USA: Emmy nominees Debra Messing, Steve Carrell, Jeremy Irons, and Helen Mirren shine on the red carpet in Los Angeles

If the 58th annual Emmy Awards proved one thing, it's that the stars are human. They sweat just like the rest of us. Television stars weren't perspiring from pre-award show nerves on the Emmy arrival line in Los Angeles on Sunday (August 27) but rather from sweltering California heat that brought out handkerchiefs and hand-held fans. The Emmy Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium, paid a long-overdue tribute on to the heart-pounding espionage thriller "24" by crowning it U.S. television's best drama series, while welcoming new workplace satire "The Office" as best comedy series. HBO's historical production "Elizabeth I" won for best miniseries or TV movie, while British performer Helen Mirren claimed the prize as best actress in that category, the third Emmy of her career. "It feels wonderful, for this particular role, it was very important for me and I'm incredibly proud to be here," Helen Mirren, winner of actress in a miniseries or movie for "Elizabeth I". The Fox network spy drama finished the night with the most Emmys for a series, five in all, including best lead actor in a drama for its Canadian-bred star Kiefer Sutherland, who battles international terrorism on the show as fearless government agent Jack Bauer. As expected, NBC's "The Office," adapted from a popular British series of the same name, was named best TV comedy in its first nomination. "I think it's brilliant. I think it is absolutely amazing, and I can say that because, joking aside, I had very little to do with it and nothing as time went on, and the terrible thing is that they got better and better. So the less I did, the better it got, and that's really bad for a man of my age and ego and weight," Ricky Gervais, of "Extras" and creator and star of the original British version of "The Office", told Reuters. "Office" star Steve Carell, widely expected to win as best comedy actor for playing clueless boss Michael Scott, was upset by Tony Shalhoub, who clinched his third prize for "Monk." But don't cry a tear for Carell who is having a stellar year with success of his hit show and a critically acclaimed film "Little Miss Sunshine" which has risen him to diva status. "Oh, I was a diva before that, I was a diva before I even went into acting, I just have always been that way, I have been difficult. When I first started waiting tables, I had a list of demands - M&M's in the bathroom, because we didn't have dressing rooms - so I've always been sort of a diva all along the way," Steve Carell, nominated for lead actor in a comedy series for "The Office". Blythe Danner was named best supporting actress in a drama for her work as the mother on the now-canceled Showtime cable series "Huff." "I am delighted it is a celebration of what we do and I think that is what we must keep in mind. It is not a competition how can it be with all of these phenomenal women I am keeping company with you know," said Blythe Danner, Emmy award winner for Supporting Actress in a Drama series for "Huff". Megan Mullally clinched the supporting comedic actress prize for playing the boozy, tart-tongued Karen Walker on "Will & Grace," which bowed off NBC in May after eight years on the air. "I am feeling, you know, in the car, I turned to my husband and I said, 'I'm feeling strangely sad,' and you know, I jumped off the bed when the phone rang to tell me I was nominated, because I haven't been nominated in three years, and I wasn't expecting it, and I thought, 'My god' - what could be a better way to say goodbye, than to come here and to have it like this. But coming here now and seeing (co-star) Megan (Mullally) and our old pals, it's sad. It's sad, but happy," said Debra Messing, Emmy nominated for lead actress in a comedy series for "Will & Grace". "Elizabeth I" was the biggest winner of any program overall, grabbing a total of nine Emmys when combining last week's non-televised Creative Arts. HBO led the network tally with 26 prizes, followed by NBC with " I am feeling good a little late. I am sorry I do not have my breasts on because I understand from the television that is what you are interested in today." said Jeremy Irons, Emmy winner for Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for "Elizabeth I".

ITN Source | August 31, 2006

Tags:. .upset. .shine. .adapted. .goodbye. .terrible