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    They was mobbed!

    'The Sopranos' hits mark with big 22 Emmy nominations;
    question is, can HBO drama series do better this time out?

    By Robert P. Laurence
    UNION-TRIBUNE TELEVISION CRITIC
    July 13, 2001

    List of prime-time
    Emmy Nominations
    By The Associated Press

    Nominees in all categories for the 53rd annual Primetime Emmy awards, announced July 12 by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:

    1. Animated Program Less Than One Hour: "As Told by Ginger: Hello Ginger," Nickelodeon; "Futurama: Amazon Women in the Mood," Fox; "King of the Hill: Chasing Bobby," Fox; "The Powerpuff Girls: Moral Decay & Meet the Beat Alls," Cartoon Network; "The Simpsons: Homer," Fox.

    2. Animated Program One Hour or More: "Allosaurus: A Walking With Dinosaurs Special," Discovery.

    3. Art Direction for a Multicamera Series: "Bette: Pilot," CBS; "Frasier: Cranes Go Caribbean," NBC; "Friends: The One With Monica and Chandler's Wedding," NBC; "Three Sisters: Pilot," NBC; "Will & Grace: Lows in the Mid Eighties," NBC.

    4. Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series: "Boston Public: Chapter One," Fox; "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Friends and Lovers," CBS; "Sex and the City: Where There's Smoke," HBO; "The Sopranos: Amour Fou," HBO; "The West Wing: Noel," HBO.

    5. Art Direction for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Anne Frank: Part 2," ABC; "Horatio Hornblower: Part 1," A&E; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows: Part 1," ABC; "On Golden Pond," CBS; "61 ," HBO.

    6. Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program: "73rd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards," CBS; "MADtv:610," Fox; "The Magic of David Copperfield: The Tornado of Fire," CBS; "Peter Pan Starring Cathy Rigby," A&E.

    7. Casting for a Comedy Series: "Ally McBeal," Fox; "Ed," NBC; "Frasier," NBC; "Sex and the City," HBO; "Will & Grace," NBC.

    8. Casting for a Drama Series: "Law & Order," NBC; "Once and Again," ABC; "The Practice," ABC; "The Sopranos," HBO; "The West Wing," NBC.

    9. Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Anne Frank," ABC; "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells," HBO; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; "61 ," HBO; "When Billie Beat Bobby," ABC; "Wit," HBO.

    10. Choreography: "Blast," PBS; "Bojangles," Showtime; "Grounded for Life: Mrs. Finnerty, You Have a Lovely Daughter," Fox; "Miss America 2000," ABC; "Peter Pan Starring Cathy Rigby: Part One," A&E; "Target Stars on Ice," A&E.

    11. Cinematography for a Multicamera Series: "Everybody Loves Raymond: Italy," CBS; "Frasier: And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon," NBC; "100 Centre Street: Things Change," A&E; "Spin City: Hello Charlie," ABC; "Will & Grace: Sons and Lovers," NBC.

    12. Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series: "Ally McBeal: Cloudy Skies, Chance of Parade," Fox; "JAG: Adrift, Part 1," CBS; "Law & Order: Endurance," ABC; "The Practice: The Deal," ABC; "The West Wing: Noel," NBC; "The X-Files: This is Not Happening," Fox.

    13. Cinematography for a Miniseries of a Movie: "Anne Frank: Night 2," ABC; "Conspiracy," HBO; "Fore Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story," HBO; "Frank Herbert's Dune: Part 2," Sci Fi; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows: Night One," ABC; "61 ," HBO.

    14. Cinematography for Non-Fiction Programming: "Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks," HBO; "Jazz: A Masterpiece by Midnight," PBS; "Land of the Mammoth," Discovery; "Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen," HBO; "Survivor: A Honeymoon Without Sex," CBS.

    15. Commercial: Mercedes-Benz USA, "Aaooga"; Nike, "Freestyle"; Public Broadcasting System, "Light"; Mercedes-Benz USA, "Modern Ark"; Public Broadcasting System, "Photo Booth."

    16. Costumes for a Series: "The Lot: Mob Scene," AMC; "Sex and the City: Sex and Another City," HBO; "The Sopranos: Proshai, Livushka," HBO; "Star Trek: Voyager: Shattered," UPN; "Will & Grace: Lows in the Mid-Eighties," NBC.

    17. Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "David Copperfield: Part 2," TNT; "Horatio Hornblower: Part 1 - Mutiny," A&E; "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells," HBO; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows: Night 1," ABC.

    18. Costumes for a Variety or Music Program: "Cirque Du Soleil's Dralion," Bravo; "MADtv: 615," Fox; "Peter Pan Starring Cathy Rigby," A&E; "Saturday Night Live: Host: Lara Flynn Boyle," NBC; "Target Presents: Scott Hamilton's Farewell to the Stars on Ice," CBS.

    19. Directing for a Comedy Series: "Ed: Pilot," NBC; "Malcolm in the Middle: Bowling," Fox; "Malcolm in the Middle: Flashback," Fox; "Sex and the City: Easy Come, Easy Go," HBO; "Will & Grace: Love in the Mid-Eighties," NBC.

    20. Directing for a Drama Series: "ER: The Visit," NBC; "The Sopranos: Amour Fou," HBO; "The Sopranos: Pine Barrens," HBO; " The Sopranos: University," HBO; "The West Wing: In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part 1 & 2," NBC; "The West Wing: Shibboleth," NBC.

    21. Directing for a Variety or Music Program: "73rd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band," HBO; "Cirque du Soleil's Dralion," Bravo; "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS; "The Tony Awards," CBS.

    22. Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Anne Frank," ABC; "Conspiracy," HBO; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; "61 ," HBO; "Wit," HBO.

    23. Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Series: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Pilot," CBS; "The Practice: The Day After," ABC; "The Sopranos: Employee of the Month," HBO; "The Sopranos: Pine Barrens," HBO; "The West Wing: Two Cathedrals," NBC.

    24. Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Anne Frank," ABC; "Conspiracy," HBO; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, Part 1," ABC; "61 ," HBO; "Wit," HBO.

    25. Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Series: "The Drew Carey Show: Drew's in a Coma," ABC; "Everybody Loves Raymond: Italy," CBS; "Frasier: Daphne Returns," NBC; "Spin City: Minor League," ABC; "Will & Grace: Lows in the Mid-Eighties," NBC.

    26. Multi-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "73rd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Barbra Streisand: Timeless," Fox; "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band," HBO; "Elton John: One Night Only — Greatest Hits Live," CBS; "Hendrix," Showtime.

    27. Picture Editing for Non-Fiction Programming: "Dwarfs: Not a Fairy Tale," HBO; "Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks," HBO; "Jazz: Dedicated to Chaos," PBS; "Survivor: Trial by Fire," CBS.

    28. Hairstyling for a Series: "The Lot: Daddy Dearest," AMC; "MADtv: MADtv's 6th Season Premiere," Fox; "Sex and the City: All or Nothing," HBO; "Star Trek: Voyager: Prophecy," UPN; "That '70s Show: Back Stage Pass," Fox.

    29. Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Horatio Hornblower," A&E; "Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis," CBS; "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells," HBO; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, Part 1," ABC; "The Lost Empire, Part 2," NBC; "61 ," HBO.

    30. Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multicamera) for VMC Programming: "73rd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Barbra Streisand: Timeless," Fox; "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band," HBO; "Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher: 01-921," ABC; "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: 1865," NBC.

    31. Main Title Design: "Audiofile," TECH; "Exxon Mobil Masterpiece Theatre's American Collection," PBS; "MADtv," Fox; "Norm," ABC; "The Wonderful World of Disney," ABC.

    32. Makeup for a Series: "MADtv: MADtv's 2nd Annual Salute to the Movies," Fox; "Sex and the City: Don't Ask, Don't Tell," HBO; "The Sopranos: Employee of the Month," HBO; "Star Trek: Voyager: The Void," UPN; "The X-Files: Deadalive," Fox.

    33. Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Horatio Hornblower," A&E; "Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis," CBS; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; "61 ," HBO; "Voyage of the Unicorn, Part 2," Odyssey.

    34. Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore): "The Simpsons: Simpson Safari," Fox; "Star Trek: Voyager: Workforce (Part 1)," UPN; "Star Trek: Voyager: End Game," UPN; "The West Wing: Shadow of Two Gunmen," NBC; "Xena: Warrior Princess: The Rheingold," syndicated.

    35. Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Dramatic Underscore): "Bailey's Mistake," ABC; "For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story," HBO; "Haven," CBS; "Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot," NBC; "Papa's Angels," CBS.

    36. Music Direction: "Barbra Streisand: Timeless," Fox; "Christmas in Washington," TNT; "The Kennedy Center Honors," CBS; "My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs (Great Performances)," PBS; "Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific," ABC.

    37. Music and Lyrics: "American Film Institute Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Barbra Streisand," Fox, song title: "On the Way to Becoming Me"; "Dancing in September," HBO, song title: "Welcome Back (All my Soulmates)"; "Gary and Mike: New York, New York," UPN, song title: "Mole Folk Song"; "Robert Klein: Child in His 50s," HBO, song title: "Colonoscopy"; "Yesterday's Children," CBS, song title: "A Dream That Only I Can Know."

    38. Main Title Theme Music: "Big Apple," CBS; "Gideon's Crossing," ABC; "Soul Food," Showtime; "Survivor: The Merge," CBS; "Thoroughbred," Animal Planet.

    39. Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier," NBC; John Lithgow, "3rd Rock From the Sun," NBC; Eric McCormack, "Will & Grace," NBC; Frankie Muniz, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS.

    40. Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Andre Braugher, "Gideon's Crossing," ABC; Dennis Franz, "NYPD Blue," NBC; James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos," HBO; Rob Lowe, "The West Wing," NBC; Martin Sheen, "The West Wing," NBC.

    41. Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: Ben Kingsley, "Anne Frank," ABC; Gregory Hines, "Bojangles," Showtime; Kenneth Branagh, "Conspiracy," HBO; Andy Garcia, "For Love Or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story," HBO; Barry Pepper, "61 ," HBO.

    42. Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Calista Flockhart, "Ally McBeal," Fox; Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex and the City," HBO; Debra Messing, "Will & Grace," NBC.

    43. Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Marg Helgenberger, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS; Amy Brenneman, "Judging Amy," CBS; Sela Ward, "Once and Again," ABC; Lorraine Bracco, "The Sopranos," HBO; Edie Falco, "The Sopranos," HBO.

    44. Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: Hannah Taylor Gordon, "Anne Frank," ABC; Judi Dench, "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells," HBO; Judy Davis, "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; Holly Hunter, "When Billie Beat Bobby," ABC; Emma Thompson, "Wit," HBO.

    45. Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Peter MacNicol, "Ally McBeal," Fox; Robert Downey, Jr., "Ally McBeal," Fox; Peter Boyle, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; David Hyde Pierce, "Frasier," NBC; Sean Hayes, "Will & Grace," NBC.

    46. Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Michael Imperioli, "The Sopranos," HBO; Dominic Chianese, "The Sopranos," HBO; Bradley Whitford, "The West Wing," NBC; John Spencer, "The West Wing," NBC; Richard Schiff, "The West Wing," NBC.

    47. Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: Alan Alda, "Club Land," Showtime; Colin Firth, "Conspiracy," HBO; Stanley Tucci, "Conspiracy," HBO; Ian Holm, "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells," HBO; Victor Garber, "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; Brian Cox, "Nuremburg," TNT.

    48. Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Doris Roberts, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Jennifer Aniston, "Friends," NBC; Lisa Kudrow, "Friends," NBC; Kim Cattrall, "Sex and the City," HBO; Megan Mullally, "Will & Grace," NBC.

    49. Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Maura Tierney, "ER," NBC; Tyne Daly, "Judging Amy," CBS; Aida Turturro, "The Sopranos," HBO; Stockard Channing, "The West Wing," NBC; Allison Janney, "The West Wing," NBC.

    50. Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: Brenda Blethyn, "Anne Frank," ABC; Anne Bancroft, "Haven," CBS; Tammy Blanchard, "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; Holly Hunter, "Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her," Showtime; Audra McDonald, "Wit," HBO.

    51. Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Derek Jacobi, "Frasier," NBC; Victor Garber, "Frasier," NBC; Gary Oldman, "Friends," NBC; Michael York, "The Lot," AMC; Robert Loggia, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox.

    52. Guest Actor in a Drama Series: James Cromwell, "ER," NBC; Patrick Dempsey, "Once and Again," ABC; Rene Auberjonois, "The Practice," ABC; Michael Emerson, "The Practice," ABC; Oliver Platt, "The West Wing," NBC.

    53. Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Bernadette Peters, "Ally McBeal," Fox; Jami Gertz, "Ally McBeal," Fox; Jean Smart, "Frasier," NBC; Susan Sarandon, "Friends," NBC; Cloris Leachman, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox.

    54. Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Kathy Baker, "Boston Public," Fox; Jean Smart, "The District," CBS; Sally Field, "ER," NBC; Dana Delaney, "Family Law," CBS; Annabella Sciorra, "The Sopranos," HBO.

    55. Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Steve Martin, "73rd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; Barbra Streisand, "Barbra Streisand: Timeless," Fox; Ellen DeGeneres, "Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning," HBO; David Letterman, "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS; Will Ferrell, "Saturday Night Live," NBC; Wayne Brady, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" ABC.

    56. Comedy Series: "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; "Frasier," NBC; "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; "Sex and the City," HBO; "Will & Grace," NBC.

    57. Drama Series: "ER," NBC; "Law & Order," NBC; "The Practice," ABC; "The Sopranos," HBO; "The West Wing," NBC.

    58. Miniseries: "Anne Frank," ABC; "Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City," Showtime; "Horatio Hornblower," A&E; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; "Nuremberg," TNT.

    59. Made for Television Movie: "Conspiracy," HBO; "For Love Or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story," HBO; "Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor," Showtime; "61 ," HBO; "Wit," HBO.

    60. Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "The Chris Rock Show," HBO; "The Daily Show With John Stewart," Comedy; "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS; "Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher," ABC; "Saturday Night Live," NBC.

    61. Variety, Music or Comedy Special: "73rd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band," HBO; "Cirque du Soleil's Dralion," Bravo; "Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning," HBO; "Saturday Night Live's Presidential Bash 2000," NBC.

    62. Classical Music-Dance Program: "American Dream: Andrea Bocelli's Statue of Liberty Concert," PBS; "Charlotte Church: Live From Jerusalem," PBS; "Jazz at Lincoln Center: Armstrong — When the Saints Go Marching In (Live From Lincoln Center)," PBS; "La Traviata from Paris (Great Performances)," PBS; "The Three Tenors Christmas," PBS.

    63. Children's Program: "King Gimp," HBO; "Nick News With Linda Ellerbee," Nickelodeon; "Peter Pan Starring Cathy Rigby," A&E; "Rugrats," Nickelodeon; "The Teen Files: Surviving High School," UPN.

    64. Nonfiction Special: "Dwarfs: Not a Fairy Tale," HBO; "Egypt Beyond the Pyramids," History Channel; "Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks," HBO; "Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen," HBO; "Scottsboro: An American Tragedy," PBS.

    65. Nonfiction Series: "American Masters: American Masters Finding Lucy," PBS; "Behind the Music: Cat Stevens," VH1; "Biography: Biography Close-Up: Sesame Street," A&E; "Inside the Actors Studio: Mike Myers," Bravo; "Jazz," PBS.

    66. Nonfiction Program (Reality): "American High," Fox; "The Awful Truth With Michael Moore," Bravo; "The E! True Hollywood Story," E!, "Taxicab Confessions," HBO; "Trauma: Life in the ER," The Learning Channel.

    67. Nonfiction Program (Special Class): "Bands on the Run," VH1; "Eco-Challenge: Borneo," USA; "Junkyard Wars," The Learning Channel; "Road Rules: Maximum Velocity Tour," MTV; "Survivor," CBS.

    68. Sound Editing for a Series: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 35K OBO," CBS; "ER: The Crossing," NBC; "The Fugitive: Pilot," CBS; "Star Trek: Voyager: Endgame, Part 2," UPN; "Third Watch: Honor," NBC.

    69. Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Anne Frank, Part 2," ABC; "Conspiracy," HBO; "Frank Herbert's Dune, Part 3," Sci-Fi; "Nuremberg, Part 2," TNT; "61 ," HBO.

    70. Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Program: "Allosaurus: A Walking With Dinosaurs Special," Discovery; "Jazz: Dedicated to Chaos," PBS; "Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen," HBO; "Shooting War," ABC; "Trauma: Life in the ER: Trauma Season," The Learning Channel.

    71. Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Series: "ER: The Crossing," NBC; "Law & Order: School Daze," NBC; "The Practice: The Day After," ABC; "The Sopranos: Another Toothpick," HBO; "The West Wing: In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Part 2," NBC.

    72. Single Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie: "Conspiracy," HBO; "Horatio Hornblower: Mutiny," A&E; "Nuremberg: Part 2," TNT; "Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific," ABC; "61 ," HBO.

    73. Multicamera Sound Mixing for a Series or a Special: "The Drew Carey Show: Drew Live 2," ABC; "Everybody Loves Raymond: Italy," CBS; "Frasier: Hooping Cranes," NBC; "Malcolm in the Middle: Bowling," Fox.

    74. Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or Special: "73rd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; Barbra Streisand: Timeless," Fox; "Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band," HBO; "La Traviata From Paris (Great Performances)," PBS; "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Show 1938," NBC.

    75. Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program: "The Beatles Revolution," ABC; "Behind the Music: Behind the Music John Lennon: The Last Years," VH1; "Jazz: Dedicated to Chaos," PBS; "Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen," HBO; "Survivor: 1," CBS.

    76. Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series: "Dark Angel: Pilot," Fox; "Star Trek: Voyager: Workforce, Part 1," UPN; "Star Trek: Voyager: Endgame," UPN; "Stargate SG-1: Small Victories," Showtime; "Stargate SG-1: Exodus," Showtime.

    77. Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special: "Allosaurus: A Walking With Dinosaurs Special," Discovery; "Frank Herbert's Dune: Part 1," Sci-Fi; "Haven: Part 1," CBS; "Horatio Hornblower: Mutiny," A&E; "Race Against Time," TNT.

    78. Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Series: "Late Show With David Letterman: 1527," CBS; "Saturday Night Live: Host: Christopher Walken, Musical Guest: Weezer," NBC; "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Show 2057," NBC; "Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Show 313," ABC.

    79. Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Miniseries, Movie or Special: "73rd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Barbra Streisand: Timeless," Fox, "Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band," HBO; "Super Bowl XXXV Halftime Show," CBS; "Survivor: The Reunion," CBS.

    80. Writing for a Comedy Series: "Ed: Pilot," NBC; "Freaks and Geeks: Disco and Dragons," NBC; "Malcolm in the Middle: Bowling," Fox; "Sex and the City: Easy Come, Easy Go," HBO; Will & Grace: Lows in the Mid-Eighties," NBC.

    81. Writing for a Drama Series: "The Sopranos: Second Opinion," HBO; "The Sopranos: Pine Barrens," HBO; "The Sopranos: Amour Fou," HBO; "The Sopranos: Employee of the Month," HBO; "The West Wing: In the Shadow of two Gunmen (Parts 1 & 2)," NBC.

    82. Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: "The Chris Rock Show," HBO; "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central; "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," NBC; "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS; "Saturday Night Live," NBC.

    83. Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie: "Anne Frank," ABC; "Conspiracy," HBO; "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; "61 ," HBO; "Wit," HBO.

    'The Sopranos," HBO's gripping series about a New Jersey mob family, topped all contenders yesterday with 22 Emmy nominations, followed by NBC's "The West Wing," which had 18.

    James Gandolfini and Edie Falco of HBO's "Sopranos"
    AP photo
    Now the question is, will angst-ridden Tony Soprano and his supporting cast of made guys and their understanding women actually take home the cannoli?

    For the past two years, "The Sopranos" has ruled TV's prime-time neighborhood when Emmy nominations were announced in July by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS), only to shoot blanks when the trophies were handed out in September.

    In 1999, "The Sopranos" received 16 nominations, and just two Emmys; last year, it scored 18 nominations, but registered its sole win when James Gandolfini was named Best Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of boss Tony Soprano.

    Although "The Sopranos" has been TV's most talked-about and most praised dramatic series -- and the most envied by other networks -- for the past three seasons, it has yet to win an Emmy as TV's Best Dramatic Show.

    "The West Wing," NBC's oft-preachy series about a U.S. president and his contentious staff, won that category last year (after tying "The Sopranos" with 18 nominations), one of its nine Emmys.

    Both shows were nominated for Best Drama Series this year, along with NBC's "ER," ABC's "The Practice" and NBC's "Law & Order," the last of which received its record 10th consecutive nomination in the category. One surprise: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS' glitzy and involving new series about Las Vegas forensics investigators, was not nominated.

    HBO led all networks with 94 nominations, followed by NBC (76 nominations), ABC (63) and CBS (46).

    Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe, both of "The West Wing," were nominated as Best Dramatic Actor, as was Gandolfini. Also nominated were Andre Braugher, of ABC's canceled "Gideon's Crossing," plus multiple winner Dennis Franz of ABC's "NYPD Blue."

    "The West Wing" and "The Sopranos" swept the nominations in the supporting-actor category: Bradley Whitford, John Spencer and Richard Schiff were nominated from the NBC series, and Michael Imperioli and Dominic Chianese from the HBO drama. "The Sopranos" received four nominations in the drama-writing category, and "The West Wing" got one writing nod.

    Edie Falco, who plays Tony Soprano's wife, Carmela, was among the nominees as Best Actress (she won two years ago), as was Lorraine Bracco, who portrays his psychiatrist; other nominees included Marg Helgenberger, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS; Amy Brenneman, CBS' "Judging Amy," and last year's winner, Sela Ward, of ABC's "Once and Again."

    The list of nominated comedy series was fairly predictable: "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; "Frasier," NBC; "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; "Sex and the City," HBO; "Will & Grace," NBC.

    The contenders for lead comedy actor were Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier"; John Lithgow, NBC's "3rd Rock From the Sun"; Eric McCormack, "Will & Grace"; Frankie Muniz, Fox's "Malcolm in the Middle"; Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond."

    Martin Sheen and John Spencer of "West Wing"
    AP photo
    The nominees for lead comedy actress were Calista Flockhart, Fox's "Ally McBeal"; Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond"; Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle"; Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex and the City"; and Debra Messing, "Will & Grace."

    Last year, the Academy took some flak when "Survivor," which dominated the Nielsen ratings and was TV's most hotly debated new show, was ineligible for Emmy awards. This year, ATAS created two new categories: Nonfiction Program (Reality), shows in which no prizes are involved; and Nonfiction Program (Special Class), game shows.

    Reality-program nominees were "American High," dropped by Fox after two episodes, then aired by PBS; "The Awful Truth With Michael Moore," Bravo; "The E! True Hollywood Story," E!; HBO's "Taxicab Confessions"; and The Learning Channel's "Trauma: Life in the ER."

    Game-reality nominees were "Survivor;" VH1's "Bands on the Run"; "Eco-Challenge: Borneo," USA; "Junkyard Wars," The Learning Channel; and MTV's "Road Rules: Maximum Velocity Tour."

    Broadcast networks were locked out of the made-for-TV movie category, with Best Picture nominations going to the HBO shows "Conspiracy," "For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story," "61*" and "Wit," and Showtime's "Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor."

    Nominations for Best Miniseries went to ABC's "Anne Frank"; Showtime's "Armistead Maupin's Further Tales of the City"; A&E's "Horatio Hornblower"; ABC's "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows"; TNT's "Nuremberg."

    The Emmy awards will be presented Sunday, Oct. 7 in ceremonies broadcast by CBS, with Ellen DeGeneres as the host.


    © Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.