LOS ANGELES – NBCS series “West Wing” won a record-setting nine Emmys on Sunday, including best drama. The NBC show is an uplifting look at political life not weighed down with cynicism. Its characters try to do the right thing, even if they dont always succeed. Real Washington leaders are constantly thanking producers for their portrayal.
“By and large in movies and television shows, the countrys leaders are portrayed as either dolts or Machiavellian,” series creator Aaron Sorkin said. “Here, they are neither. Theyre very bright, committed and energetic people.” Sorkin won an Emmy for his writing; Thomas Schlamme for directing. Richard Schiff, who plays the grim aide Toby Ziegler, and Allison Janney, who plays the White Houses tough press secretary, won supporting actor awards. The show won four other technical awards.
Asked whether The West Wing educates viewers about politics, Sorkin replied: “Were not asking anyone to eat their vegetables.” But he said he was pleased that some people have credited his show with exciting people about the political system.
Emmy voters showed their sentimental sides last Sunday. Michael J. Fox won best actor in a comedy for his final performance in Spin City before retiring due to Parkinsons disease. Jack Lemmon won best actor in a miniseries or movie for Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays With Morrie. Both veteran actors drew standing ovations.
Will & Grace was selected best comedy, boosting the show as it moves to Thursday nights. Its supporting actors, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally, each won their first Emmys.
For the third year in a row, David Lettermans Late Show won the award for best variety series. It came during a year Letterman had to take a break for an emergency quintuple bypass operation in January.
Other winners: Patricia Heaton, comedian Ray Romanos long-suffering wife in Everybody Loves Raymond, as best actress in a comedy; Sela Ward of Once and Again as best actress in a drama; Lorne Michaels, the originator of Saturday Night Live, for the shows 25th anniversary special. Multiple winners included Tuesdays With Morrie and HBOs series about a tough Baltimore neighborhood, The Corner.
Emmy watchers were anxious to see the impact of a change in voting procedures designed to widen the voting panel and make it younger.
Instead of requiring Academy of Television Arts & Sciences members to watch nominated shows in a hotel, the academy sent out videotapes for voters to watch at home. As a result, more than 2,500 people voted this year as opposed to 650 last year.
“I happen to think this change in the voting is working extremely well,” said Heaton, clutching her award.
The results of the awards – particularly Heatons quiet victory over Calista Flockhart of Ally McBeal and Sarah Jessica Parker of Sex and the City – indicate that most voters took their jobs seriously, said Thomas ONeill, author of The Emmys and a frequent critic of the plan.
