ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, September 9, 1996              TAG: 9609100101
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1    EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: PASADENA, CALIF.
SOURCE: Associated Press 

MAD ABOUT NBC COMEDIES - 'ER,' TOO

Much-nominated medical drama ``ER'' was named the best drama series at Sunday's Primetime Emmy Awards, while Dennis Franz and Kathy Baker took top acting honors for drama series.

``ER,'' which had the most nominations with 17, won only one, taking the drama award in its second year.

Franz won his second Emmy as outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his role as hardboiled detective Andy Sipowicz in ABC's ``NYPD Blue.''

Baker picked up her third Emmy as outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her role as physician Jill Brock in CBS' now-canceled ``Picket Fences.''

``This wasn't supposed to happen again, goodness,'' she said. ``I think it's clear by now to everybody that `Picket Fences' has been very, very good to me.''

Helen Hunt, winning her first Emmy for playing winsome wife Jamie Buchman on NBC's ``Mad About You,'' thanked multi-Emmy winner and star of ``Murphy Brown'' Candice Bergen for her ``generosity of spirit'' for pulling out of the nomination process this year.

John Lithgow picked up his second career Emmy, as outstanding lead actor for his role as the alien physics professor on NBC's ``3rd Rock From the Sun.'' He held up his statuette and quoted his character's triumphant line: ``God bless television!''

For the third straight year, NBC's ``Frasier'' won as outstanding comedy series. Producer Peter Casey accepted the award, saying the secret of the show is ``it sends a message to the pompous, long-winded and incessantly fussy of America ... there is a place for you.''

Tyne Daly became television's most honored dramatic actress, collecting her fifth Emmy in 10 nominations for her role as Miss Alice in CBS' canceled schoolteacher drama ``Christy.''

Ray Walston, the sharp-tongued Judge Henry Bone on the CBS series ``Picket Fences,'' won the best supporting dramatic actor award for the second consecutive year.

Walston, 77, called the award a tribute to the show's final season.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who crossed her fingers and mouthed ``Please'' before winning best supporting actress in a comedy series, took home her first Emmy in five nominations for her role as Elaine on NBC's ``Seinfeld.''

``A lot of people say that our show is about nothing, but of course it's been about plenty of something for me,'' she said tearfully.

Rip Torn, who plays the harried producer on HBO's ``The Larry Sanders Show,'' credited its star for his supporting actor in a comedy honor.

``I stand here - it's all due to my boss Garry Shandling and his comic genius,'' Torn said.

Best comedy series writing went to ``Frasier,'' giving the show four Emmys, including two in the weekend's preliminary awards.

HBO's ``Dennis Miller Live'' won outstanding variety, music or comedy series, beating CBS' ``Late Show With David Letterman'' and NBC's ``The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,'' among others. Miller's show also won a writing award.

Alan Rickman claimed the lead actor's trophy in the miniseries category for his role as the wild-eyed mystic in HBO's ``Rasputin,'' while Greta Scacchi won outstanding supporting actress for her role as Alexandra in the same show.

Tom Hulce took the supporting actor's award in the category for ``The Heidi Chronicles.''

NBC's ``Gulliver's Travels'' claimed the best miniseries award. It also received a writing honor.

LENGTH: Medium:   78 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  1. Helen Hunt leaves the stage after accepting her award
          as best actress in a comedy series. She won it for her part in NBC's
          "Mad About You." 2. Julia Louis-Dreyfus kisses the Emmy she won for 
          her role on NBC's "Seinfeld." It was the first time she won in the 
          five times she has been nominated. color. 3. Tyne Daly celebrates 
          winning the Emmy for best supporting actress in a drama. Her award 
          for "Christy," now cancelled by CBS, is the fifth she won in 10 
          nominations.

















































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