, is the one show that can never win the award it gives out), there are always some good lines on the broadcast. Here are a few of the more notable quotables from Sunday night.
“I’m living proof that you can have supportive parents and be dysfunctional and still contribute to acting.”
“Entourage” actor and Emmy winner Jeremy Piven, whose mother was in the audience when he won.
“Alec Baldwin has a new show on NBC, James Woods has a new show on CBS and Mel Gibson has a new show on Al-Jazeera.”
Emmys host Conan O’Brien during the opening monologue.
“We had eight great years of happy employment and that’s more than most people can ever hope for.”
“Will & Grace” star Megan Mullally after winning the supporting comedy actress Emmy.
“Before I had my stroke I was thinking about all of the things I’ve been involved with all of my life – music, comedy, drama, even talk shows, even reality TV. And I realized that I have accomplished my childhood dream to be in show business. Everybody should be so lucky to have their dreams come true.”
Dick Clark onstage during an Emmy show tribute.
“Tomorrow morning, after I finish this, I go right in and they rip me apart and put me back together again.”
Barry Manilow, who postponed hip surgery so he could participate in the Emmy tribute to Dick Clark, then won an Emmy for individual performance in a variety or music program.
“I lost to Barry Manilow! Barry Manilow! I lost to the `Copacabana.’ Singing and dancing is not performing.”
Stephen Colbert, who was beaten by Manilow’s PBS special in the variety, music or comedy program category.
“I’m up in the air as to exactly why we’re not on the air. We created something beautiful. But at a certain point, when the audience doesn’t show up, we have to make a business decision and the show was cancelled.”
“Thief” actor Andre Braugher on the demise of the FX Network show.
“Well, when I named my son August I had no idea the month would end like this. I want to thank my father because he is the reason I’m standing here today.”
Mariska Hargitay, best actress in a drama series for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” referring to her father, former bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay.
“And boy, the Bush administration just keeps sticking it to the working man.”
Emmy host Conan O’Brien on the IRS taxing Emmy gift baskets.
