Live: The Emmy Awards

Live: The Emmy Awards

Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Sunday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. ET to discuss the Emmy Awards live as the stars come out and the winners are announced.

The transcript follows.

De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.

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washingtonpost.com: Who should win an Emmy? Vote for your favorites here. (washingtonpost.com)

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Lisa de Moraes: It's Emmy time again! This year WaPo Team TV lets you vote your picks for the major categories including best comedy, drama, movie and miniseries, and all the glam acting categories, as well as directing and writing. And this year you can also vote for Best Dressed, Worst Dressed, Best Acceptance Speech, Worst Acceptance Speech and Best Emmy Moment -- or something like that. Anyway we'll put that up later, after we've heard most of the acceptance speeches and Emmy Moments and post results on Friday's chat. Meanwhile, for those of you with designated drivers and intent on playing a Primetime Emmy Drinking Game, be advised people in the TV academy, unlike people in the music industry, tend not to give Thank God for My Incredible Talent acceptance speeches. TV people are polytheistic group. So if you're going to down a shot every time someone thanks god, you are going to go home thirsty. We have our own version of the Primetime Tmmy Drinking Game -- please drink responsibly -- which also accepts any thanking of: Disney honcho Robert Iger, Fox bigwig Peter Chernin, CBS and CW's chief Leslie Moonves, and NBC's numero uno Jeff Zucker, Time Warner's topper Jeff Bewkes (they have TNT, TBS, HBO, etc).....

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Anonymous: Pookie, I miss Joan Rivers on the red carpet. Everyone is too frigging nice. Have I become too cynical?

Lisa de Moraes: Me too!Sorry, I'm in shock because E! Chick just asked Nicolette Sheridan what is her favorite body part. God I love celebrity suck-up journalism... Bring back crazy Joan!

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: Lisa -- where are you? I actually liked Love's dress (I don't like her necessarily, but I was impressed by the dress). Not too sure about some of the other dresses I've seen.

Lisa de Moraes: I love Carolyn Herrera but on her it looked like a little girl's sundress. How does "Love" do that?

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Rockville, Md.: Has your hatred for Tina Fey subsided?

Lisa de Moraes: Fey was asked on the red carpet if she would be pals with Sarah Palin. Really what would we do without celebrity journalism...?

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busdrivermike: "Mad Men" is paint that never dries -- but it is a nice color.

Lisa de Moraes: Awful pretty! I'm not sure what you mean in re paint that never dries, though, somehow it doens't sound good. Honestly half the time I'm watching the clothes. In Los Angeles, a lot of the shops on Rodeo Drive have "Mad Men"-esque clothes in their windows...

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Lisa de Moraes: My Team TV colleague Emily says: Someone needs to tell Lisa Rinna that Steve Carell isn't always funny...during "Hi, how are you, you look great" pleasantries, she burst into a fit of laughter....

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: By the way -- I wanted to add that your chat is the only reason I'm watching E! and the actual Emmy show. You should get some kind of a payment for increasing the viewership by at least one.

Lisa de Moraes: Hooray! (Are you a nielsen home? Otherwise, not so much). Glenn Close: It's the Golden Age of Television" she says to Ryan Seacrest. He thinks she's talking about him.. David Boreanaz tells E! they need a Sock Cam -- this is similar to the Victoria Secret Fashion Show Hienie Cam -- and flashes his Paul Smith socks....

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Cleveland: I think Michael C. Hall deserves the Emmy for best actor for his role "Dexter" -- it's a great show, and he's brilliant as the "good guy" serial killer. What do you think?

Lisa de Moraes: I agree but he's got very stiff competition this year: James Spader. Spader has won every year since '04...can't explain it but it's true...

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Lisa de Moraes:
OMG red carpet moment: The E! "Glamastrator" is drawing yallow lines all over all over Vanessa Williams and America Ferrera while he explains their dress strategy, just like on Monday Night Football.. the best innovation in red -carpet coverage in decades..

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Lisa de Moraes: Meanwhile, Emily Sez over at TV Guide Channel Lisa Rinna was shocked Roses Byrne of "Damages" has an accent. When she explains she's from Australia Lisa brags "I know where that is!"

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Scary Bow: What's with the bow on Eva's dress? That could scare small children.

Lisa de Moraes: Heck, forget small children -- I've been covering trophy shows for year and that outfit frightened me....Sean Puff Diddy Daddy is thanking god for his ABC TV movie was so wonderful. You can start your drinking game now...

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Washington: Who are your picks for tonight?

Lisa de Moraes: You'll be sorry you asked. This is my list of who I think will win. Based entirely on nothing:
best drama: Mad Men
best comedy: 30 Rock
best drama actor: James Spader
best drama actress: Glenn Close
best actor comedy: Alec Baldwin
best actress comedy: America Ferrera
best supporting actor drama: Ted Danson
best supporting actress drama: Chandra Wilson
best supporting actor comedy: Jeremy Piven
best supporting actress comedy: Amy Poehler
best reality host: Tom Bergeron
best reality comeptition: Amazing Race
best variety music or comedy series: Daily Show
best made for TV movie: Recount
best miniseries: John Adams
best actorin a miniseries: Paul Giamatti
best actress miniseries: Felicia Rashad

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Pookie: Drinking game: Do a shot every time someone congratulates Ryan Seacrest on being nominated. What do you think?

Lisa de Moraes: Love it! Add it!
Meanwhile Brad Garrett has some petite woman he introduced as "Lisa" -- no last name on his arm. He just told Ryan Seacrests they met at a "Taliban mixer." I'm guessing she's already regretting this date, even if she is an aspiring actress...

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Washington: I don't much care for Kathy Griffin's gold dress, but I love her show. Will she be a presenter tonight?

Lisa de Moraes: I can't remember. But, interestintgly, I believe Katherine Heigl is not, and this Emmy show is on ABC, home of "Grey's Anatomy." Yes, they are that annoyed at her crack about not submitting herself for nomination because she wasn't given material by the writers this year that she felt merited submitting herself for nomination. And someone has suggested Garrett showed up with an escort. That would explain the no last name thing.. Though he said he did not meet her online...

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Washington: If Eva Longria wasn't pregnant, wouldn't she wear a tighter-fitting dress to stop the rumors?

Lisa de Moraes: I have no explanation for Eva Longoria's dress. I will be having nightmares about it tonight...

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anniek: This was Monk's worst season, so they don't deserve zip.

Lisa de Moraes: You mean Tony S. should not win -- again?

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Lisa de Moraes: I think we already have a winner for Most Awkward Emmy Moment -- even if that is not going to be one of our categories. Joey Fatone asked Kristin Chenoweth who she would like to bring back from the dead. Her response: Jon Benet Ramsey. Yes, Joey Fatone was speechless. On the other hand, Charlie Gibson probably would have been left speechless...

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Cleveland: I have to admit I also like James Spader in his "Boston Legal" character, but hasn't he gained some noticeable weight through the years? Is he eating his Emmys?

Lisa de Moraes:
He had gained so much weight when he started this role year ago.. I've stopped mourning and come to accept and embrace the weight...
Meanwhile, E! Glamastrator just drew yellow circle around the aluminum foil bow on Eva Longoria's chest. He's calling it a "flapper" look but I think she's trying to contact aliens... Over at TV Guide, Emily Sez, Lisa Rinna nearly passed out when Jon Hamm kissed her hand...which seems like a reasonable reaction..

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Pookie-burgh: I'd love to see celebs on the red carpet be asked about the U.S. bailout plan for troubled financial houses. Don't you think Paris Hilton might have something trenchant to add?

Lisa de Moraes: Hahahahahaha...oh, you're serious. So far the only hint of anything current event-ish I've seen is Tom Hanks (he's a producer of "John Adams" telling E! viewers to register to vote. Yeah, like that's gonna happen....

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"Grey's": I sure hope Chandra Wilson wins -- she's the best thing about that show. The fact that Katherine Heigl got an Emmy before Chandra is a shame. But then, Spader has three and Hugh Laurie has none ... those Emmy voters are odd.

Lisa de Moraes: It's really about what episode they send to be considered. Spader always sends a great scenery chewing episode -- it's the nature of the writing on that series. But I hear Hugh Laurie finally got the hang of the game, and has sent a scenery-chewer-- this may be his year. Meanwhile E! Chick just asked Wayne Brady "did somebody dress you or do you dress yourself?" I wish the red carpet shows would never end. (I can report here that Wayne Brady dresses himself)....

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Party animal: Do you get to attend any of the posh after-parties following the Emmy broadcast, or are you on deadline?

Lisa de Moraes: I am party bound after this is over. Heading to HBO bash at Pacific Design Center...

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Reston, Va.: Where was the love for that awesome, short-lived series "Kidnapped" with Timothy Hutton and Dana Delaney? Now that was a show worth watching ... way better than half of the Emmy noms tonight, though I am happy to see the brilliant but twisted "Dexter," in the mix.

Lisa de Moraes: Well, it's not eligible since it was last year. But I take your point. Don't you think this is a better batch of nominees this year than usual? Basic cable made a lot of inroads this year -- first ever noms for best series: Mad Men and Damages...

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Lisa de Moraes: Show has started: Why is Oprah talking like The Queen? Is this her new thing this season? Hey, it only took her 3 minutes to make this show about her. That's gotta be a record..

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Arlington, Va.: Sit up straight and shut up. Queen O is speaking.

Lisa de Moraes: No kidding in re the Queen thing...Five hosts is too many hosts, especially when they're reality series hosts. They're dying on stage except for brief moment when Howie Mandel says their lousy performance is like Sarah Palin's Bridge to Nowhere. Crowd loves it. And Heidi Klum strips -- that was good too...

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San Diego: Hmmm ... this opening with the five reality TV hosts is awkward. Is it supposed to be? Why are Tom B. and Heidi Klum looking angry?

Lisa de Moraes: Bergeron staring at ceililng -- not not good TV.. amusing.
Supporting actor in a comedy series: Jeremy Piven in Entourage... Loved his acceptance speech.

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The South: OMG, this is awful. I can't believe I actually was looking forward to the Emmys. What are those reality hosts doing up there? Is anyone still watching after all of that blather?

Lisa de Moraes: That was, without a doubt, the most painful Emmy opening -- no, let's get real -- worst opening in the history of trophy shows.

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Jeremy Piven again?: It's like they are still making up for that first year where he was totally robbed. I would have given it to Neil Patrick Harris.

Lisa de Moraes: I too am Pivened out. Can't figure why TV Academy shows no love to Nail Patrick Harris. Oh wait. How I Met Your Mother is on CBS. Entourage is on HBO. That explains it...

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California: Proof that "reality programming" is really scripted! These reality host people were painfully boring with no writers...

Lisa de Moraes: Good point. That was so painful... And why are they showing so uch of "Seinfeld"? This show is going to run about five hours long...

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San Diego: I nominate Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host next year.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm with you... Julia Louis Dreyfus would be a better host too. Loved her line about having enjoyed being on a show about the "gratuitious indulgence of self gratification, but enough about the Emmys" ... Jean Smart wins for best supporting actress in a comedy series. Already I think I'm batting 0...

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Richmond, Va.: The reality hosts make me long for Rob Lowe and Snow White.

Lisa de Moraes: Could not have said it better. And, can we just decide that none of tonight's reality-series hosts deserves an Emmy for best reality competition series after their pitiful openining....

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Piven speech?: Did Jeremy Piven just imply to an audience of TV people that doing plays is better than doing TV? Biting the hand that feeds you?

Lisa de Moraes: I think he did but, really, it was hard to figure...

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Harftord, Conn.: Jean Smart?!

Lisa de Moraes: Hey. She's a great comic. And, would also have been a better Emmy show host than Heidi Klum....

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Priorities, sorry: Thanks for doing this chat. Now I can get the snark about the show while watching football. I would watch the Emmys, but my 'Boys are playing.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm here to serve...

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Anonymous: Can we talk about Tina Fey more, generate some buzz? I think NBC is in the crapper, but even they won't continue to broadcast a show with ratings this bad another season.

Lisa de Moraes: No, sadly I cannot join in the hate. "30 Rock" is growing on me....

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Bethesda, Md.: Noooo! James Spader, again? What's up with that?! I hope Hugh Laurie gets it; he so deserves it.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm just playing the odds on that one...

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Oprah, Girlfriend: First off, that dress is not all that flatering. I'd have a word with your stylist. Secondly, this is the Emmys not a United Nations forum on the benefits of televison.

Lisa de Moraes: lol....you have to admit, her Queen Talk was pretty fun, though... We can get a lot of mileage out of that...

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Lisa de Moraes: Did Jeff Probst just say Lucille Ball was a precursor to Heidi Klum?

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California: Jean Smart vs. Holland Taylor. I don't care what they say -- Holland Taylor is the most underrecognized, funniest character actress on TV. And "Two and a Half Men" is the funniest show.

Lisa de Moraes: Ah, but it's on CBS. So no love.. Zeljko Ivanek on "Damages" just took suporting actor drama Emmy? Geesh... Can Ricky Gervais need be next year's Emmy host? Why didn't they stsart the trophy show with him?

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Re: Hosts: Let's look on the bright side -- at least it isn't Jimmy Fallon.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, you're right. Accentuate the positive...Drat. Just when I was feeling better, the director of the Academy Awards (zzzzzzzzzzz) beats Colbert Report and Daily Show and SNL? Paleeze...

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Caracas, Venezuela: Bless you! We are without a live feed to the Emmys this year -- I always watch them -- but I think your play-by-play is better than the real thing. Love it! Love you!

Lisa de Moraes: I'm here to serve... What's on in Venezuela?

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Washington: Ricky Gervais is my favorite person in the world right now. He almost wiped out the memory of that opening.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, Ricky Gervais has given me hope this hideous reality-hosted show might be salvaged. So far the winners and presenters are doing the heavy lifting. We're starting a Ricky Gervais for Host '09 campaign now. We'll have a petition on Friday's chat. Meanwhile, WaPo Team TV had made an executive decision and we are going to vote off the reality series hosts, one by one. Send in your votes here as to who you think needs to be the first to go....

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Washington: How have there only been three awards so far? This show is never going to end!

Lisa de Moraes: Gervais alone added 5 minutes to the show.. But I'm guessing they will be the five best minutes of this show at this rate...

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Arlington, Va.: I have to say that as much as I'd like to snark, Ivanek's win for damages is a nice one. He's been a great character actor forever and ever and it's nice to see him get recognized.

Lisa de Moraes: Great character actor -- not sure this role his best work. Conan, presenter for supporting actress, great for bringing up last year's winner Katherine Heigl saying the material she got for her "Grey's" role this year was not up to par. Dianne Wiest won for In Treatment.
Are you too surprised at Colbert's drank-the-Koolaid acceptance speech for best writing for a variety, music or comedy program?

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Richmond, Va.: Double elimination: Probst and Mandel, for making fun of the poor accountants. Bad form!

Lisa de Moraes: Nah. They're stuck doing that.. We'll give them a second chance...
Meanwhile, I hope you all know how Steve Martin rocks with his "commemorative" award to Tommy Smothers.. Smothers got pretty much the same response at the TV Critics Awards in July. It's about time the academy did right by him.

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Atlanta: Ricky Gervais actually had my face hurting from laughter. It's probably premature to say this, but at 38 minutes in, that's probably the best moment of the night.

Lisa de Moraes: I agreed until right now with Tommy Smothers' acceptance speech. And, of course, we'd have to put the endless Tina Fey Martin Scorsese American Express/Time Share right up there at the top of this year's best Emmy moments too -- I'd happily agree to watch that ad 13 more times if they'd lose Jeff Probst right now...

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Las Vegas: I love Piven, but Neil Patrick Harris should have won this year. And if Seacrest wins for best reality host, a pox on all the Emmy voters who picked him! Is that too snarky, dear Goddess of all that's television?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm rooting for Tom Bergeron. He deserves it, if only because he had to deal with a chick fainting on his show. I don't think even the great Johnny Carson even had to handle that one... But Howie Mandel is growing on me; he's the only thing salvageable from this whole five-host debacle..

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Atlanta: Smothers's acceptance speech rocked!

Lisa de Moraes: You betcha... OMG Josh Groban! This just gets worse/better and worse/better..

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Washington: I didn't get a chance to contribute to Friday's chat, so I wanted to add a couple comments here. One -- "Saturday Night Live" will have shows on Thursdays in October during the "30 Rock" time slot, so there will be plenty of opportunities for Tina Fey cross-promotion. Two -- somebody questioned the realism of the hot blonde CIA chicks on "Fringe" and "Chuck," to which I say: Valerie Plame.

Lisa de Moraes: Better late than never...Hope Ed McMahon is getting paid enough for his appearance during this endless musical bit to help pay his mortgage...

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Washington: I never have been disappointed by Steve Martin.

Lisa de Moraes: Are you saying that because you were this time?

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Groban Groan: I didn't think it was possible to feel sorry for Josh Groban ... yet I do.

Lisa de Moraes: Me too. And yet, he seemed to be having fun. Alec Baldwin is wasted on best actress miniseries presenting. Laura Linney wins for "John Adams" and it's her third win -- she won for guesting acting on "Frasier" and in the made-for "WIld Iris"...Makes about the 8th political comment of the night, saying working on this projectmakes her thankful for the community organizers who helped form our country." I'm enjoying thinking about the ABC standards people dealing with this show...

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Arlington, Va.: I really hate that they aren't doing the close-up of the nominees faces when they announce the winners. Is this because of Katherine Hiegl dropping the S-bomb last year?

Lisa de Moraes: You read my mind. Only when Heigl did that it created one of the most interesting case studies ever for the TV Decency Police, since you did not hear her, you just saw her lips. If someone mouths one of the George Carlin Memorial Dirty Words, but children can't hear it, should the FCC slap the stations with fines? Serious students of TV live for moments like that..

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Re: Steve Martin: No, I am saying it because I am amazed that in 30 years of seeing him on TV and movies that he never has disappointed me.

Lisa de Moraes: Phew!
"Laugh In" really really does not work in 2008. It's my new pick for Most Awkward -- and Longest -- Emmy Moment.
" Daily Show" wins best Variety, Music or Comedy Series again. Comedy Central is doing well tonight. Jon Stewart is too kind giving props to "Laugh In" when he picks up his trophy and unlike Colbert, does not give a totally drunk-the-Koolaid acceptance speech.
Keidi Klum just called the Fox show "The Bones." She's gone!

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Washington: Donald Trump paid Ed McMahon's mortgage. Maybe this gig could get him some furniture.

Lisa de Moraes: Barry Sonnenfeld just won for best directing for a comedy series, "Pushing Daisies." The episode he submitted was the first episode, which was called the "Pie-lette." Get it -- it's about a pie maker?

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Chicago: I wanted to love these Emmys. Why am I not loving it? Can we bring Jon Hamm on?

Lisa de Moraes: The reality show hosts keep stepping all over it. And "Laugh In" pretty much killed any buzz it had going on.
Best writing in a comedy series Emmy to Tina Fey. Now we're getting somewhere. On the other hand, her acceptance speech -- not so much. Liked her better in the AmEx ad...

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Steve Martin: Even though his speech was old fashioned, comedy wise it didn't disapoint. It was a breath of fresh air. Steve Martin's last performance on "Saturday Night Live" was totally disappointing, however. "Saturday Night Live" mius Sarah Palin is really horrible.

Lisa de Moraes: I would amend that. "SNL" without election year is really horrible. "SNL's" political skits can't be beat...

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Atlanta: Tommy Smothers' speech was great -- that show helped transform me (13 or so at the time) into the pinko liberal I am today.

Lisa de Moraes: Um, congratulations? I'm trying hard not to think about how a show like the Smothers Bros.'s could never ever ever make it onto broadcast TV today. Yes, CBS killed it and quickly....

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Washington: Man, I love Tina Fey. I wonder what was going through her head when she accepted her award from Lauren Conrad, who truly deserves to be there and is the awesomest actress eva!

Lisa de Moraes: THAT's the acceptance speech I wanted to hear...

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Hmmm...: What are your thoughts about the Emmys this year given that we only had half a year of TV because of the writers' strike?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm thinking Kiera Knightly dressed up as The Duchess should be hosting this year's show... oh, sorry, I was daydreaming. TV Academy members don't actually vote on a body of work over a season. They vote on a very limited number of episodes voted for submission. So I'm guessing it did not matter much.
You know what's wrong with this Emmy show? Every time someone get a good head of steam going, someone else -- usually Heidi Klum -- comes in and pours cold water on it. Like the TV Academy prez coming in and killing Martin Sheen's rousing 'get out the vote' speech from set of "West Wing" just now...

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Richmond, Va.: Lisa, is it me, or is this -- overall -- one of the worst Emmy shows ever? Blather-to-real-funny/substantive/winner ratio is thinner than the new "90210" actresses. Please tell me it will get better. Will it? Pretty please. ... (Or tell me it'll continue to be really bad, then at least I'll lower my expectations.) Thanks. Yawn...

Lisa de Moraes: Christina Appelgate moment just happening now is another great case on point. Poignant because of her personal issues, which her co-presenter Christian Slater (starring in NBC's new "My Own Worst Enemy" drama this fall which critics have yet to see a minute of) I think was referencing, but then she killed the mood with her "gonna kill you in the ratings"
"Recount" just won best TV movie. "Recount" is this year's most nominated TV movie with 11 nominations, which is not too far behind the two most nominated TV movies ever -- those two "Eleanor & Franklin" flicks in the mid '70s...

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Who is more likely to win: an Emmy, David Caruso or Lauren Conrad?

Lisa de Moraes: David Caruso never gonna happen. Lauren Conrad -- best costume?

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Arlington, Va.: I thought Tina Fey did fine. She can't be on 100 percent of the time, and looked geniunely surprised that she won. I hear you on "Laugh-In" though. P.U. I feel bad for Lily Tomlin.

Lisa de Moraes: FOr what she's paid, yes I want her to be on 100 percent of the time...

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Politics: Martin Sheen and "The West Wing"? There is going to be politics all through this show, isn't there? We are not going to be able to escape until after the election, are we?

Lisa de Moraes: Oh look the ghost of "CSI" present and future! And yes, it is shaping up to be a "political show" -- but otherwise I this show would have no pulse..
Speaking thereof, how about Colbert's "America needs a prune speech.
Wow! Guy picking up "John Adam" Emmy for best writing in a miniseries just got censored by ABC in a big way. He said the HBO project was about "a period in our history when articulate men articulated complex thoughts in complete sentences. They used words.." and then ABC cut to "Who will take home the Emmy for best reality competition series?" plug... Won't it be fun to see what ABC has to say about this tomorrow?

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Washington: Lisa, did they just censor the guy who directed John Adams?

Lisa de Moraes: You betcha! I love live TV... Can't wait to hear what ABC says tomorrow. I'll let you know what it was he said...

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Washington: I was dreading Josh Groban but was impressed by what a good mimic he was -- he didn't just singing in the "voice" of those songs, he pretty much nailed Don Pardo et al in the "Names of the Hosts" bridge.

Lisa de Moraes: Okay okay. I admit it. He was good in a thankless job...

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Richmond, Va.: Why'd the camera move away when Colbert brought out the bag of prunes?

Lisa de Moraes: Another odd bit of censoring....

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Atlanta: Best Writing for a Mini-Series: When the Emmys runs long, you're going to get cut when we know you're going to get political.

Lisa de Moraes: "We?" Do you work for ABC?

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*sigh*: Jon Stewart is so short. I mean, so short. It may be his only flaw.

Lisa de Moraes: I take it you are at least 5'6"? Yes,he's short...

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Mmm...: I was going to drink whenever somebody mentioned Hurricane Ike or prayed for people who had suffered from it ... I haven't had a drop of drink and I am thirsty. Maybe I should choose "vote" instead.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, tonight's better drinking game... Oh gosh, "Amazing Race" just won for best reality competition series. What a shocker.. Love Rickle's line "This crap got me no place."

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Washington: Do they want people to stop watching? They just went to commercial announcing "still ahead, Kathy Griffin and Don Rickles..."

Lisa de Moraes: Hey -- Rickles deserves respect..
Sally Field announcing best miniseries. "Broken Trail" won this race last year... This year "John Adams" which I think is now up to about 55 wins...

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Too Young?: I still have no idea who Don Rickles is.

Lisa de Moraes: Ooooh you are sooooo young! What is this, cheaper than a face lift? Okay, I'll play along -- ask your grandmother! (that's Don Rickles humor, pookie)... okay, now back to Emmys.Tom Hanks, picking up best miniseries win for "John Adams" just noted that the election between Jeffersion and Adams was filled with "innuendo and lies" adding "how great we've come so far since then." Why is that comforting?

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Finally: Kathy and Don created a spontaneous, humorous moment. They never will be invited back.

Lisa de Moraes: Wish you weren't right, but you absolutely are, at least in re Don Rickles. Ditto Tom Smothers...

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Chicago: Okay, I get all the reality TV backlash. But in my humble opinion, there's a vast difference between open-the-suitcase-for-money shows and "Amazing Race"/"Project Runway" kind of shows. It's the same spectrum of, like, "Lost" to "CSI: Miami."

Lisa de Moraes: um.. which is which? Oops. Spoke too soon. Don Rickles is back, winning for best individual performance in a variety or music program. "It's a mistake," he says. I love Rickles.

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Washington: Rickles gave the biggest laughs so far -- with proper acknowledgment to the teleprompter.

Lisa de Moraes: You're right...this show really needed him..

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Moral Dilemna: Do I switch over to "Entourage" for the next 26 minutes?

Lisa de Moraes: Good grief no. You're in this deep, you might as well slug it out with the rest of us. Catch up in the "vote" drinking game -- you'll love the last hour!

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Jefferson/Adams: He was being sarcastic!

Lisa de Moraes: And I was being facetious....Meanwhile, Jon Stewart clapped harder for Rickles than he has for his own shows' wins...and did we all love Neil Patrick Harris saying "Thanks to Howie Mandel's prattling, our bit has been cut"?
"House" wins for best drama directing..

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Rickles: I feel like a hockey puck for rooting for Colbert -- good for Don Rickles!

Lisa de Moraes: I agree..how odd 80-something Rickles is this year's Emmy breath of fresh air..And "Mad Men's" pilot episode wins for best writing in a drama series, scrapping "The Wire's" only Emmy hope in its final season....

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: You've got to be kidding me. Heidi Klum tortures me with her awfulness. Why aren't they showing more dresses? At least those are interesting.

Lisa de Moraes: Wait -- I thought we voted her off the island. Why is she still here? I knew the reality hosts as Emmy host thing was going to be bad, but this re-define train wreck TV.

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Fairfax, Va.: Where did Kathy Griffin get all that hair? Don Rickels is totally stealing this show

Lisa de Moraes: Extensions, pookie, extensions...ooh, here comes that AmEx ad. Thank goodness for the ad breaks...

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Boston: They should have gotten Barack Obama to host ... that really would have been a hit with the crowd.

Lisa de Moraes: Ooh -- snap!

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Panama City, Fla.: This "TV rooms" concept must be the most disorganized, difficult and uselessly expensive awards concept ever. Apparently Hollywood is not vested in Merrill Lynch or Lehman Brothers.

Lisa de Moraes: It's a mess. Is this a celebration of reality TV, or a celebration of ancient TV series that don't work when you try to bring them back tonight? Even "Seinfeld" looked dusty and tired.. Paul Giamatti just won "John Adams's" 235 Emmy of the night.. says I'm living proof anybody can play the president" and then repeats it -- in case we didn't get it the first time around... thanks.

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Fairfax, Va.: Howie making fun of the applause (what little there was) ... he's growing on me.

Lisa de Moraes: He's the only reality host there's any hope for tonight. Meanwhile, Alec Baldwin just won best comedy series actor and called Tina Fay the Elaine May of her generation... I know, you're too young. Ask your grandmother.

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Lisa de Moraes: Glenn Close takes Emmy for lead actress in a drama series and gives her "complicated powerful mature women are sexy and high entertainment" speech. She also won Emmy in '95 for "Serving in Silence." Why are they playing "Whiter Shade of Pale" while showing all of this year's dead people? This is the first year the in memorium bit did not make me sadder than I already was watching the Emmys...

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Snark, hmmm, two thumbs up: Snark: When the president of TV-dom followed Martin Sheen and said "nothing connects us like TV" my evil voice said "um, ever heard of the Internet?" Hmmm: Christina Applegate just had breast cancer surgery ... could the audience have been a little more supportive? (I thought she looked great, by the way.) Two thumbs: I'm glad "Recount" won something, and I thought the producer (?) who accepted the award deserves raves for the classiest brown dress ever on the red carpet. Nice to see something different, and it was very flattering on her.

Lisa de Moraes: Brown is a very hard color to pull off. thank you for mentioning it.

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Washington: Is it awful I'm only waiting up for "Mad Men" to win the Emmy so I can see what the actresses are wearing?

Lisa de Moraes: Join the crowd...and the huge group still watching to see Ryan Seacrest's acceptance speech..

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TV Land: I forgot about Bernie Mac. So sad. And Suzanne Pleshette was darn funny.

Lisa de Moraes: A lot of wonderful talent gone this year.

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Illinois: Um, I like him, but why George Carlin twice?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm guessing whoever put together that package didn't recognize him from the early years and did not realize he was including the same guy twice.. OMG it's Keiffer Sutherland! Running out of time, he says? How is that possible?

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Winchester, Va.: "30 Rock" is the best comedy on TV. Baldwin deserved to win for the "Good Times" bit with Tracy and the therapist.

Lisa de Moraes: amen... Best actor in a drama series to Bryan Cranston on AMC's "Breaking Bad." Big win for basic cable TV. And it's about time on Cranston. The guy got nominated over and over for playing crazy dad on "Malcolm" but finally wins for crazy drug-dealing dad on "Breaking Bad." And hooray on ending James Spader streak...

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Washington: The New York Times is supposedly "live blogging" the Emmys. Ha. They haven't posted a word since 10 p.m. Yay Post!

Lisa de Moraes: Hooray for us... What is Craig Ferguson doing with Brooke Shields? Oh, he's holding her heinie with his hand...I respect that. And Tina Fey wins best actress in a comedy series and gives "it's an honor to be in the same category with you losers" speech, which is kind of like thanking god at the VMA's.....

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George Carlin twice?: I thought it was one of the few bits of cleverness in this production -- showed Carlin in early TV, and then toward the end of the his TV career. Good bookends. Otherwise, this show is pretty craptastic with the exception of Rickles, Gervais and Smothers.

Lisa de Moraes: okay it was clever. I agree.. Gathering of all the reality hosts now... We can wipe them out with one swoop...

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Geeze.: Does Julia-Louise Dreyfuss have a deal with the devil? She looks like a rock star.

Lisa de Moraes: She looks fab... Finally some good writing for presenters as Jimmy Kimmel handles the best reality-host category. If I liked any of these five before the start of this Emmy-cast I can't stand any of them now. How much do I hate them? More than I hate the "I Now Have Time in a Bottle" allergy drug ad -- that's how much. Good for them for making the five hosts wait for the commerial break...Did you also think Probst looked like he was going to cry?

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Atlanta: I am loving Jon Hamm's expression at not winning. "Whoa!"

Lisa de Moraes: you too? It was very special Emmy moment.... can Tina Fey give the night's best acceptance speech twice? I think she did...

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Arlington, Va.: Your comment about the In Memorium section not making you feel sadder than you already were made me laugh out loud. I'm kind of feeling like a kid on the day after Christmas -- sort of happy with some of the things I got, letdown and disappointed because of the hype, but already thinking that maybe next year, just maybe, things might be better.

Lisa de Moraes: Jimmy just said to the audience "haven't they been sufficient?" of the reality series hosts. I love Jimmy Kimmel!
And, of course Jeff Probst wins. That's just the perfect end to this particular Emmy night. Oh no wait. Are you kidding? It's not over? Here Comes Mary Tyler Moore, looking thinner than ever. ...

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Reality program host: I had thought Craig Ferguson was a good-looking guy, but tonight he looked creepy ... can you explain us again why his ratings have been better than Conan's?

Lisa de Moraes: I think you just did... It's late night after all.... Betty White and Mary Tyler Moore announcing best comedy series winner: "30 Rock." Tina Fey has finally run out of great acceptance speech..

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OMG!: Mary, stop tightning the face and work on those scary looking arms!

Lisa de Moraes: Ghoulish... Tom Selleck announcing best drama: "Mad Men" -- gimongous basic-cable win.... and how much do we love the dresses?

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Washington: Is it just protocol now to give a standing ovation to anyone over 65?

Lisa de Moraes: Standing ovation to anyone over 65 because they did not make the in memorium bit...

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Sprinkles: Seacrest just got Seacrested! How's it feel, Ryan?

Lisa de Moraes: He looked pretty stricken...

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After this commercial break?: Did they really just do that? They're prolonging the contest for best reality show host? Why?!

Lisa de Moraes: To punish the hosts. I applaud the decision... I'm willing to put up with pharmaceutical ads to give them a taste of their own medicine...

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David Cook: Wow, Seacrest lost. Unfrackinbelievable.

Lisa de Moraes: Hi David! Love you in whatev...

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Bryan Cranston: Surprise win of the night? (John Hamm looked like he was ready to stand up when they called Cranston's name.)

Lisa de Moraes: I think he was standing up...

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I don't understand: How are they running out of time when it seems like nothing interesting has happened?

Lisa de Moraes: I wish I'd paid more attention in science classes. If nothing interesting happens on TV, did I really lose three hours of my life I won't get back -- ever?

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Ann Arbor, Mich.: Kathy Griffin's hair is awful! Unacceptable -- looks dangerously like a woman's toupee rather than just extensions.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, next time better not go to X-tensions R Us....

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Lisa de Moraes: It's over. I'm outta here. And, in keeping with tonight's Emmy theme -- get out the vote for best and worst acceptance speech, etc.

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washingtonpost.com: Vote for best dressed, worst dressed, who got robbed and more.

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