53rd Primetime Emmy Awards


The 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, November 4, 2001, seven weeks later than originally scheduled. The ceremony was rescheduled twice from its original date of September 16 at the Shrine Auditorium because of the September 11, 2001 attacks that occurred five days prior to the event. It was also removed from its rescheduled date of October 7 again at the same venue as a result of the start of the War in Afghanistan. The event was then relocated to the smaller Shubert Theater. The Shubert had previously hosted the 1973 and 1976 ceremonies, and would be demolished in 2002. The ceremony was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres and was broadcast on CBS.
Barbra Streisand sang "You'll Never Walk Alone" in a surprise appearance at the close, in honor of the victims of the attacks.
Sex and the City became the first premium channel show to win Outstanding Comedy Series; this was its only major award. The NBC cult hit Freaks and Geeks accomplished a rare feat: though it only ran for one season, it was nominated in two different years for writing. The episode "Bowling" made Malcolm in the Middle just the second show, and first comedy, to have two different episodes win awards for directing and writing. The Defenders was the first show to do this in 1963 and 1965. Meanwhile, Frasier, now in its eighth season, earned its final Outstanding Comedy Series nomination after eight consecutive nominations including five consecutive wins.
For his portrayal of John Cage in Ally McBeal, Peter MacNicol won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, the first in this category for Fox and the first in this category for any show outside the Big Three television networks.
In the drama field, The West Wing won Outstanding Drama Series for its second straight year and led all shows with four major awards on the night. The Sopranos led all shows with 15 major nominations and was second to The West Wing with three major wins.
Mike Nichols' win made him the ninth person to become an EGOT winner.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold:
, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series winner
, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series winner
, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winner
, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winner
, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie winner
, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie winner
, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series winner
, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series winner
, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series winner
, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series winner
, Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program winner

Programs

Outstanding Comedy SeriesOutstanding Drama Series

  • Sex and the City,
  • * Everybody Loves Raymond,
  • * Frasier,
  • * Malcolm in the Middle,
  • * Will & Grace,
  • The West Wing,
  • * ER,
  • * Law & Order,
  • * The Practice,
  • * The Sopranos,
    • Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy SeriesOutstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special
  • Late Show with David Letterman,
  • * The Chris Rock Show,
  • * The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,
  • * Politically Incorrect,
  • * Saturday Night Live,
  • Cirque du Soleil: Dralion,
  • * The 73rd Annual Academy Awards,
  • * ',
  • * Ellen DeGeneres: The Beginning,
  • * Saturday Night Live: Presidential Bash 2000,
    • Outstanding Made for Television MovieOutstanding Miniseries
  • Wit,
  • * 61*,
  • * Conspiracy,
  • * ',
  • * Laughter on the 23rd Floor,
  • ,
  • * Further Tales of the City,
  • * Hornblower: Mutiny,
  • * ,
  • * Nuremberg,

    • Acting

    Lead performances

    Supporting performances

    Guest performances

    Directing

    Writing

    Most major nominations

    ;By network
    ;By program
    ;By network
    ;By program
    ;Notes

    In Memoriam