emmy nominations

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- The acclaimed gangster saga "The Sopranos" will take its final bow at Sunday's Primetime Emmy Awards and take a place in the record books of U.S. TV's top honors, but could lose out to ABC's hit "Grey's Anatomy" when it comes to winning best drama.

"The Sopranos" collected 15 Emmy nominations in all, the most of any series this year, including a bid for best drama.

If Tony and his crew hold on against "Grey's Anatomy," "Boston Legal," "Heroes" and "House" it will be the first time a regular U.S. drama series has won the top Emmy prize for its final season.

"If any show can break the curse, 'The Sopranos' can. It's widely considered the greatest show ever," said Tom O'Neil, host of the Los Angeles Times' awards website, TheEnvelope.com.

TV critics and other pundits taking part in O'Neil's online odds-making Emmy poll predict a fourth win for James Gandolfini as best actor in a drama for his role as conflicted mob boss Tony Soprano. But he's getting a run for his money from Hugh Laurie, who plays a brilliant but grouchy doctor on "House."

Edie Falco, who has three Emmys for playing Tony's wife, is slightly favored to win again as best actress. But she could be upset by Kyra Sedgwick for TNT's "The Closer" or Minnie Driver of the new FX cable series "The Riches."

The best-comedy battle is considered a three-way battle among workplace-related shows, with last year's winner, "The Office," a narrow choice over low-rated fellow NBC contender "30 Rock" and the new ABC hit "Ugly Betty."

HBO's made-for-TV movie western "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," this year's most decorated Emmy contender with 17 nominations, is expected to dominate its category.

"American Idol," America's most-watched TV show, is favored to finally win the prize for reality show contest over perennial CBS champ "Amazing Race."

A number of fresh faces are seen breaking into the winner's circle, including America Ferrera, competing for best actress in a comedy as a homely but perky office assistant on "Ugly Betty."

The race for best actor in a comedy is dominated by two film stars playing bosses from hell on TV -- Alec Baldwin for "30 Rock" and Steve Carell for "The Office."

The Emmys may be the youngest of the three major arts award shows (after the Oscars and Tonys), but that doesn't make its influence any less pervasive.
With people watching TV in an estimated 99 million U.S. homes, more people will see Grey's Anatomy during a single season than will see The Lion King during its entire theatrical run.

Still, ratings for the Emmys, which unspools its 59th edition Sunday night on Fox, have never been on a par with the Oscars.

People watch it, but not in droves. Predictability might be one reason. A lot of the same old shows get the same old nominations and awards.

Will this year be any different? True, veteran war horses The Sopranos and Boston Legal are up for several awards, but so are new viewer darlings Heroes and Ugly Betty. And some - shows that threatened to dominate the Emmys only a couple of years ago - Lost and Desperate Housewives - aren't even competing for best drama this year.

Trying to handicap an entertainment awards show is like creating a six-course meal from scratch. You know all the ingredients, you're just not sure how they'll come together.

Ryan Seacrest hosts this year's ceremony from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Before that, you'll have your choice of red carpet specials from the TV Guide Network, E! and Fox itself.

Don't look for Joan and Melissa Rivers, though. This year, they'll be blogging their snarky comments online.

Who knows: This year may bring a memorable acceptance speech to rival Lily Tomlin's. After winning an Emmy in 1974, Tomlin said:

"This is not the greatest moment in my life, because on Friday I had a really great baked potato at Niblick's on Wilshire."

Emmys on TV

? Before the show: The TV Guide Channel offers two programs. Countdown to the Emmy Awards (interviews, nominee profiles) begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, and Live at the Emmy Awards follows from 6-8 p.m. The cable channel E! airs its Live from the Red Carpet starting at 6 p.m. The show's official network, Fox 31, airs its own Countdown to the Emmys at 7 p.m. with profiles and red-carpet coverage.

? The show: 8 p.m. Sunday on KDVR-Fox 31

Pearson's picks

Here are Rocky TV writer Mike Pearson's picks for winners in some Emmy categories:

Comedy series nominees

? Entourage, HBO

? The Office, NBC

? Two and a Half Men, CBS

? Ugly Betty, ABC

? Pearson says 30 Rock, NBC. Ugly Betty is the dark-horse favorite, but 30 Rock has yielded consistently solid writing and terrific performances, especially from Alec Baldwin.

Drama series nominees

? Boston Legal, ABC

? Heroes, NBC

? House, Fox

? The Sopranos, HBO

? Pearson says Grey's Anatomy, ABC, will win with its solid ensemble cast and huge following. Still, don't be surprised if The Sopranos wins in a nostalgic nod to its long-running success.

Actor, drama series, nominees

? James Spader, Boston Legal, ABC

? Hugh Laurie, House, Fox

? James Gandolfini, The Sopranos, HBO

? Kiefer Sutherland, 24, Fox

Pearson says Denis Leary of Rescue Me, FX. It's his turn. If Gandolfini wins again, Emmy voters should be pistol-whipped. Last season was not The Sopranos' finest hour.

Actor, comedy series, nominees

? Tony Shalhoub, Monk, USA

? Steve Carell, The Office, NBC

? Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men, CBS

Pearson says Alec Baldwin of 30 Rock, NBC. Despite a year that saw controversy over a profanity-laced phone call to his daughter, Baldwin is the anchor for this ensemble show. Few actors mix gravitas and goofiness like he does. Besides, he's been nominated for six Emmys before and never won.

Actress, drama series, nominees

? Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters, ABC

? Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC

? Patricia Arquette, Medium, NBC

? Minnie Driver, The Riches, FX

? Edie Falco, The Sopranos, HBO

? Pearson says Kyra Sedgwick of The Closer, TNT. Hargitay and Falco have already won, and everyone knows that Sedgwick's gritty performance gives The Closer its edge.

Actress, comedy series, nominees

? Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives, ABC

? Julia Louis- Dreyfus, The New Adventures of Old Christine, CBS

? Tina Fey, 30 Rock, NBC

? Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds, Showtime

Pearson says America Ferrara of Ugly Betty, ABC. Her turn as the lovable, long-suffering office assistant evokes sympathy without pathos.

Emmy quiz

Test your Emmy Award IQ with these 15 questions

1 Which TV program won the most Emmy Awards in 2006? 2 Which performer has won the most Emmys for the same role? How many?

3 Which show has received the most Emmy nominations over its lifetime?

4 Which reality program has received 29 nominations since 2003 (including seven this year), but has yet to win in any category?

5 How much does an Emmy Award weigh?

6 What is the only "entertainment" category the prime-time Emmys do not honor?

7 In 1973 Bob Mackie became the only person to win an Emmy, an Oscar and a Tony Award in a single year. For what did he receive his Emmy?

8 Which Emmy host made the following statement following 9/11: "What would upset the Taliban more than a gay woman wearing a suit in front of a room full of Jews?"

9 Who was the first black performer to win an Emmy?

10 Which prime-time show has won the most Emmys?

11 Which husband-and-wife team are nominated for Emmys this year?

12 In 1985, Barry Bremen was arrested for grand theft at the Emmys. Why?

13 The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences gives out the prime-time Emmy Awards. Who gives out the daytime Emmys?

14 What newsworthy event happened during the 1978 Emmy telecast?

15 Does it cost anything to be nominated for an Emmy?

Answers

1. The miniseries Elizabeth I with nine wins

2. It's a tie: Candice Bergen with five wins for playing Murphy Brown and Don Knotts with five for playing Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show.

3. ER with 120 nominations

4. American Idol

5. The statue weighs 4 3/4 pounds.

6. Sports. A separate ceremony is held for sports Emmys each spring in New York City.

7. He received three Emmys for Liza with A 'Z'.

8. Ellen Degeneres in 2001

9. Harry Belafonte in 1960 for Tonight with Belafonte

10. Frasier, with 37

11. Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy

12. Bremen, a professional hoaxer, walked onstage to accept Betty Thomas' Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a drama.

13. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, based in New York

14. The show was interrupted by a 30-minute press conference during which President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin announced the successful resolution to their peace talks at Camp David.