'West Wing,' 'Sopranos' Top Emmy Winners

LOS ANGELES -- No single show dominated Sunday night's Emmy Awards ceremony, which was marked by a light tone and well-received bit of comic relief in an opening monologue by host Ellen DeGeneres.

"The West Wing" won best drama series for the second year in a row. It also grabbed the first three awards of the evening, including dramatic supporting actress for Allison Janney and dramatic supporting actor for Bradley Whitford. The White House drama won eight awards total.

James Gandolfini won the Emmy for lead actor for "The Sopranos," but was one of the many no-shows at the awards ceremony. Other notable no-show winners included Kenneth Branagh and Judy Davis.

Edie Falco won for lead actress for "The Sopranos," and used her acceptance speech time to thank the people of her native New York. The show also won an Emmy for writing.

"Sex and the City" grabbed the Emmy for top comedy series, while Eric McCormack took the top acting honor for "Will & Grace," and Patricia Heaton took the outstanding actress award for "Everybody Loves Raymond."

Fighting back tears, Heaton thanked the people of the armed services for the freedom they provide: "I have dedicated my performances for the rest of the year to all those men and women and their families," she said.

Rob Reiner started a memorial tribute by acknowledging the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. Noting the actors lost over the past year, he specifically recalled the eight years he acted opposite his late "All in the Family" co-star.

"Carroll O'Connor taught me about acting writing and fighting injustice, and I will miss him," said Reiner.

Peter MacNicol won comedy supporting actor honors for "Ally McBeal," while Doris Roberts won the supporting actress Emmy for "Everybody Loves Raymond."

"Today is my birthday. What an honor," chirped Roberts. "I'm 71 tonight and I'm kickin' honey."

Several audience members including Kelsey Grammer and Camryn Manheim were clearly moved by the show's opening number, as Phil Driscoll played solo trumpet and sang "America the Beautiful," backed by a choir of college students from all over the country.

Television news legend Walter Cronkite appeared via satellite to start the show, quoting Edward R. Murrow's summation of the power of television: "This instrument can teach, illuminate and inspire, but it can only do so to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely lights and wires and a box," said Cronkite.

Cronkite also introduced show host Ellen DeGeneres, who wasted no time in creating a laughable atmosphere.

"Welcome to the 53rd, 54th and 55th Emmy Awards," she quipped to the crowd, alluding to the show's first two cancelations. DeGeneres also poked fun at the competition -- the seventh game of the world series, and she though it was unlikely that there would be Emmy updates during the game. "I don't think they're going to break in and let you know who won best supporting actress," she deadpanned.

Ironically, Fox network listed major winners during the game with occasional screen crawls.

DeGeneres didn't avoid the subject of war, launching into a line that had the crowd roaring. Said DeGeneres: "What would the Taliban want more, than to see a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?"

She also remarked why terrorism shouldn't prevent the industry from going about its work: "I think its really important for us to be here -- they can't take away our creativity, only network executives can do that," she said.

DeGeneres received a standing ovation at the conclusion of the show.

The Emmys ended with a tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks with a performance of "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Barbra Streisand, which left many audience members in tears.

List Of Major Awards: (Winners In Bold)

• Drama Series: "ER," NBC; "Law & Order," NBC; "The Practice," ABC; "The Sopranos," HBO; "The West Wing," NBC.
• Comedy Series: "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; "Frasier," NBC; "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; "Sex and the City," HBO; "Will & Grace," NBC.
• Miniseries or Movie: "Anne Frank," ABC; "Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City," Showtime; "Horatio Hornblower," A&E; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; "Nuremberg," TNT.
• Made-for-TV Movie: "Conspiracy," HBO; "For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story," HBO; "Laughter on the 23rd Floor," Showtime; "61*," HBO; "Wit," HBO.
• Actor, Drama Series: Andre Braugher, "Gideon's Crossing," ABC; Dennis Franz, "NYPD Blue," ABC; James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos," HBO; Rob Lowe, "The West Wing," NBC; Martin Sheen, "The West Wing," NBC.
• Actress, Drama Series: Lorraine Bracco, "The Sopranos," HBO; Amy Brenneman, "Judging Amy," CBS; Edie Falco, "The Sopranos," HBO; Marg Helgenberger, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigations," CBS; Sela Ward, "Once & Again," ABC.
• Actor, Comedy Series: Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier," NBC; John Lithgow, "3rd Rock From the Sun," NBC; Eric McCormack, "Will & Grace," NBC; Frankie Muniz, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS.
• Actress, Comedy Series: Calista Flockhart, "Ally McBeal," Fox; Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; Debra Messing, "Will & Grace," NBC; Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex in the City," HBO; Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS.
• Actor, Miniseries or a Movie: Kenneth Branagh, "Conspiracy," HBO; Andy Garcia, "For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story," HBO; Gregory Hines, "Bojangles," Showtime; Ben Kingsley, "Anne Frank," ABC; Barry Pepper, "*61," HBO.
• Actress, Miniseries or a Movie: Judy Davis, "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; Judi Dench, "Last of the Blonde Bombshells," HBO; Hannah Taylor Gordon, "Anne Frank," ABC; Holly Hunter, "When Billie Beat Bobby," ABC; Emma Thompson, "Wit," HBO.
• Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Peter MacNicol, "Ally McBeal," FOX; Robert Downey Jr., ? Ally McBeal," FOX; Peter Boyle, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; David Hyde Pierce, "Frasier," NBC; Sean Hayes, "Will & Grace," NBC.
• Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Michael Imperioli , "The Sopranos," HBO; Dominic Chianese, "The Sopranos," HBO; Bradley Whitford, "The West Wing," NBC; John Spencer, "The West Wing," NBC; Richard Schiff, "The West Wing," NBC.
• Supporting Actress, Miniseries or a Movie: Alan Alda, "Club Land," SHO; Colin Firth, "Conspiracy," HBO; Stanley Tucci; "Conspiracy," HBO; Sir Ian Holm, "The Last Of The Blonde Bombshells," HBO; Victor Garber , "Life With Judy Garland," ABC; Brian Cox , "Nuremberg," TNT.
• Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Doris Roberts, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Jennifer Aniston, "Friends," NBC; Lisa Kudrow, "Friends," NBC; Kim Cattrall, "Sex and the City," HBO; Megan Mullally, "Will & Grace," NBC.
• Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Maura, Tierney, "ER," NBC; Tyne Daly, "Judging Amy," CBS; Aida Turturro, "The Sopranos," HBO; Stockard Channing, "The West Wing," NBC; Allison Janney, "The West Wing," NBC.
• Supporting Actress, Miniseries or a Movie: Brenda Blethyn, "Anne Frank," ABC; Anne Bancroft, "Haven," CBS; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC;; Holly Hunter, "Things You Can Tell By Looking at Her," SHO; Audra McDonald, "Wit," HBO.
• Complete List Of Winners.