`Wonder Years,' `thirtysomething' win Emmy `upsets'

Two ABC programs, the yuppie saga "thirtysomething" and "TheWonder Years," the continuing story of a little boy's 1960s growingpains, scored upset victories over heavily favored competitors Sundaynight, capturing Emmys for best drama and best comedy series.

NBC, continuing its over-all dominance of the awards in pastyears, won 11 Emmys, beating out ABC with 10, CBS with five, PBS withone and the pay cable service HBO, competing for the first timealongside the networks, with one.

Fox Broadcasting, which broadcast the 40th annual Emmy Awardslive, was shut out.

The selection of "thirtysomething" as best dramatic series cameas something of a surprise. The show beat out two favored NBCseries, "L.A. Law," which won last year, and the critically acclaimed"St. Elsewhere."

"The Wonder Years," which had only a limited run over ABCearlier this year, was an unexpected winner over three NBC shows,"Cheers," "Night Court" and "The Golden Girls."

Richard Kiley, of "A Year in the Life," in accepting the awardfor best actor in a dramatic series, took a swipe at NBC forcanceling the show. "I have nothing but sadness for the corporatemyopia that killed a fine show," Kiley said.

Lead actress in a dramatic series was Tyne Daly of "Cagney andLacey," winning for the fourth time. Michael J. Fox of "Family Ties"received his third straight Emmy for best actor in a comedy series,and Beatrice Arthur of "Golden Girls" was named best actress in acomedy series.

Larry Drake, whose sensitive portrayal of mentally handicappedoffice worker Benny Stulwitz on NBC's "L.A. Law" won the heart of anation, also captured the respect of his peers when he received theEmmy for best supporting actor in a dramatic series.

And John Larroquette continued his domination of the Emmy forbest supporting actor in a comedy series, walking off his with hisfourth straight statuette for his portrayal of a sleazy attorney onNBC's "Night Court."

Estelle Getty of NBC's "Golden Girls," won best supportingactress in a comedy series. Jane Seymour was named best supportingactress in a mini-series for her portrayal of Maria Callas in ABC's"Onassis: The Richest Man in the World."

John Shea received an Emmy for best supporting actor in amini-series for his work in ABC's "Baby M."

Sunday's Emmys introduced a welcome innovation with thecreation of the "designated accepter" to claim awards for absentwinners.

Tony Danza of "Who's the Boss?" was this year's "designatedaccepter." In accepting Shea's Emmy, Danza cracked, "I didn'tprepare anything because I didn't think he would win."

Best mini-series: "The Murder of Mary Phagan," NBC.

Best drama or comedy special: "Inherit The Wind," NBC.

Best dramatic series: "thirtysomething," ABC.

Best comedy series: "The Wonder Years," ABC.

Lead actor in mini-series: Jason Robards, "Inherit the Wind."

Lead actress in mini-series: Jessica Tandy, "Foxfire," CBS.

Supporting actor in mini-series: John Shea, "Baby M," ABC.

Supporting actress in mini-series: Jane Seymour, "Onassis: theRichest Man in the World," ABC.

Lead actor in dramatic series: Richard Kiley, "A Year in theLife," NBC.

Lead actress in dramatic series: Tyne Daly, "Cagney and Lacey,"CBS.

Supporting actor in dramatic series: Larry Drake, "L.A. Law,"NBC.

Supporting actress, dramatic series: Patricia Wettig,"thirtysomething."

Lead actor in comedy series: Michael J. Fox, "Family Ties," NBC.

Lead actress in comedy series: Beatrice Arthur, "Golden Girls,"NBC.

Supporting actor, comedy series: John Larroquette, "NightCourt," NBC.

Supporting actress in comedy series: Estelle Getty, "GoldenGirls."

Variety, music or comedy program: "Irving Berlin's 100thBirthday Celebration," CBS.

Writing in comedy series: Hugh Wilson, "Frank's Place," CBS.

Writing in dramatic series: Paul Haggis, Marshall Herskovitz,"thirtysomething."

Writing in mini-series or special: William Hanley, "The Attic:the Hiding of Anne Frank," CBS.

Writing in variety or music program: Jackie Mason, "Jackie MasonOn Broadway," HBO.

Directing in comedy series: Gregory Hoblit, "Hooperman," ABC.

Directing in dramatic series: Mark Tinker, "St. Elsewhere," NBC.

Directing in mini-series or special: Lamont Johnson, "GoreVidal's Lincoln," NBC.

Directing of variety or music program: Patricia Birch, HumphreyBurton, "Celebrating Gershwin," PBS.

Individual performance in variety or music program: RobinWilliams, "ABC Presents a Royal Gala," ABC.