Two Americas? There is in television: those who have HBO and those who settle for less than the best, according to the 56th Primetime Emmy Awards.
HBO ran roughshod over the rest of the industry, winning 16 of the 27 Emmys presented Sunday. Included was a long overdue first best drama series award for The Sopranos.
However, another HBO production, the miniseries Angels in America stole the night. The adaptation of the Tony Award-winning play about the beginnings of the AIDS crisis in the United States scored a sweep of the seven major Emmys in its field.
In addition to being named outstanding miniseries, Angels in America garnered best actor and actress awards for Al Pacino and Meryl Streep, supporting Emmys for Jeffrey Wright and Mary Louise Parker, a writing Emmy for Tony Kushner and a directing prize for Mike Nichols.
Although The Sopranos won after four disappointments, its stars, three-time winners James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, were passed over. The academy, addicted to honoring The West Wing, bestowed the leading actress in a drama prize to Allison Janney, her second Emmy in this category to go with another pair as supporting actress. Even Janney was stunned.
She invited the other nominees on stage to share the glory. It was a well-meant gesture but actually showed them up as losers. Prudently, they resisted her invitation. Janney’s was the lone Emmy won by The West Wing after being named TV’s best drama the past four years. Another victory Sunday would have matched Frasier as the only series to win five consecutive Emmys.
The best dramatic actor award went to James Spader for his only season in The Practice, although he will continue his character, Alan Shore, in the spinoff Boston Legal.
The Sopranos did capture both supporting performer Emmys — firsts for both Michael Imperioli and Drea de Matteo — as well as an Emmy for writing.
Sarah Jessica Parker also won her first Emmy for the final season of Sex and the City. One of her co-stars, Cynthia Nixon, was named outstanding supporting actress.
Another major performance Emmy went to Elaine Stritch for her one-woman show on HBO.
Finally, HBO’s big night included the Emmy for best picture, Something the Lord Made.
While most of the awards went to a network that two-thirds of America can’t watch, the big winner among broadcast programs was a comedy most people chose not to watch, Arrested Development. The low-rated first-year Fox series was named best comedy and also took home Emmys for writing and directing.
Frasier, already the most honored series in Emmy history, got a couple of significant going-away presents. Kelsey Grammer was named outstanding comedic actor, and David Hyde Pierce took home the supporting actor statue. It was the fourth Emmy for each. The only other double winner was The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, which repeated its triumphs of last year in the best comedy/music/variety series and for its writing.
HBO’s influence on the evening even extended to the host, Garry Shandling, an HBO alumnus. However, Shandling’s performance, so low key he seemed sedated, was well below award caliber. His monologue and subsequent jokes opted for the easy laugh almost every time, taking shots at juicy targets such as the reality craze and Oprah Winfrey’s car giveaway.
Louis J. Horvitz, who won an Emmy for the Oscar telecast, directed TV’s big night as if he were in a hurry to get to his celebration. The band struck up the music within seconds of most performers reaching the podium. This included Gandolfini, who tried mightily to say something during The Sopranos acceptance of its series Emmy. One noteworthy exception was Pacino, who was allowed to ramble for as long as he wanted.
Apparently, the academy has no fear of Tony Soprano but is terrified of angering Michael Corleone.
Tom Jicha can be reached at .
AND THE WINNERS ARE
Drama Series: The Sopranos, HBO.
Comedy Series: Arrested Development, Fox.
Miniseries: Angels in America, HBO.
Variety, Music or Comedy Series: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Comedy Central.
Made-for-TV Movie: Something the Lord Made, HBO.
Reality-Competition Program: The Amazing Race, CBS.
Actor, Drama Series: James Spader, The Practice, ABC.
Actor, Comedy Series: Kelsey Grammer, Frasier, NBC.
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Al Pacino, Angels in America, HBO.
Actress, Drama Series: Allison Janney, The West Wing, NBC.
Actress, Comedy Series: Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City, HBO.
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Meryl Streep, Angels in America, HBO.
Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Michael Imperioli, The Sopranos, HBO.
Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: David Hyde Pierce, Frasier, NBC.
Supporting Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Jeffrey Wright, Angels in America, HBO.
Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Drea de Matteo, The Sopranos, HBO.
Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Cynthia Nixon, Sex and the City, HBO.
Supporting Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Mary-Louise Parker, Angels in America, HBO.
Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Elaine Stritch, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, HBO.
Directing for a Drama Series: Deadwood: Pilot, HBO.
Directing for a Comedy Series: Arrested Development: Pilot, Fox.
Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Angels in America, HBO.
Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: The 76th Annual Academy Awards, ABC.
Writing for a Drama Series: The Sopranos: Long Term Parking, HBO.
Writing for a Comedy Series: Arrested Development: Pilot, Fox.
Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: Angels in America, HBO.
Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Comedy Central.
— THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
