Veteran stars, past winners shine at Emmys

By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Veteran stars and past winners
dominated the early Emmy Awards on Sunday as William Shatner,
Paul Newman and two co-stars of long-running sitcom “Everybody
Loves Raymond” grabbed a share of U.S. television’s highest
honors.

Shatner, a repeat Emmy winner who sprang to fame as Captain
Kirk on the 1960s sci-fi adventure “Star Trek,” was named best
supporting actor in a drama for his role as a lawyer on ABC’s
courtroom series “Boston Legal.”

His victory came just after Brad Garrett won his third Emmy
for playing comedian Ray Romano’s jealous brother on “Everybody
Loves Raymond,” which last season ended its 9-year run on CBS.

Doris Roberts, who played an overbearing mother on the
show, took the stage with two grandchildren to collect a fifth
Emmy and exclaimed: “Wow, this is the icing on the cake.”

“Just because you are over 40 doesn’t mean you aren’t hot
or exciting or talented,” she said backstage. “I’m out there
(with) all those crazy young gorgeous women, and look who got
it?”

Two other veterans, Newman and Jane Alexander, won
supporting actor and actress awards for miniseries and TV
movies for their respective work in HBO’s “Empire Falls” and
“Warm Springs,” the latter about Franklin Roosevelt’s struggle
with polio.

NOD TOWARD KATRINA VICTIMS

The 57th edition of the Emmys opened with Louisiana-born
host Ellen DeGeneres paying tribute to the victims of Hurricane
Katrina in her opening monologue.

“New Orleans is my hometown, and our thoughts and prayers
go out to everyone affected,” said DeGeneres, recalling that
she also hosted the Emmys four years ago in the aftermath of
the September 11 attacks.

“I’m really, really honored because it’s times like these
that we really need to laugh,” the comedian said, adding on a
more humorous note: “And look for me next month when I host the
North Korean People’s Choice Awards.

But as the live CBS telecast headed for its climax, the big
question was whether Emmy voters would stick with their habit
of rewarding older shows and established stars or break with
tradition to shine the spotlight on new hits.

Two breakouts from ABC, castaway thriller “Lost” and the
darkly comic prime-time soap “Desperate Housewives,” were seen
as the front-runners to sweep the top two Emmy categories, best
drama and best comedy series, respectively.

Both shows helped the Walt Disney Co.-owned network reverse
a 3-year ratings slump and are credited with paving the way for
offbeat, form-breaking series coming to TV this fall.

A victory by both would mark the first such twin triumph
for ABC since 1988.

DESPERATE FOR EMMYS

“Housewives,” a wry, steamy saga of suburban intrigue set
on fictional Wisteria Lane, is competing in 15 categories,
tying veteran NBC sitcom “Will & Grace” as this year’s most
nominated series.

“Housewives” also yielded best-actress nominations for
Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman.

“Raymond” co-star Patricia Heaton could also claim a third
Emmy for her role as Romano’s sharp-tongued wife.

The contest for best comedy actor shaped up as a race among
three past winners — Romano, Eric McCormack of “Will & Grace”
and Tony Shalhoub of USA Network’s “Monk.”

“Lost” led the field of drama series contenders with 12
nominations overall.

Its toughest Emmy competition should be four-time past
winner “The West Wing,” NBC’s White House drama. A “West Wing”
upset would set a new record for most Emmy wins as best drama
by a single show.

Emmy odds-makers favor British star Hugh Laurie to win best
actor in a drama for his role as a grumpy doctor in the new Fox
network hit “House.” James Spader also is a contender for his
role as an ethically challenged lawyer in “Boston Legal.”

In the contest for best dramatic actress, pundits have
singled out the stars of two cop shows — Glenn Close for her
role on cable network FX’s “The Shield” and Mariska Hargitay
from NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”