The West Wing and The Sopranos have both won a clutch of honours at this year's Emmy TV awards.
Sunday night's ceremony in Los Angeles saw NBC's The West Wing, which follows the fortunes of an imaginary US president, walk away with the first three awards announced.
 Ellen deGeneres brought some humour to the proceedings
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The 2001 Emmys had been twice-postponed in the wake of the 11
September attacks on the US and were finally held at the Shubert Theatre amid tight security.
The ceremony was more low-key than in recent years, with men dressed in business suits and guards searching the cars of arriving celebrities, while police lined the red carpet.
But host Ellen DeGeneres - dressed in black with a red, white and blue ribbon - lightened the mood when she asked the audience: "What would bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?"
The evening opened with a rendition of America The Beautiful and an address by veteran US newsman Walter Cronkite.
British actors were also honoured - Kenneth Branagh won the lead acting award for a mini-series for his work on Conspiracy, and Sir Derek Jacobi won an award for his guest role in Frasier.
West Wing won in the category of supporting actress (Allison Janney) and supporting actor (Michael Emerson).
It also won the Emmy for drama series direction and for best overall drama series.
 Edie Falco won for best drama actress |
The Sopranos, which last year dominated the awards, won the honour for best-written drama series.
The series - which follows the fortune of Mafia families in the US - also won Emmys for best actor and actress, for the work of James Gandolfini and Edie Falco.
Patricia Heaton of Everybody Loves Raymond won a second consecutive Emmy as best comedy actress - and dedicated her performances to men and women serving in the US armed forces.
Eric McCormack of was named best lead comedy actor for Will & Grace.
The ceremony closed with Barbara Streisand singing You'll Never Walk Alone.
Complete list of winners at Sunday night's 53nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, on Top40-charts.com
