(CNN) -- The NBC political drama "The West Wing" flew passed HBO's "The Sopranos" at the Emmy Awards Sunday night, winning four major categories, including outstanding drama. That brings the total number of Emmys to nine, which broke the previous record -- held by "ER" and "Hill Street Blues" -- for a series in its first season.
"Will & Grace," also in the NBC family, took outstanding comedy, outstanding supporting actor (Sean Hayes) and outstanding supporting actress (Megan Mullally).
Upon receiving the statuette, one of the brains behind the show said: "As a gay man, I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I think I finally met a girl I want to sleep with."
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"The Sopranos" vs. "West Wing" was considered the most contentious race -- each show had 18 nominations. James Gandolfini won the night's only Emmy for the HBO mob series, outstanding actor in a drama series.
His heaviest competition came from Martin Sheen, who plays the president on "The West Wing." Other nominees included last year's winner Dennis Franz, "NYPD Blue" (ABC); and "Law & Order" stars Jerry Orbach and Sam Waterston."
Michael J. Fox, who wrapped up his last season on "Spin City" (ABC) to fight his battle against Parkinson's disease, walked off with the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series on Sunday night.
This is Fox's fourth Emmy -- he earned three for his work on "Family Ties" in the '80s. He indicated the viewing public might not have seen the last of him.
"Thanks, it's been a great ride ... and stay tuned," he told the audience.
Fox beat last year's winner John Lithgow ("3rd Rock from the Sun," NBC); Kelsey Grammer, ("Frasier," NBC); Eric McCormack ("Will & Grace"); and Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond" (CBS).
Patricia Heaton, of "Everybody Loves Raymond," garnered her first Emmy, outstanding lead actress in a comedy. On the losing end were Jenna Elfman, "Dharma & Greg" (ABC); Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle" (Fox); Debra Messing, "Will & Grace"; and Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex and the City" (HBO).
Sela Ward won outstanding lead actress for the freshman series "Once and Again" (ABC). Her competition included Amy Brenneman, who created the new series "Judging Amy" (CBS); "The Sopranos" stars Lorraine Bracco and Edie Falco; and Julianna Margulies, who departed "ER" (NBC) at the end of the season.
"Will & Grace" co-stars Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes picked up the first two Emmys of the night. It was the first nomination for both characters on the NBC series, which received 11 nominations.
Mullally, who plays the martini-loving Karen Walker, beat "Friends" (NBC) co-stars Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Anniston; Doris Roberts, of "Everybody Loves Raymond"; and Kim Catrall, of "Sex and the City," for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.
"Thank you to the strong women in my category, who I've stolen from frequently, and will continue to do so in the future," Mullally said.
Hayes, who's taking home the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy, plays Will's best friend, the flamboyant Jack McFarland. He triumphed over "Everybody Loves Raymond" stars Peter Boyle and Brad Garrett; Peter MacNicol, of "Ally McBeal" (Fox); and David Hyde Pierce of "Frasier."
Allison Janney, who plays the White House press secretary CJ Cregg on "The West Wing" (NBC), won outstanding supporting actress in a drama. In her acceptance speech, Janney paid tribute to fellow nominee Nancy Marchand, who played Livia Soprano on the HBO series. The 71-year-old actress died in July of emphysema and lung cancer.
Janney's other contenders included fellow "West Wing" star Stockard Channing; Holland Taylor, of ABC's "The Practice"; and Tyne Daly, of the freshman CBS series "Judging Amy."
Fellow "West Winger" Richard Schiff won outstanding supporting actor in a drama for his role as communications director Toby Ziegler. His co-star John Spencer also was nominated, as were Steve Harris and Michael Badalucco, of "The Practice," and Dominic Chianese, of "The Sopranos."
Major moments in miniseries
Oprah Winfrey's miniseries based on the bestseller "Tuesdays with Morrie" snagged three Emmys Sunday, including outstanding made-for-television movie, outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie (Jack Lemmon), and outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or movie (Hank Azaria).
Lemmon, 75, received a standing ovation, as he rose to accept his sixth Emmy for his portrayal of former Brandeis University professor Morrie Schwartz. Azaria played the part of author Mitch Albom in the ABC movie.
Lemon beat Beau Bridges, "P.T. Barnum" (A&E); Brian Dennehy, "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman" (Showtime); William H. Macy, "A Slight Case of Murder" (TNT); and Liev Schreiber, "RKO 281" (HBO).
Halle Berry won her first Emmy for "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" -- outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or movie. Those sharing the nomination include Holly Hunter, who appeared in "Harlan County War" (Showtime); Gena Rowlands, who appeared in "The Color of Love: Jacey's Story" (CBS); as well as Sally Field and Judy Davis, who both starred in "A Cooler Climate" (Showtime).
"The Corner" (HBO), a six-part miniseries about a Baltimore family dealing with drug abuse, won outstanding miniseries or movie, fending off "Arabian Nights" (ABC); "The Beach Boys: An American Family" (ABC); and "Jesus" (CBS); and "P.T. Barnum" (A&E).
Outstanding supporting actress in a miniseries or movie went to Vanessa Redgrave for "If Theses Walls Could Talk 2" (HBO). She's working in London and was not there to accept the award.
Fellow nominees included Kathy Bates, "Annie" (ABC); Elizabeth Franz, "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman" (Showtime); Melanie Griffith, "RKO 281" (HBO); and Maggie Smith, "David Copperfield" (PBS).
Letterman trumps Leno
David Letterman proved to be the late-night standup standout, earning an Emmy for outstanding variety, music or comedy series. Letterman missed five weeks behind the desk on the CBS show, recovering from quadruple bypass surgery earlier this year.
Letterman beat Jay Leno who hosts NBC's "The Tonight Show"; Bill Maher, the acerbic host of ABC's "Politically Incorrect"; as well as HBO's Dennis Miller and Chris Rock.
Lorne Michaels was on hand to accept the Emmy for outstanding variety, music or comedy special, for "Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special" (NBC). "SNL" topped the "72nd Academy Awards" (ABC); "Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker" (HBO); "Cirque du Soleil" (Bravo); and "Eddie Izzard Dress to Kill" (HBO).
Transvestite Eddie Izzard also earned two Emmys for his HBO special "Eddie Izzard: Dressed to Kill," one for writing and another for individual performance in a variety, music or comedy special.
Tie a yellow ribbon ...
Garry Shandling hosted the 52nd annual Emmy Awards at Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles. The comedian-actor drew laughs with his brand of self-deprecating humor.
The ceremony started with a spoof of the "Survivor" reality series, with late-night faces Arsenio Hall, Andy Richter, Craig Kilborn and Sherry Oteri taking barbs at Shandling at a mock tribal council. Three "Survivor" contestants were in the audience: Richard, Rudy and Gervase.
"I don't like this reality television, I have to be honest," Shandling said. "I think real people should not be on television. It's for special people like us, people who have trained and studied to appear to be real."
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Many people watch the Emmys to see what the stars are wearing. And the big fashion statement at the ceremony is also a political one.
Many of the actors are sporting gold ribbons to show solidarity with commercial actors who are on strike against the advertising industry. Members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio artists began the walkout in May.
Emmy watchers were told they could expect some surprises, as organizers changed the voting system this year.
In the past, 1,000 of the 10,000 academy members gathered in a Los Angeles hotel over a weekend in August to make the final Emmy choices. Designated members sat together in a room and viewed videotapes of the five nominees in each category.
To encourage greater participation, the academy mailed screening tapes this year to all members, who could view them at home over a 10-day period and submit their ballots by mail. But some tapes never made it to their destinations or arrived late. The videos for "Everybody Loves Raymond" were stolen, for example.
Emmy organizers predict that a bigger judging pool will bring a younger, more liberal viewpoint to the event.
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