Emmys: Predictably unpredictable
The 59th annual prime-time Emmy Awards left no ambiguity about the end of "The Sopranos" Sunday, naming it outstanding drama of the season for its final installment on HBO.
Yet otherwise the Emmys remained, as ever, unpredictable if unambiguous, as "Sopranos" stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco somehow lost out in the top dramatic acting categories to James Spader of "Boston Legal" and Sally Field of "Brothers & Sisters."
"I feel like I just stole a pile of money from the mob," Spader said in accepting his award.
The Emmy for "The Sopranos" offered a last bit of vindication to a series that came to a controversial finish with a blank screen that may or may not have symbolized the death of Tony Soprano. Before that, however, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences flitted to and fro with decisions that seemed sometimes daring, sometimes arbitrary and sometimes half-asleep.
It honored a new series as top comedy, in NBC's "30 Rock," and a newcomer as top comic actress in America Ferrera of "Ugly Betty."
Yet moments after Ricky Gervais won as outstanding actor in a comedy for the little-seen HBO series "Extras" -- a deserving if utterly unexpected choice -- the academy made the routine pick of honoring Field as outstanding actress in a drama. Yes, the TV academy, like the motion-picture academy, evidently really likes her.
Fox, however, went ahead and censored her acceptance speech when she dedicated her award to "all the mothers in the world" and apparently went on to decry the war in Iraq in briefly profane terms.
Fox tried to open up the award ceremony with an in-the-round center stage at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. But it made some ham-fisted censorship decisions, crammed the end with extra ads and generally turned the evening and the red-carpet arrival show into a platform to promote Fox series. The best thing that can be said about host Ryan Seacrest, of "American Idol" fame, is he got the evening started and got out of the way.
In addition to the list of winners, here are other awards for the evening:
Least-supported supporting actress: Joely Fisher of Fox's "'Til Death," who all but let it all hang out on the red-carpet runway. Later, presenting awards at the ceremony proper, she asked much taller co-star Brad Garrett, "Do you like my dress?" All he could reply was, "You should see it from up here."
Pot calling the kettle black: Fox's "Family Guy" did an opening animated musical number about how crummy TV is right now.
Take that, you kids: Tony Bennett upstaged Christina Aguilera with his effortless performance alongside her in a duet, then his PBS special "An American Classic" went on to win almost everything it was up for, including best performance in a variety show for Bennett himself.
No revealing that onstage: Ray Romano was censored when he apparently tried to joke about the big secret Fox is trying to keep about its upcoming "Back to You" sitcom pilot.
Best nominee clips: As ever, the nominees for best writing in a variety series outdid themselves.
Biggest non-sequitur: A series of clips about late-night political humor segued directly into talk-show hosts paying homage to the late Tom Snyder.
Most incongruous moment: Just as the Jersey Boys were breaking into the "I love you baby" chorus from "You're Just Too Good to Be True" in a medley dedicated to "The Sopranos," the highlight clips showed Silvio about to shoot Adriana.
Most honest moment: After winning as outstanding actor in a drama, Spader said, "I still have no idea who votes for these things, or how you even secure a ballot."