Emmy viewership hits 10-year low

Monday’s Emmy Awards drew the fewest TV viewers since 1990, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Producers of the program, however, are pleased with the results, considering the factors stacked against it.

The 53rd Annual Emmys occupied the same time slot as the premiere of the NBC mini-series “Uprising” and the final episode of HBO’s “Band of Brothers.”

The program had also been postponed twice. On Sept. 16 it was put off in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, and it was postponed a second time on Oct. 7 when the United States began bombing Afghanistan.

Two entertainment figures, “Frasier” producer David Angell and actress/model Berry Berenson, were aboard planes that crashed Sept. 11. Both were remembered during Monday’s ceremony. Members of the audience were seen wiping tears from their eyes.

“The West Wing” raked in eight Emmy awards, including best dramatic series, best supporting actor and best directing.

The made-for-TV movie “Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows” came in second with five awards and the popular HBO program “The Sopranos” had four.

Other winners included Eric McCormack, who won Best Actor in a Comedy Series for “Will & Grace,” and Patricia Heaton of “Everybody Loves Raymond” for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. ABC’s “Anne Frank” won for Best Miniseries.

– News gathered by Bethany Kohoutek from the Associated Press.