ANGELS IN AMERICA and THE SOPRANOS had a big night in Los Angeles as the 56th EMMY AWARDS were handed out at the Shrine Auditorium. HBO’S drama about the scourge of AIDS, with an amazing cast of MERYL STREEP, AL PACINO, EMMA THOMPSON, MARY LOUISE PARKER, JEFFREY WRIGHT, JAMES CROMWELL and JUSTIN KIRK tied the 1976 miniseries ELEANOR AND FRANKLIN with 11 Emmys.
 In a memorable acceptance speech for best actress, MERYL STREEP admitted, “There are some d ays when I, myself, think I’m overrated. But not today.” AL PACINO, MARY LOUISE PARKER and JEFFREY WRIGHT joined her, as ANGELS took all 4 major acting awards, a first for a miniseries or any show. Afterwards at the HBO party STREEP was seen consoling ROBIN WEIGERT, nominated for the first time for her role in DEADWOOD. As the veteran actress departed, she kissed the hand of the young actress in a thoroughly selfless moment.
 The SOPRANOS had been nominated in each of its 5 seasons on the air, but t he drama has beaten by THE WEST WING each time. Not this night, as the show took 4 awards including MICHAEL IMPERIOLI for supporting actor and DREA de MATTEO for supporting actress. MATTEO was gunned down in the final episode last season, and has resurfaced in JOEY, the FRIENDS spin off on NBC.
HBO led all the networks with 32 Emmys. FOX was next best with 10. It was the second year in a row that HBO led the way. Other winners on the cable network included SARAH JESSICA PARKER and CYNTHIA NIXON, both first-time statue holders for the finale season of SEX AND THE CITY. PARKER won best actress beating out JENNIFER ANISTON, BONNIE HUNT, JANE KAZMAREK and PATRICIA HEATON. NIXON won best supporting actress besting costars KRISTIN DAVIS, KIM CATTRALL, as well as DORIS ROBERTS and MEGAN MULLALY.
Another HBO winner, ELAINE STRICH took home the Emmy for best performance in a variety or music program, and her acceptance speech nearly brought the house down. Afterwards she told us she really didn’t remember any of it, but was thrilled to have won.
Other big winners included KELSEY GRAMMER (best actor in a comedy series) and DAVID HYDE PIERCE (best supporting actor in a comedy series), also for roles they no longer play, as FRASIER also concluded last season. It was the 4th Emmy for each of them. In one of the evenings few surprises, JAMES SPADER took home best actor in a drama for his work on THE PRACTICE. ALLISON JANEY won her 4th Emmy in 5 consecutive nominations for THE WEST WING. In the other surprise, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, a ratings loser on Fox, perhaps won a reprieve by snagging 4 Emmys including best comedy series.
In awards handed out last weekend WILLIM SHATNER and SHARON STONE won as guest actors in a drama for their part-time roles on THE PRACTICE. LAURA LINNEY won as guest actress in a comedy for her work on FRASIER. JOHN TURTURRO won as guest actor on a comedy for his time on MONK.
Th e parties included the now legendary HBO bash at the Pacific Design Center, under a series of mammoth sails and tents. SHARON STONE had the entrance of the evening as she sashayed down the red carpet at the HBO party in her barely there, pretty in pink, chiffon, devilish haircut, and glammed-out makeup flashing a “V” apparently for victory. Or was it a peace sign? The décor at this event was red on red, with roses being the theme. BILL MAHER thought it looked more like hell. I guess the old adage, being nominated is reward enough isn’t exactly true. DIANA ROSS arrived just in time to hear “LOVE HANGOVER” before running off to the TV GUIDE party. Now that’s an observant DJ.
TV GUIDE launched what it hopes will be the Emmy party of the future with a discorama on a tented platform just across the street. Around the block SHOWTIME honored its stars at Mortons. FOX honored ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT and all of its nominees at Spago. Celebrity chef WOLFGANG PUCK must have been busy. While his flagship restaurant hosted FOX, he himself was toiling over the food at the HBO party. THE WEST WING partied at Mastros also in Beverly Hills and ET held its annual party at Skybar.
What a night in Hollywood, er, West Hollywood, er, Beverly Hills, or let’s say Southern Califonia!
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