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53rd Annual Emmy Awards

53rd Annual Emmy Awards

As to be expected, the awards started on a patriotic note, with Phil Driscoll and a choir singing God Bless America. The voiceover announcer then made a statement that they were not only showing an awards show, but celebrating American freedoms and values.

Then, by a live feed from Toronto, Walter Cronkite made opening comments about balancing the evening's celebrations with the nation's grief. He also touched on the power of TV to inform and entertain.

Host Ellen DeGeneres then came out, joking that this was the 53rd, 54th and 55th awards. She also joked the crew were watching the World Series.

She also welcomed "seat fillers, security guards, Secret Service and all the stars we know and love who are watching from home," alluding to the fact that some performers were not flying to be at the ceremony. She also said that the terrorists could not take away "our creativity, our striving for excellence" as that power was only "in the hands of the network executives." She also said that she felt that nothing would "bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews."

Dennis Franz was the first presenter, handing out Best Supporting Actress in a Drama. The winner was The West Wing's Allison Janney. Besides thanking cast, crew and family, she said she was glad to be on a show that celebrated the process of American freedom.

The next award was for Best Direction and was won by The West Wing's Thomas Schlamme. He joked that his greatest fear in school was that the teacher would catch him listening to the seventh game of the world series on a smuggled radio and he said it was assuring that that fear was still there tonight.

Marg Helgenberger and William Petersen were next, presenting Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. The winner was The West Wing's Bradley Whitford, who had his wife's tears flowing as he thanked her.

Providence's Melina Kanakaredes then came out to announce the Creative and Technical Awards that were handed out back in August.

Sally Field and Michael Emerson then presented the award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series to Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess for The Sopranos and the episode "Employee Of The Month".

Martin Short was out next, dressed as his character Jiminy Glick. He was there to present the award for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. The winner was Ally McBeal's Peter MacNicol. He said the only remarks he had prepared was an apology to his parents for losing.

Kelsey Grammer was there next to present the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy. The winner was Todd Holland for Malcolm in the Middle.

Ellen then presented a segment of TV clips showing gestures of friendship and support from around the world.

Moving on with the awards, Frankie Muniz presented the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy award to Doris Roberts from Everybody Loves Raymond. She said she turned 71 this evening and the Emmy was a great gift.

Gilmore Girl's Lauren Graham mentioned some more of the folks who won back in August. One of that night's winners Jean Smart paid tribute to David Angell, the Frasier producer who died on one of the flights involved in the September 11th tragedy. She the awarded Best Writing in a Comedy Series to Alex Reid of Malcolm in the Middle for the "Bowling" episode.

Wayne Brady then presented the award for Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program to the writing team for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.

Jessica Alba and Jennifer Garner then presented the award for Best Directing for a Variety or Music Program to David Mallett for Cirque Du Soleil's Dralion.

Debra Messing and Eric McCormack were out next for the award of Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. The winner was Barbra Streisand.

The winner of Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Mini-Series was Nuremberg's Brian Cox.

Ellen then walked on stage dressed in a copy of Bjork's Academy Awards® swan dress. She was unsure if you could still wear swan at this time of year. She used that moment to introduce the accountants.

Amy Brennerman then introduced the award for Best Direction for a Movie, Mini-Series or Special. The winner was Mike Nichol for Wit.

Andy Garcia announced that the winner for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries was Tammy Blanchard for Life With Judy Garland: Me And My Shadows.

Kevin James, Leah Remini and Jerry Stiller then presented the award for Best Comedy, Music or Variety Special to Cirque Du Soleil's Dralion.

Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton then presented the award for Best Comedy, Music or Variety Series to Late Show With David Letterman.

Next up, Larry King did a tribute to Bob Hope and the entertainers who have entertained troops throughout the years.

Jane Kaczmarek and Bradley Whitford then announced the winner of Best Writing for a Miniseries or Movie to Loring Mandel for Conspiracy.

Calista Flockhart then announced the winner of the Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, Kenneth Branagh for Conspiracy. She was followed by Andre Braugher who announced the winner of Outstanding Miniseries. The winner was Anne Frank.

The night seems to be moving at a pretty good clip. I guess it helps when a lot of the winners aren't there to make speeches.

Lorraine Braco and Edie Falco were the next presenters. The announced the winner of Outstanding Made for TV Movie, which was won by HBO's Wit.

Martin Sheen then presented the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. The winner was Judy Davis for Life With Judy Garland: Me And My Shadows. Judy was in Australia, but Steve Martin leapt up on stage and said he was sad that so many people weren't there to accept so he'd take it.

The next category was Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The presenters were Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis. Canuck Kim Cattrall said the winner was that "wonderful Canadian Eric McCormack."

Mary Tyler Moore then paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of I Love Lucy. She also presented the next award, Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. The winner was Everybody Loves Raymond's Patricia Heaton.

Jimmy Smits was the evening's next presenter, handing out the award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. The winner was The Soprano's James Gandolfini.

Rob Reiner was there to introduce the memorial segment, which looks back at those in the TV industry that died in the past year, including his former co-star Carroll O'Connor.

The Guardian's Simon Baker was up to bat next to announce the winner for Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The winner was The Soprano's Edie Falco. She paid tribute to the people of New York, the Yankees and Guiliani.

Tim Conway did a bit of schtick about missing co-presenter Harvey Korman. He presented the Outstanding Comedy Series to Sex and the City.

We're in the ninth inning so to speak and Angela Basset presented the last award of the night, Outstanding Drama Series. The winner was The West Wing.

The show ended with surprise performance by Barbra Streisand (who didn't accept her earlier award), who started sing "Walk On" in darkness and then turned around as the lights went up.

Some of the technical and special guest awards were handed out in a seperate ceremony in August. Those winners are highlighted in bold.

Here are the nominees:

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION FOR A MULTI-CAMERA SERIES

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION FOR A SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION FOR A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY

(Area Award: Possibility of one, more than one or, if none has a majority approval, no award)

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A MULTI-CAMERA SERIES

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

OUTSTANDING COMMERCIAL

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A SERIES

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING COSTUMES FOR A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING SINGLE-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A SERIES

OUTSTANDING SINGLE-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING MULTI-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A SERIES

OUTSTANDING MULTI-CAMERA PICTURE EDITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A SERIES

OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DIRECTION (ELECTRONIC, MULTICAMERA) FOR VMC PROGRAMMING

OUTSTANDING MAIN TITLE DESIGN

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A SERIES

OUTSTANDING MAKEUP FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A SERIES (DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL (DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION

OUTSTANDING MUSIC AND LYRICS

OUTSTANDING MAIN TITLE THEME MUSIC

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING MINISERIES

OUTSTANDING MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING CLASSICAL MUSIC-DANCE PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

(Area Award: Possibility of one, more than one or, if none has a majority approval, no award)

OUTSTANDING NON-FICTION SPECIAL

(Area Award: Possibility of one, more than one or, if none has a majority approval, no award)

OUTSTANDING NON-FICTION SERIES

(Area Award: Possibility of one, more than one or, if none has a majority approval, no award)

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM (FOR PROGRAMMING LESS THAN ONE HOUR)

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED PROGRAM (FOR PROGRAMMING MORE THAN ONE HOUR)

(Area Award: Possibility of one, more than one or, if none has a majority approval, no award)

OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A SERIES

OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING SINGLE CAMERA SOUND MIXING FOR A SERIES

OUTSTANDING SINGLE CAMERA SOUND MIXING FOR A MINISERIES OR MOVIE

OUTSTANDING MULTI-CAMERA SOUND MIXING FOR A SERIES OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A VARIETY OR MUSIC SERIES OR SPECIAL

(Area: Possibility of one, more than one or no award)

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS FOR A SERIES

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL DIRECTION, CAMERAWORK, VIDEO FOR A SERIES

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL DIRECTION, CAMERAWORK, VIDEO FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR A SPECIAL

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

OUTSTANDING NON-FICTION PROGRAM (REALITY)

(Area Award: Possibility of one, more than one or, if none has a majority approval, no award)

OUTSTANDING NON-FICTION PROGRAM (SPECIAL CLASS)

(Area Award: Possibility of one, more than one or, if none has a majority approval, no award)

OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A NON-FICTION PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A NON-FICTION PROGRAM

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR NON-FICTION PROGRAMMING

OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR NON-FICTION PROGRAMMING