Monday, September 11, 2000
'West Wing' scores 9 Emmys
By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The 52nd annual prime-time Emmy Awards turned into a political party Sunday, with The West Wing nearly sweeping the drama awards.
NBC's White House drama won for best drama, plus for writing (creator Aaron Sorkin and Rick Cleveland), supporting actor and actress (Richard Schiff, Allison Janney) and directing (Thomas Schlamme) to give the show a total of nine.
And Michael J. Fox, who's leaving his role as deputy New York mayor on ABC's Spin City to battle Parkinson's disease, won his first Emmy for that show.
Ms. Janney, a Dayton native, and Mr. Schiff praised fellow cast members in the Oval Office drama, which also won a Peabody Award in its first season.
“This obviously is for ev erybody. Come with me and celebrate,” Mr. Schiff said.
The West Wing and The Sopranos, HBO's second-season mob family drama, tied with the most nominations with 18 each. But The West Wing entered the evening with four statues in hand, technical Emmys presented Aug. 26 by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for casting, theme music, cinematography and art direction.
Accepting the best drama award, Mr. Sorkin praised The Sopranos before mentioning his own co-workers, calling the HBO drama “one of the greatest achievements in the history of television.”
Only James Gandolfini, who stars as crime boss Tony Soprano, won an award for The Sopranos.
Sela Ward from ABC's Once and Again was named best drama actress.
The show's most emotion al moment was the standing ovation for Mr. Fox, the three-time Family Ties Emmy-winner, who is voluntarily leaving the series his company helped create. He turned to the camera and said, “To you people at home, I just want to say thanks. It's been a great ride, and stay tuned.”
NBC also was the big comedy winner, with Will & Grace taking home three awards — best comedy, and a pair of supporting performance statues.
Max Mutchnick, the gay co-creator Will & Grace, TV's first series about gay characters, thanked the academy by noting, “This award gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "acceptance speech.'”
Fox's Malcolm in the Middle received two comedy awards. Creator Linwood Boomer, the former Little House on the Prairie actor, won for best writing, while Todd Holland won for best direction.
Patricia Heaton, who plays wife Debra Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond, won as best comedy actress.
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