'SOPRANOS' FIND EMMYS A GANGSTERS' PARADISE.

Byline: DAVID KRONKE

Television Writer

"The Sopranos" went out on a triumphant note, garroting the competition to win its second Outstanding Drama Series Emmy at the 59th annual Emmy Awards on Sunday evening at the Shrine Auditorium.

In accepting the prize, series creator David Chase riffed off Sally Field's acceptance speech earlier in the evening. Field paid tribute to mothers, before taking on a political and profane edge. The Fox network censored Field's acceptance speech, cutting her off after she declared, "If mothers ran the world ..."

Chase's take took a similar bent: "Gangsters are out there taking their kids to college and putting food on their families' tables.

"Hell, let's face it, if this world was run by gangsters ..."

He paused.

"Well, probably not."

"The Sopranos" also won trophies for Chase's scripting and Alan Taylor's direction. The cast also received a standing ovation mid-ceremony during a tribute to the series featuring the cast of the Broadway musical "Jersey Boys."

The critically admired but low-rated sitcom "30 Rock" was named Best Comedy Series. Among others, creator/star Tina Fey thanked "our dozens and dozens of viewers."

Fey and her cast and crew probably enjoyed the moment while it lasted, understanding that an Emmy win is no guarantee for better ratings: Despite winning the Comedy Series Emmy in 2005, "Arrested Development" never found a large audience and was canceled after 2 1/2 seasons.

America Ferrera won the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Comedy for "Ugly Betty." In accepting, she declared, "The award is being able to wake up tomorrow and go to work" with her fellow cast members. "Ugly Betty" also won an Emmy for Richard Shepard's direction.

The evening's biggest surprise came in the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, which went to dark-horse nominee Ricky Gervais for "Extras."

Gervais wasn't on hand to accept the trophy, so presenters Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert jokingly gave it to their friend Steve Carell, who was nominated for "The Office."

James Spader's third Emmy win, for Lead Actor in a Drama for "Boston Public," was also unexpected, as he beat out favorite James Gandolfini of the "The Sopranos." Spader acknowledged the surprise by saying, "I feel like I just stole a pile of money from the mob."

For the first time, the ceremony was presented in the round, which left a large portion of the audience with lousy views of only the backside of the action. During his acceptance speech, Spader, one of those with a seat behind the presenters, announced, "I've been to thousands and thousands of concerts in my life, and I can tell you these are the worst seats I've ever had."

Al Gore added an Emmy to his Best Documentary Oscar, winning a trophy for Creative Achievement in Interactive Television for the cable network he co-founded, Current TV.

Katherine Heigl -- who minutes earlier had to correct the announcer on the pronunciation of her last name (it's a hard "G") -- had the last laugh, winning her first Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for "Grey's Anatomy." "My own mother told me I didn't have a shot in hell of winning tonight," she quipped, dedicating the trophy to her mom nonetheless.

Jaime Pressly won her first Emmy in two tries for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for "My Name is Earl." Accepting the trophy on behalf of her family and professional support team, she said, "Here's to our little engine that could that finally did."

Terry O'Quinn won his first Emmy for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for "Lost." Jeremy Piven won his second Emmy for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for "Entourage."

"The Office's" Greg Daniels won the Writing for a Comedy Emmy.

AMC's "Broken Trail" was named Outstanding Miniseries and also took Emmys for Lead Actor and Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie, as Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church, respectively, each won their first Emmy. Duvall quickly won his second for executive-producing the series.

Helen Mirren won her fourth Emmy for Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for "Prime Suspect: The Final Act," and in the process became the first awards-show winner to implore the music to wrap up her speech -- "I'm going on and on," she scolded. "Prime Suspect" also took home trophies for Philip Martin's direction and Frank Keasy's script.

Judy Davis was named Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for "The Starter Wife." "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" won the Emmy for Outstanding Made-for-Television Movie.

"Tony Bennett: An American Classic" was declared Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series, with Bennett adding a second Emmy to his mantel for his performance and Rob Marshall winning for his direction. "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" was named Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" won the Emmy for Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Show.

"The Amazing Race" won its fifth consecutive Emmy for Reality Competition Program.

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Photo:

(1 -- color) Sally Field won an Emmy on Sunday night for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for her role on "Brother and Sisters."

(2 -- color) The cast of the critically admired but low-rated sitcom "30 Rock" celebrates its win for Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on Sunday.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

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