53rd Annual Emmy Award Arrivals

The third time is a charm! The 53rd Annual Emmy Awards honoring excellence in television went off without a hitch after the third attempt was made by the CBS network and the Television Academy of Arts & Sciences. The original date of September 16, 2001 was cancelled due to the unfortunate tragedy of terrorist attacks on New York's Twin Towers and the Pentagon on Sept 11, which would later be rescheduled to October 7, 2001. However moments before the curtain was set to rise, producer Don Mischer, CBS head Les Moonves and Academy president Byrce Zabel announced in a joint press conference that the evening was off! Show host Ellen DeGeneres was even on stage practicing her monologue when she heard the news of U.S. forces attacking Osama Bin Laden's stronghold. Thanks guys, nice day you picked to assault the enemy!

The future of the telecast was uncertain and was announced for the third time as November 4th to be held at a much smaller venue, The Shubert Theater in Century City.

Security was rather extensive with police snipers posted on either side of the arrival area from vantage points, members of the media and guests as well as staff was subjected to a car search after waiting for over an hour in long lines. Once inside however the mood was rather somber with arrivals being wittled down to a select few. Photographers had to wait inside a Chinese restaurant for hours before taking one frame of any winners, however we were treated to lunch and dinner, please no more egg rolls!

In a tribute to those lives lost on Sept 11, 2001 Walter Cronkite opened the show with a taped message. Show host Ellen DeGeneres made the evening one to remember with hilarious one liners and brilliant jokes especially the one about the outfit she wore in one scene (A jab to Bjork's swan dress) being "business casual." A surprise appearance by Barbra Streisand closed the show with her song, "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Although most other celebratory parties had been cancelled, the Governor's Ball retitled "The Unity Dinner" went on as usual across the street at the Century Plaza Hotel. All in all the Emmys Awards was a success and Hollywood could breathe a sigh of relief that it could return to business as usual. But what about our future awards shows? Do we need to stay afraid of terrorist retaliation? I think Ellen DeGeneres said it best, "I feel I'm in a unique position as host because, think about it, what would bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?"

THE SOPRANOS troublemaking daughter Janice played by Aida Turturro, accompanied by her father Dominic	E! ENTERTAINMENT's Aisha Tyler
Looking cool in his shades was actor Alan Rosenberg	JUDGING AMY star Amy Brenneman reunited with her old NYPD BLUE pal Dennis Franz, the pair started on the show in the first season
Emmy nominee Amy Brenneman	Exuding her outer beauty was Amy Brenneman
Latin impresario Andy Garcia with his entire family	Fellow nominees Andy Garcia and Kelsey Grammer
Nominated for the Baseball biopic 61 was star Barry Pepper*	Showing his love for his wife was Barry Pepper
The Tall and the short of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND stars Brad Garrett and Doris Roberts	Emmy nominated husband and wife team of Bradley Whitford for THE WEST WING and Jane Kaczmarek for MALCOM IN THE MIDDLE
THE PRACTICE's Camryn Manheim gets chummy with Melina Kanakaredes of PROVIDENCE	Director Thomas Schlamme who is nominated for THE WEST WING saunters up to his bride actress Christine Lahti.
FRAISER costars David Hyde Pierce and Peri Gilpin have become old pros at this award thing	Dennis Franz and wife Joanie are greeted by a throng of press
THE SOPRANOS family boss "Junior" played with panache by Dominic Chianese	THE WEST WING's Dule Hill opted to bring his best gal, his mom
Matriarch of THE SOPRANO household was award wining actress Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano	Goran Visnjic of ER
Whose hiding behind those specs? Why its none other than Gregory Hines nominated for MR. BOJANGLES	Picking a neutral color for a somber evening was Oscar winner Holly Hunter
Sally Field who won for her stint on ER is the best of friends with nominee Holly Hunter	Jane Kaczmarek plays the unbalanced matriarch in Fox's offbeat comedy MALCOM IN THE MIDDLE
MALCOM IN THE MIDDLE star Jane Kaczmarek chats it up with Jimmy Glick, well actually its' Martin Short in a fat suit	FRAISER star Jane Leeves in her gold ensemble
Heating up the red carpet was the sumptuous Jessica Alba of Fox's DARK ANGEL	E! ENTERTAINMENT's fashion critic Joan Rivers prepares to once again insult the rich and famous
Nominee Kelsey Grammer and wife Camile tot the line for sitcom FRASIER	oh get a room!
SEX AND THE CITY's resident vamp Kim Cattrall.	Kristin Davis was also on hand to represent the HBO hit comedy SEX AND THE CITY
ER mainstay and all around stick in the mud Dr. Carrie Weaver played to the hilt by Laura Innes	Leah Remini the brash but beautiful gal from THE KING OF QUEENS
THE SOPRANOS obsessed therapist garnered a nomination for actress Lorraine Bracco	Greeting the media was Marg Helgenberger of the hit CBS drama CSI
Hiho from legendary television star Mary Tyler Moore	"I only wish there could be an Emmy in my hands right now."
No its not the Joker from Batman but television classic Mary Tyler Moore.	Exchanging facelift secrets was Joan Rivers and Mary Tyler Moore
A very somber stare from ER star Maura Tierney	WILL & GRACE nominee Megan Mullaly
Star of the NBC drama PROVIDENCE Melina Kanakaredes	DARK ANGEL lovebirds Michael Weatherly and Jessica Alba
EVERYBODY LOVE RAYMOND nominee Patricia Heaton	Going with the casual men's wear was FRAISER's resident smartass, Peri Gilpin
Making like his Frankenstein persona was Peter Boyle of the hit CBS sitcom EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND	Emmy nominee Peter MacNichol graciously acknowledges the media
Wearing the appropriate black attire was Rachel Griffiths of the HBO drama SIX FEET UNDER	Richard Schiff shows his support of his World Series pick
THE WEST WING's Richard Schiff cradles his wife actress Sheila Kelly	Hiding behind his shades was badboy Robert Downey Jr.
Despite all his "personal" problems Robert Downey Jr. continues to get support from the industry as being nominated for his work on ALLY MCBEAL	A thumbs up from nominee Rob Lowe with wife Cheryl
The laidback swagger of THE WEST WING star Rob & Cheryl Lowe	Nominee and WILL & GRACE star Sean Hayes escorts his female companion to what he hopes will be his second win
ONCE AND AGAIN star Sela Ward	Phenomenal actor Stanley Tucci opted to bring his pregnant sister to the Hollywood gala
Emmy award winner Tyne Daly one of the stars of JUDGING AMY brought along her mother for comfort.