Newcomers' night at the Emmys: `Lost' wins best drama, Huffman best comic actress

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Viewers won't be deserting Wisteria Lane just because ratings winner ``Desperate Housewives'' didn't bag the Emmy Award for best comedy series. But ``Lost'' could

Sunday, September 18th 2005, 1:56 pm

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Viewers won't be deserting Wisteria Lane just because ratings winner ``Desperate Housewives'' didn't bag the Emmy Award for best comedy series. But ``Lost'' could find new fans after earning Emmy gold.

The ABC series about plane crash survivors stranded on a mysterious island won trophies Sunday night for best drama and directing.

``To get this award right now right before our second season kicks off is incredibly exciting and puts us in a really good spot,'' said Matthew Fox, the leading man of an ensemble cast.

Although ``Lost'' found a steady audience in its first year, it trailed another ABC newcomer, the suburban satire ``Desperate Housewives,'' which consistently landed in the Nielsen weekly top 10 but lost the best comedy award to ``Everybody Loves Raymond.''

Earning best drama honors over perennial champ ``The West Wing'' could propel ``Lost'' even higher.

``It's possible. There are ratings spikes for shows that win the top awards,'' said Tom O'Neil, author of ``The Emmys.''

Felicity Huffman's first-time victory as a harried homemaker was one of two for ABC's ``Desperate Housewives'' at the 57th annual Emmy Awards.

She beat out her more glamorous and talked-about co-stars, Teri Hatcher and Marcia Cross. The other housewives, Eva Longoria and Nicollette Sheridan, weren't nominated.

``I hugged them and they kissed me,'' Huffman said backstage. ``We all support each other. A win for one is a win for all.''

The show also won a directing Emmy.

Its finale already aired, ``Everybody Loves Raymond'' bagged one last major honor in a surprise.

``It was a shock to win,'' Romano said backstage, telling reporters, ``even you guys, admit it, you thought `Desperate Housewives' was going to win.''

``Raymond'' joined ``Barney Miller'' and the ``Mary Tyler Moore'' show as only the third series in 30 years to win top honors in its last season.

The CBS comedy also won supporting actor and supporting actress trophies, with Brad Garrett and Doris Roberts _ who played meddling mother-in-law Marie Barone _ adding to their collections.

Romano, however, was beaten out by Tony Shalhoub of HBO's ``Monk'' for best comedy actor.

``To my fellow nominees, whoever they are _ I'm not that familiar with their work, I just want to say, there's always next year. Except, you know, for Ray Romano,'' Shalhoub joked.

It was also a good night for ABC's ``Boston Legal,'' David E. Kelley's revamped version of the former series ``The Practice.'' James Spader was named best dramatic actor for his portrayal of an ethically challenged lawyer and veteran William Shatner won supporting actor.

Besides Huffman, another first-time winner was Patricia Arquette, who plays a crime-solving psychic on NBC's ``Medium.'' She won for best actress in a drama series.

``The Amazing Race'' was named outstanding reality-competition program for the third time.

Host Ellen DeGeneres, a New Orleans native, and others wore magnolias to honor the victims of Hurricane Katrina _ but while the disaster was a backdrop, the show focused mostly on the awards and the TV industry.

David Letterman introduced a tribute to late-night king Johnny Carson, ``The Tonight Show'' host who died in January.

Comedian Jon Stewart, a double winner for the second straight year in the writing and best variety, music or comedy series categories for ``The Daily Show'' on Comedy Central, complimented Letterman.

``As I was watching Dave talking about Johnny Carson, the way he feels about Carson is the way we, the comedians of our generation, feel about him,'' Stewart said.

Also honored were network TV's erstwhile news anchors, the retired Dan Rather of CBS, Tom Brokaw of NBC and the late Peter Jennings of ABC. Rather and Brokaw earned the evening's only standing ovation when they took the stage.

``It makes it all the more poignant because of the absence of our colleague Peter Jennings,'' Brokaw said. ``We had hoped that he would be here tonight so we could have a reunion, a celebration.''

HBO emerged as the most honored network with a total of 27 awards, including seven honors Sunday and 20 trophies given at last week's Creative Arts Emmys recognizing technical and other achievements. ABC received a total of 16 awards, followed by CBS with 11, NBC and PBS with 10 each and Fox with six.