Sutherland and 24 triumph at Emmys
Monday, 28 Aug 2006 19:50
Sutherland has had to suffer for his art
US counter-terrorist drama 24 has been named as the best drama series in the annual Emmy awards in Los Angeles, with star Kiefer Sutherland also picking up the best actor award.
The innovative real-time drama and Sutherland, who plays rogue agent Jack Bauer, had been nominated for the top awards for the last five years, but finally got the recognition it deserved last night in TV's equivalent of the Oscars.
24 received five Emmys in total on the night, but the big winner was arguably the West Wing, with Alan Alda's best supporting actor gong taking the defunct presidential drama series' total number of awards to 26, the joint highest in history.
There was a slight upturn for the books, however, when Tony Shalhoub was named as the best comedy actor for his portrayal of brilliant but obsessive compulsive detective Adrian Monk.
The award had been tipped to go to The 40-year-old Virgin star Steve Carell, but his show, the US version of hit Ricky Gervais project The Office, did receive the nod for best comedy.
A number of high-profile British actors also walked away with Emmys, with Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons receiving best actress and best supporting actor respectively for mini-series Elizabeth I.