'24' Tops Primetime Emmy Awards

After four previous losses in the top category, the timing was finally right for "24" at the 58th annual Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday night in Los Angeles, while "The Office" took the Emmy for Best Comedy Series.

A real-time action-drama, "24," won for Best Dramatic Series, Best Director and Best Actor for Kiefer Sutherland.

"Kiefer is really the heart and soul of the show," producer Howard Gordan said.

"Every once in a while you'll have an evening that just reminds you that you are given too much -- this is that evening," Sutherland said, humbly. "This experience that is '24' has been nothing short of remarkable for me."

The show was nominated for 12 Emmys overall, the most for any series this year. It won three additional awards at the Creative Arts Emmys last week.

Winning the Best Comedy Emmy made for a reunion of sorts between the show's executive producer, Greg Daniels, and show host Conan O'Brien.

"Twenty years ago, Conan O'Brien and I were roommates and comedy writing partners and we always said that someday he would host the Emmys and I would win an Emmy and that we would lose our virginity - and tonight I hope it will all come true," Daniels cracked.

While "The Office" won the top comedy trophy, its star and Best Actor in a Comedy favorite Steve Carell lost out to Tony Shalhoub for "Monk."

"It's gratifying to be chosen by a distinguished group of losers-actors," Shalhoub joked.

If there was indeed a "'Seinfeld' Curse," then Julia Louis-Dreyfus broke it with her Best Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for "The New Adventures of Old Christine."

"Well, I'm not somebody who really believes in curses -- but curse this baby," Louis-Dreyfus said, giggling, holding up her statuette.

Mariska Hargitay won her first Emmy in three tries for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

The daughter of late actress Jayne Mansfield and actor Mickey Hargitay, Mariska Hargitay became emotional when speaking about her father.

"Mostly, I want to thank my father," a teary Hargitay said. "I'm so proud to be your daughter, Dad. I can't wait to celebrate this with you."

The first three winners at Sunday's ceremonies all had one bittersweet thing in common -- their shows have already come to end.

Blythe Danner made it very clear what happened to her she as she accepted the Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Emmy for "Huff."

"I guess I have to thank Showtime even though they canceled us," Danner quipped.

Megan Mullally nabbed the first award of the night, for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for the exiting sitcom "Will & Grace."

"We had eight great years of happy employment and that's more than most people can ever hope for," said Mullally, who was on the verge of tears.

Alan Alda, who was not in attendance at the ceremony, won for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for "The West Wing." On the comedy side, Jeremy Piven won his first-ever Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for "Entourage."

"My first agent, when I was 23, said, 'You're not going to work until you're in your mid-40s.' I said, 'I don't know what to do for 17 years ... I have to act,"' Piven said.

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" won the Emmy for Best Variety, Music or Comedy Series, and also took the trophy for Best Writing in the category.

"Elizabeth I" was also a big winner, winning for Best Miniseries or a Movie, Best Actress for Helen Mirren and Best Supporting Actor for Jeremy Irons. Kelly Macdonald won for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for "The Girl in the Cafe."

"American Idol" judge Simon Cowell led a tribute to legendary music and television impresario Dick Clark, who's been battling back from the stroke that he suffered in December 2004.

Clark appeared at the show, sitting at a podium on-stage.

"Before I had my stroke, I was thinking of all of the things I have become involved with over my life -- music, comedy, drama game and talk shows, even reality TV -- and I have realized that I have accomplished my childhood dream, to be in show business," Clark said. "Everybody should be so lucky to have their dreams come true."

Clark, appropriately, introduced "American Bandstand" composer Barry Manilow, who performed the song to pay tribute to his old friend.

Minutes later, Manilow won an Emmy for Best Musical or Variety Best Individual Performance in a Musical or Variety Program. "I want to share this with Dick Clark," Manilow said. "What an emotional moment that was. He's so fantastic."

Television Academy Chairman and CEO Dick Askin introduced Joan Collins, Stephen Collins and Heather Locklear to pay tribute to legendary producer Aaron Spelling

"Aaron made TV that simply tasted good," Stephen Collins said. "He had his share of serious projects, but no one did guilty pleasure better than Aaron. Without him, a lot of us in this room would have very different lives."

The trio introduced a clip of Spellings shows, which included such classics as "Dynasty," "Fantasy Island," "The Mod Squad," "Starsky and Hutch" and "The Love Boat." As the clip reel ended with "Charlie's Angels," the three original angels -- Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith -- appeared together on-stage.

"Miracles do happen, Aaron. I'm sure that he's looking down on us and smiling on us right now, knowing that he brought us together again -- as only he could," Smith said.

O'Brien opened the ceremonies by starring in a short film spoofing television shows. First, he crash-landed on the island of "Lost," where he finds the show's Hurley (Jorge Garcia) and the show's mystical hatch, which he believes will lead him where he needs to go.

"I've gotta get to the Emmys -- you wanna come with me?" O'Brien asked.

"Well, we're not exactly invited," Garcia deadpanned, in an obvious swipe at the show's snub in this year's nominations.

Once through the hatch, O'Brien landed in "The Office" and made his way through such shows as "24" and "House," where Hugh Laurie's Dr. House character gave him a grim diagnosis. O'Brien also turned in "South Park," where he hid in a closet with Tom Cruise, and on "Dateline's" investigative show "To Catch a Predator."

During the show, O'Brien also explained the dire consequences for the show running too long.

With that, O'Brien rolled out in an airtight container "with exactly 3 hours of air." Its contents? Comedy legend Bob Newhart.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's very simple. If the Emmys run one second over 3 hours, Bob Newhart dies," O'Brien cracked. "So keep those speeches short. Mr. Newhart's life is in your hands."

Newhart got a reprieve near the end of the show, as O'Brien released him from the container to help present the Best Comedy Emmy.

"Thousands of people phoned in and the majority of callers wanted you to live," O'Brien said.