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Sopranos wins top prize at Emmys Sopranos wins top prize at Emmys
(about 2 hours later)
The Sopranos has marked the end of its final season with the top prize at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.The Sopranos has marked the end of its final season with the top prize at the Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.
The mob drama, which ended in the US in June, took three awards, among them the prestigious title of best drama series.The mob drama, which ended in the US in June, took three awards, among them the prestigious title of best drama series.
But star James Gandolfini was beaten to the best actor award by James Spader, star of courtroom show Boston Legal.But star James Gandolfini was beaten to the best actor award by James Spader, star of courtroom show Boston Legal.
British comedian Ricky Gervais was named best actor in a comedy series for his role as a hapless actor in his BBC TV series, Extras. British stars Dame Helen Mirren and Ricky Gervais won best drama actress and best comedy series actor, for Prime Suspect: The Final Act and Extras.
America Ferrara, star of comedy Ugly Betty, won the award for best female actor in a comedy. Dame Helen Mirren won for Prime Suspect
And the Sopranos missed out on a two other acting awards: supporting actor gongs went to Terry O'Quinn, who plays the mysterious John Locke in castaway drama Lost, and Katherine Heigl of hospital show Grey's Anatomy. Dame Helen, who won an Oscar earlier this year for The Queen, said: "You know, you Americans are wonderfully generous people.
But the entire Sopranos cast took to the stage when the show was named the top drama, as a star-studded audience gave them a standing ovation. "You're a lot of other things as well - some good, some bad - but you know if I was to categorise your natures it's generosity above all."
"This amazing cast is really what it comes down to. It really is all about them," said creator and director David Chase. Her Emmy was for her role as police officer Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison, while Gervais was honoured for playing hapless actor Andy Millman.
America Ferrara, star of comedy Ugly Betty, won the award for best actress in a comedy.
The Sopranos cast celebrated their win by taking to the stage when they were named the top drama, as a star-studded audience gave them a standing ovation.
America Ferrara won for her role in Ugly Betty
"This amazing cast is really what it comes down to. It really is all about them," said the show's creator and director David Chase.
It had missed the top prize five times in the past, and last won it in 2004.
However the series lost out on a two other acting awards: Supporting actor gongs went to Terry O'Quinn, who plays the mysterious John Locke in castaway drama Lost, and Katherine Heigl of hospital show Grey's Anatomy.
Spader, who also beat British actor Hugh Laurie, star of medical series House, said: "I feel like I just stole a pile of money from the mob and they're all sitting right over there."
Two-time Oscar winner Sally Field took her third Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama, for the series Brothers & Sisters. She beat Edie Falco, in the running for her role as Tony Soprano's long-suffering wife Carmela.
Best comedy was won by 30 Rock, set in the offices of a New York television studio.
Perhaps the biggest cheer of the night went to former vice president Al Gore, who won an award for his Current TV - a cable channel based on viewer-created content.
Gore, who got a standing ovation and screams from the audience, won for outstanding creative achievement in interactive television.
"We are trying to open up the television medium so that viewers can help to make television and join the conversation of democracy and reclaim American democracy by talking about the choices we have to make," he said.
A show starring veteran crooner Tony Bennett on his 80th birthday also picked up three awards, including best individual performance in a variety or music programme.