NBC Series outpolls 'Sopranos,' wins 9 awards

By MARILYN BECK in Los Angeles and BILL HUTCHINSON in New York Daily News Staff Writers

The wonks whacked the wiseguys last night. NBC's smash hit "The West Wing," which portrays the backroom drama of life in the White House, won a record-breaking, landslide victory at the 52nd annual prime-time Emmy Awards. In another Peacock Network coup, "Will & Grace" took Best Comedy honors and two acting prizes.

In its rookie year, "The West Wing" spoiled the night for HBO's mob series "The Sopranos," tied with the political drama at 18 nominations apiece.

The NBC show won nine awards overall, the most for any prime-time program in a single season. Its triumphs included Best Drama, Best Directing for a Drama, Best Writing for a Drama and Best Supporting Actress and Actor kudos for Allison Janney and Richard Schiff.

"I'm the happiest guy in the world," gushed Aaron Sorkin, the show's creator and writer.

Janney, who plays a presidential press secretary, beat out sentimental favorite Nancy Marchand of "The Sopranos," who died of lung cancer in June. Janney paid tribute to "the exquisite, elegant Nancy Marchand" for inspiring her to act.

But the night's most poignant moment came when Michael J. Fox picked up the Best Lead Actor in a Comedy award for his farewell season on ABC's "Spin City." The audience at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles stood and cheered Fox, who left the show to concentrate on his battle with Parkinson's disease.

An emotional Fox said, "It's been a great ride, and stay tuned."

James Gandolfini, who plays the mob boss and family man on "The Sopranos," salvaged the lone win for the show by capturing Best Lead Actor in a Drama. Gandolfini topped Dennis Franz of "NYPD Blue," who won the four previous years.

"I can't really explain this except the Academy has an affinity for slightly overweight, middle-aged bald men," Gandolfini quipped.

But Gandolfini's co-stars Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco didn't fare as well, losing out for Best Lead Actress in a Drama to Sela Ward, star of ABC's "Once and Again."

Garry Shandling, host of the awards broadcast on ABC-TV, kept the jokes coming fast and furious. But the night's biggest laugh came after "Will & Grace," a sitcom about a woman and her gay best friend, took top comedy honors.

"She is so beautiful," "Will & Grace" producer Max Mutchnick said as he gazed at the Emmy statuette. "As a gay man, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I've finally met a girl that I think I want to sleep with."

"Will & Grace" co-star Megan Mullally won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, while the show's Sean Hayes won for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy.

Patricia Heaton won Best Lead Actress in a Comedy for playing the wisecracking wife in the CBS hit "Everybody Loves Raymond."

For the third straight year, "Late Show with David Letterman" took the Best Variety Series award in spite of a rough season in which the 52-year-old Letterman underwent quintuple heart bypass surgery.

"It looks like the fake heart surgery paid off," joked Rob Burnett, executive producer of "Late Show."

Heaton and "Late Show" were among the few bright moments for CBS, which notched just seven awards overall. NBC won 23 awards, while HBO took home 20 trophies. ABC won 15 and FOX took home 11.

While "The Sopranos" had a rocky night, HBO still scored big with its miniseries "The Corner," about the street life of Baltimore drug addicts, and "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," a biography of the pioneering black entertainer

Veteran actor Jack Lemmon, 75, drew a standing ovation when he won Best Actor in a Miniseries or movie for "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays With Morrie."__New York Daily News (September 11, 2000)