By LOUISA CLEAVE and REUTERS
A drama series which scooped the television Emmy Awards for its portrayal of the inner workings of the White House shows on TV2 this week.
TVNZ could not have hoped for a better launch pad for The West Wing than a record nine Emmys, including the accolade of best drama series.
The programme was pitted against last year's Emmy success and another TV2 drama, The Sopranos, but won out with awards for best directing, writing, and supporting actor and actress statues for Richard Schiff as communications director Toby Ziegler and Allison Janney as press secretary C. J. Cregg.
Veteran actor Martin Sheen, who plays the US President in the series, missed out on the award for lead actor in a drama to The Sopranos' James Gandolfini, who plays mob boss Tony Soprano.
Michael J Fox, who quit his role in the comedy Spin City (TV2) to concentrate on fighting Parkinson's Disease, won best lead actor in a comedy series.
The comedy actress equivalent went to Patricia Heaton for Everybody Loves Raymond, which TV2 screened on a weekend afternoon.
But the surprise sweep in the comedy category came from Will & Grace, about a gay lawyer and his female best friend.
The show, which will be repeated on TV3 early next month, edged out Friends, Sex and the City and Frasier to win best comedy.
Megan Mullally, who plays an acerbic office assistant, and Sean Hayes, who plays her gay friend, claimed best supporting actor and actress honours for Will & Grace.
The prime-time television Emmys gave the New Zealand channels that screen the shows a fair share of the accolades.
Once and Again (TV3) earned Sela Ward the trophy for lead actress in a drama over favourites Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco of The Sopranos.
Malcolm In The Middle, a hit on American television that failed to fire on TV3, won best comedy direction and writing awards.
TV3 will also shortly screen the television movie Tuesdays With Morrie, which won awards for best movie, lead actor Jack Lemmon and supporting actor Hank Azaria.
There were some revealing, sheer gowns worn by actresses Gena Davis and Halle Berry, who claimed the trophy of best actress in a mini-series or movie for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.
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