Cable network HBO ran away with the Emmy Awards on Sunday night as its gangster hit The Sopranos finally got the respect it deserved and its landmark production of Angels in America surpassed Roots to clinch a record 11 awards for a miniseries.As was widely expected, The Sopranos finally claimed the long-elusive crown as US television’s best drama, rubbing out competition from four-time winner and defending champion, NBC political drama The West Wing.Angels in America, an adaptation of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play about the AIDS epidemic, won the most Emmys in all, including the award for best miniseries, as it beat the record of nine Emmys set by ABC’s seminal slavery drama Roots in 1977.Angels stars Al Pacino and Meryl Streep picked up the awards for best lead actor and lead actress in a miniseries. ‘‘There are some days when I think I am overrated but not today,’’ a delighted Streep said.Sopranos, about a conflicted New Jersey mob boss, earned four Emmys in all. Michael Imperioli was named best supporting actor in a drama series for his role as the hitman nephew, and Drea de Matteo, who played his ill-fated girlfriend won for best supporting actress in a drama series. The show also nabbed an award for writing.In one victory cheered by the critics, the prize for best comedy series went to Fox television’s Arrested Development, about a dysfunctional family trying to stay together while the father is in jail.The show also won Emmys for directing and comedy writing, adding to recognition that could help breathe new life into a low-rated but critically praised first-year series that was close to cancellation earlier this year.In another surprise of the evening, James Spader clinched the Emmy as best actor in a drama series for his role as a lawyer of dubious ethics on the final season of ABC’s The Practice. His performance was credited by critics with re-energising the series and paving for the way for the spinoff, Boston Legal.Two sentimental favourites of the evening, Frasier star Kelsey Grammer and co-star David Hyde Pierce, went home with the statuettes for best lead actor and best supporting actor, respectively in a comedy. HBO finished the night with 32 Emmys, the most of any network. HBO also claimed two marquee acting awards for its final season of Sex and the City — best actress in a comedy for Sarah Jessica Parker and best supporting actress in a comedy for Cynthia Nixon. — Reuters
