|
|
 |
- instant payday loans
-
September, 20th 2004
 By Rick Bird
Post staff reporter
It was a night for the expected and the unexpected at the 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.
The HBO adaptation of the acclaimed 1991 Broadway play, "Angels in America" was the big winner with a record-tying 11 awards.
It was no surprise that the powerful miniseries about the dawn of the AIDS epidemic, set with the backdrop of the apathetic Reagan Administration, would win. It was hailed as one of the most exquisite theatrical adaptations ever for TV and came with a world-class cast.
It was a major surprise that a little-watched freshmen comedy, close to being canceled last spring, walked away as best comedy. Fox's "Arrested Development," the quirky show about the only sane member holding together a wealthy dysfunctional family, beat out such stalwarts as "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Sex and the City" and "Will & Grace."
It is a rare time the Emmy voters went for a rookie show. Created by Ron Howard, "Arrested Development" has been a critic's darling, named early this summer as the best comedy by the Television Critics Association. It also won in writing and directing categories. Producer Mitchell Hurwitz closed his acceptance speech by saying, "Let's watch it now," referring to the fact that few viewers have discovered the gem.
Emmy voters fixed what has been considered an oversight naming "The Sopranos" best drama, it's first win in the category after five nominations. However, the show's stars, James Gandolfini and Edie Falco, were shut out in acting categories by surprise winners.
James Spader won for drama actor for his snarky attorney in "The Practice," a show canceled by ABC (Spader's character will live on in the new series "Boston Legal").
"The West Wing's" Allison Janney, a Dayton native, seemed as surprised as anyone when she beat out the favored Falco getting her fourth Emmy for her press secretary character.
"Soprano" supporting actors fared better with Drea de Matteo and Michael Imperioli winning.
The Emmy folks were kind to departing stars. Cincinnati native Sarah Jessica Parker won for comedy actress for the first time after four nominations for "Sex and the City."
"It was worth the wait and a glorious finish to a journey of a lifetime," Parker said. The show ended last winter.
Kelsey Grammar won comedy actor for the fourth time for the departed "Frasier." His TV brother, David Hyde Pierce, won supporting comedy actor and took a shot at the current dearth of quality sitcoms.
"They say comedy is changing," he said. "When it changes back, call me."
Host Garry Shandling was his usual droll, glib self. His dry humor is fine, but tends to slow down award shows. He did have one of the best lines of the night taking a shot at the proliferation of reality shows when he said, "It's getting so when the commercials come on I say, 'Thank god for professional actors in a story.'"
Shandling poked fun at the reality genre all night, with an opening bit of him getting marked up for an "extreme makeover." He joked he thought he was watching a reality show when he realized it was his security camera, suggesting it could be a show -- "Who's at Garry's door?" In a backstage bit, the heads of CBS and HBO were later seen pitching Shandling for the idea.
Producers had a cute touch bringing in two regular people to read the nominees for reality competition show. Amy Scholsohn of Orlando, Fla., and Bruce T. Milam Jr. of Joliet, Ill., had no idea where they were until blindfolds and ear plugs were removed on stage and they found themselves in front of Hollywood's elite -- much to their endearing shock.
"The Amazing Race" won for the second year in a row beating out the favored break-out hit "The Apprentice."
Shandling later joked the two real people had already been signed to host next year's show.
There was little controversy at the show. As close as it got was when Elaine Stritch had to be bleeped after good-naturedly saying a dirty word after winning for her one
source: Cincinatti Post
|
| |
|
|
|
