Backstage at the 2002 Emmy Awards

Sunday, September 22, 2002

Backstage at the 54th Annual Emmy Awards, the night got off to a comic start with "Everybody Loves Raymond" actor Brad Garrett.

After his name was called for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, he thought, "There has been a grave mistake." The oversize actor added that "Everybody Loves Raymond" producers were originally hoping to find a small, scrappy actor like Danny DeVito to play his role on the hit CBS sitcom, but he won them over. When asked how he prepares, he joked, "I was with the circus for about 19 years."

His "Raymond" costar and winner for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series, Ray Romano, was suspicious of his first Emmy. "There's some trick behind this," he said, inspecting the trophy. As to his awards history, "I won half of a People's Choice award with Kelsey Grammer one time and something else for posture, I think."

When "Six Feet Under" creator Alan Ball headed backstage after his win as Outstanding Director for a Drama Series, he revealed the secret for making a great show. "Create something that you yourself would watch. When I've created for others, I've failed miserably."

After winning the first ever Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, Oprah Winfrey shared her own method for television success. "I have spent the last 16 years just talking to people," she said. "I stay connected to what real people are thinking and saying."

People were genuinely shocked when Michael Chiklis won Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for FX's "The Shield." He said that his first Emmy win was "a turnaround of life in a lot of ways" and mentioned the sacrifices his family has made so that he could pursue his acting career. As he talked with reporters, his wife and costars interrupted his answers to cheer him. Before he left the stage, the Greek actor lifted his statue and announced, "This is my big fat Greek Emmy, right here."

The events of Sept. 11 delayed the Emmys last year. This year, former New York City mayor Rudy Guliani was on hand to present the Governors Award to ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC for coming together to air "America: A Tribute to Heroes." Of the enthusiastic welcome he received from the Emmy audience, Guliani said, "My feeling was that the standing ovation was not for me personally, it was for the people of New York City."

"The Late Show with David Letterman" executive producer (and "Ed" creator) Rob Burnett also mentioned Sept. 11, saying of the first broadcast after the attack, "The feedback we have received from that show has been truly overwhelming." Ultimately, everything that happens on the late night CBS program is up to Letterman, Burnett admits. "There's a camera, there's a desk. We tell the cameraman to point the camera at the man behind the desk for one hour and we pick up these," he laughed, brandishing the Emmy statue for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series winner Jennifer Aniston arrived backstage with the rest of the "Friends" cast and crew after the NBC comedy won Outstanding Comedy Series for the first time as well.

"I think it was our time," Matt LeBlanc said of the award.

Aniston wasn't quite sure it was her time when Suzanne Pleshette paused for several seconds between her first and last name. "I thought, 'Maybe there's another Jennifer,'" she laughed.

Another NBC show racked up awards in the drama category. "The West Wing" won Outstanding Series, as Allison Janney, John Spencer and Stockard Channing all took home acting awards.

Channing was carrying two statuettes when she arrived backstage, having also won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for NBC's "The Matthew Shepard Story." The nine-time nominee said of her first Emmys, "I assumed I would smile and look gracious like I've done before, and I thought I was getting really good at it."

"West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin (who Channing called "the sexiest man in Hollywood" during her acceptance speech) was also less-than-cocky about his Emmy chances. "I thought 'Six Feet Under' would win -- I'm sure it was incredibly close," he admitted.

Although he was the only major cast member not nominated for an Emmy, Rob Lowe was on hand to cheer on his fellow castmates. "I am so proud to be part of a show like this," he said. The actor continues to send mixed messages about his future on the series. After discussing his desire to move on, he said directly to the show's producers Thomas Schlamme, John Wells and Sorkin, "I serve at your pleasure and continue to serve at your pleasure," a nod to an episode of "The West Wing" where all of the staff said the same words to fictional President Jed Bartlet.

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