Well, that'll teach me to try to make intelligent predictions! This year's Emmys, presented yesterday, contained as many surprises as it did obvious winners.
It would have taken a braver person than me to bet against The Sopranos closing out its run with an Outstanding Drama Series win, and when the whole cast took the stage to pick up the award, it got a standing ovation from the star-studded audience. 'This amazing cast is really what it comes down to. It really is all about them,' declared creator David Chase.
However, individual cast members were not quite so lucky. James Gandolfini lost out to James Spader (for Boston Legal) in probably the biggest surprise of the night (whacky in favour of whacked perhaps?). Edie Falco was less surprised to not take home the Actress award ? old favourite Sally Field took it for Brothers & Sisters (never underestimate critical acclaim in these matters). Michael Imperioli also struck out in the Supporting Actor category ? the often-overlooked Terry O'Quinn was rightfully recognised for Lost.
In the Comedy awards, Ricky Gervais was a real surprise win for Best Actor for Extras, but on the distaff side, America Ferrera was an obvious choice for her role in Ugly Betty.
Big loser of the night was Heroes, which didn't convert its nominations into wins, however, ratings winners don't always do well here. Perhaps next year?
Helen Mirren continued her winning streak with an Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries for the last part of Prime Suspect. Jim Broadbent lost out to Robert Duvall for Broken Trail, which was the main success of the night, picking up a number of other awards as well, including Outstanding Miniseries.
This year's main winners are:
Outstanding Comedy Series
30 Rock
Outstanding Drama Series
The Sopranos
Outstanding Made for Television Movie
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Outstanding Miniseries
Broken Trail
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama
James Spader, Boston Legal
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries
Robert Duvall, Broken Trail
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries
Helen Mirren, Prime Suspect: The Final Act
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama
Terry O'Quinn, Lost
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries
Thomas Haden Church, Broken Trail
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Jaime Pressley, My Name is Earl
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama
Katherine Heigly, Grey's Anatomy
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries
Judy Davis, The Starter Wife
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Nature and nurture in the gardens of Bramham ParkTim Richardson looks at the innovative and superbly maintained 18th-century landscape garden of Bramham Park in West Yorkshire, home of Nick and Rachel Lane Fox. Photographs by Paul Highnam.
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If the future of Ferrari is electric vehicles, then it is our future tooIt's widely believed that Ferrari will unveil its first electric car this year. It's the signal that the internal combustion era is coming to an end.
