Action thriller "24" big winner at Emmy awards
2006-08-28

Category Primetime Emmy Awards Nations U.S. City Los Angeles States California County Los Angeles County Metropolitan Los Angeles Metro People Helen Mirren Stephen Colbert Mariska Hargitay Barry Manilow Tony Shalhoub Aaron Spelling Conan O'Brien Julia Louis-Dreyfus Hugh Laurie Jon Stewart Kiefer Sutherland Jeremy Irons Steven Spielberg Show Grey's Anatomy Beverly Hills 90210 The Sopranos The West Wing TV Programs American Idol Amazing Race

Fox network's action thriller "24" came out shooting at the annual Emmy awards, beating heavily-nominated rivals such as ABC hospital drama "Grey's Anatomy" in the top US television awards.

The series, whose 24 parts each depict an hour in the day of agent Jack Bauer, picked up outstanding drama series, best director for drama and earned Kiefer Sutherland best actor in the category for his energetic portrayal.

"Every once in a while you'll have an evening that just reminds you that you are given too much and this is that evening," he said, accepting his award and paying tribute to his father, Donald, also nominated for an Emmy.

The series, which is now in its fifth season and had led the nominations with 12 nods, was the only winner for Fox, with cable network HBO claiming the evening by picking up nine gongs, ahead of NBC with six.

Cringe-worthy spoof documentary "The Office," adapted from the British show of the same name, won best comedy, while the category's best actor award went to Tony Shalhoub, for his role as an obsessive-compulsive detective in "Monk."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus won the best comedy actress with her role as a divorced mother in "The New Adventures Of Old Christine," while Mariska Hargitay, took home best dramatic actress for "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."

One of the biggest winners of the 58th annual awards, hosted by comedian and late-night TV host Conan O'Brien, was HBO's two-part miniseries "Elizabeth I."

The costume drama almost made a clean sweep of the category, taking best picture, director, actress and supporting actor in Jeremy Irons.

Helen Mirren won her third Emmy for her portrayal of the 16th century English queen, bringing home best actress in a miniseries, nearly falling over as she climbed the stage to accept the award and blaming her shoes.

But "Elizabeth I" lost out to "Girl in a Cafe" on best writing, the British made anti-poverty film also picking up awards for best film and supporting actress in the made-for-television movie category.

Scooping up its 26th award, long-running "The West Wing" equalled 1980s police drama "Hill Street Blues" as the most recognised drama in Emmy history, with Alan Alda picking up the best supporting actor in the drama category.

Gay-themed sitcom "Will and Grace," already a veteran Emmy winner was up for 10 awards in its final season, but emerged with only one -- for Megan Mullally in the best supporting actress role.

"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," won the best Variety, Music or Comedy Series, with Stewart telling the start-studded Los Angeles audience: "I think this year you made a terrible mistake."

Competing with "24" for best drama series was gritty "Grey's Anatomy," popular hospital drama "House" featuring Hugh Laurie as a cranky doctor, award winning mafia series "The Sopranos" and presidential drama "The West Wing."

"The Sopranos," which has been richly rewarded at the Emmys in the past, picked up only one award -- for best drama writing -- while "Grey's Anatomy," and "House" failed to score at all.

Steven Spielberg's mini-series "Into the West," which received the most nominations this year -- 16 in all -- was another notable casualty, failing to pick up a single award.

One of the biggest cheers of the night went to Stephen Colbert, comedian and host of the satirical "Colbert Report," for his outburst after losing out to crooner Barry Manilow in the best individual variety performance.

"I lost to Barry Manilow. I lost to Copacabana. Singing and dancing is not performing," he crowed, to wild applause.

"The Amazing Race" picked up the gong for best reality show, siding out the top-rating amateur pop knockout "American Idol."

The most emotional part of the evening featured a tribute to Aaron Spelling, Hollywood's most prodigious television producer ever, who launched a string of hits such as "Charlie's Angels" and "Beverly Hills 90210." He died in June.