Brady sweeps Emmys

May 19, 2003

NEW YORK — It's Wayne's world, and we're all just living in it.

Wayne Brady was the surprise winner of two Daytime Emmys for his rookie TV series, which he accepted while multitasking as the ceremony's host Friday.

The comedian won best talk show host, and "The Wayne Brady Show" tied for best talk show with "The View," which had its first win in six consecutive nominations.

Brady had been nominated for a prime-time Emmy twice before for the improv comedy show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" He was up against stiff competition in both categories from tough-talking psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw.

"This whole daytime thing, you know, is so new to me, and I just figured, why me?" Brady said backstage. "I had jokes ready to talk about Dr. Phil. I had things ready about 'The View.' "

But Barbara Walters, who co-hosts "The View" with Joy Behar, Star Jones and Meredith Vieira, said she didn't think her show would get an Emmy either.

"We said, 'As soon as we lose--we had our pocketbooks ready--we're going to go around the corner and get a martini.' "

Meanwhile, in the world of daytime dramas, "As the World Turns" earned its fourth Emmy for outstanding series. Veteran Susan Flannery won her third lead-actress award in four years for "The Bold and the Beautiful," while Maurice Benard of "General Hospital" got his first best-actor trophy.

Vanessa Marcil of "General Hospital" and Benjamin Hendrickson of "As the World Turns" both won their first supporting trophies. Marcil has already left the soap for "Las Vegas," a new prime-time drama in the fall.

"Jeopardy!" won its ninth Emmy as best game show, tying a record set by "The $25,000 Pyramid." Alex Trebek of "Jeopardy!" won his third award for best host.

Fred Rogers received a tribute during the awards ceremony. The longtime host of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" died of cancer in February at 74.

Daytime winners

Lead actress, drama series: Susan Flannery, "The Bold and the Beautiful"

Lead actor, drama series: Maurice Benard, "General Hospital"

Supporting actor, drama series: Benjamin Hendrickson, "As the World Turns"

Supporting actress, drama series: Vanessa Marcil, "General Hospital"

Drama series writing team: "General Hospital," ABC

Drama series directing team: "All My Children," ABC

Drama series: "As the World Turns," CBS

Younger actor, drama: Jordi Vilasuso, "Guiding Light"

Younger actress, drama: Jennifer Finnigan, "The Bold and the Beautiful"

Talk show: "The View" and "The Wayne Brady Show"

Talk show host: Wayne Brady

Game show: "Jeopardy," syndicated

Game show host: Alex Trebek, "Jeopardy"

Special class series: "A Baby Story," TLC

Children's series: "Reading Rainbow," PBS

Preschool children's series: "Sesame Street," PBS

Performer, children's special: Ben Foster, "Bang Bang You're Dead"

Performer, children's series: Shia Labeouf, "Even Stevens"