Emmy Highlights

ByABC News
September 11, 2000, 3:01 PM

September 11 -- Thanks to self-involved host Garry Shandling and his penchant for backstage skits, this year's Emmys resembled nothing more than a long episode of Shandling's defunct faux HBO talk show, The Larry Sanders Show.

While some of those skits were truly funny Shandling's reported real-life girlfriend, Calista Flockhart, dissed the hair-obsessed comedian for hitting on her, and David Duchovny popped up as a bathroom attendant to continue his groin-related joke string with Shandling other bits fell flat on their face. That happened most notably when a leering Shandling (doing his best Bill Maher impersonation) prompted the trophy girl to read a cue card in his place and then made fun of her when she tripped over the word "comedian."

Other highlights (and lowlights) of the 52nd Annual Emmy Awards:

Most memorable speeches:Producer Max Mutchnick (Outstanding Comedy Series, Will & Grace): "She [the Emmy] is so beautiful, and as a gay man, I cannot believe that I'm saying this, but I think I've finally met a girl I want to sleep with."

James Gandolfini (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, The Sopranos): "I can't really explain this, except that I think the Academy has an affinity for slightly overweight bald men excuse me, Mr. Franz."

Series creator-writer Aaron Sorkin (Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, The West Wing): "Well, there's going to be no living with me now."

Jack Lemmon (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, Tuesdays With Morrie): "Wrap it up? I'd like to thank those people too."

Producer Rob Burnett (Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series, Late Show With David Letterman): "David, if you're watching at home, it looks like the fake heart surgery paid off."

Sean Hayes (Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Will & Grace): "David Hyde Pierce, thank you for single-handedly nominating me last year."

Best reactions:Halle Berry (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge): "It's sort of mixed emotions. I'm a little bit sad for the end of my Dorothy Dandridge journey." When asked about her Emmy calm in comparison to her sobbing when she won for the same role at the Golden Globes, she said, "I was determined to be more dignified this time and not break down on national television!"