Adding fuel to the theory that it's not usually nice guys who finish first, Fox's unflinchingly hard-core thriller 24 was the big winner during the 2006 Emmy Awards telecast on Sunday night, taking home three trophies — Best Drama Series, Best Directing for a Drama Series, and Best Actor in a Drama Series (for star Kiefer Sutherland). 24's triumph came at the expense of ABC's Grey's Anatomy, which was completely shut out during the three-hour ceremony, hosted by Conan O'Brien. The evening's other big winners were HBO's miniseries Elizabeth I and movie The Girl in the Café, which picked up three wins apiece.
Emmy voters spread the wealth in the sitcom categories, giving NBC's The Office the prize for Best Comedy Series, but denying it elsewhere; the four comedic acting prizes went to stars from Monk, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Will & Grace, and Entourage, while writing and directing prizes went to freshman hit My Name Is Earl.
It was also a big night for actors from series that have left the airwaves, as The West Wing's Alan Alda, Will & Grace's Megan Mullally, and Huff's Blythe Danner all made the walk to the podium.
The winners from the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards:
DRAMA SERIES
24
COMEDY SERIES
The Office
ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Kiefer Sutherland, 24
ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Alan Alda, The West Wing
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Blythe Danner, Huff
ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Megan Mullally, Will & Grace
DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
24, ''7:00 AM - 8:00 AM'' (Jon Cassar, director)
WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
The Sopranos, ''Members Only'' (written by Terence Winter)
DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
My Name Is Earl, Pilot (Marc Buckland, director)
WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
My Name Is Earl, Pilot (written by Greg Garcia)
MINISERIES
Elizabeth I
MADE FOR TV MOVIE
The Girl in the Café
ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Andre Braugher, Thief
ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Helen Mirren, Elizabeth I
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Jeremy Irons, Elizabeth I
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Kelly Macdonald, The Girl in the Café
DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE, OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Elizabeth I (Tom Hooper, director)
WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE, OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
The Girl in the Café (written by Richard Curtis)
VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM
Barry Manilow, Barry Manilow: Music and Passion
DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY PROGRAM
78th Annual Academy Awards (Louis J. Horvitz, director)
WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY PROGRAM
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race
Early winners at the Creative Arts Emmys, held Aug. 19:
GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Cloris Leachman, Malcolm in the Middle
GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Leslie Jordan, Will & Grace
GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Clarkson, Six Feet Under
GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Christian Clemenson, Boston Legal
