Emmys in the middle

Garry Shandling will host the 52nd Primetime Emmy Awards Sept. 10 on ABC-TV.

This past week, Shandling talked with the press at the meeting of the Television Critics Association in Pasadena, joking about the annual awards telecast:

"Let me just tell you now, no matter how long it is, it's going to feel longer."

As does the list of nominees. Here they are, announced yesterday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:

Comedy series: "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; "Frasier," NBC; "Friends," NBC; "Sex and the City," HBO; "Will & Grace," NBC.

Drama series: "ER," NBC; "Law & Order," NBC; "The Practice," ABC; "The Sopranos," HBO; "The West Wing," NBC.

Miniseries: "Arabian Nights," ABC; "The Beach Boys: An American Family," ABC; "The Corner," HBO; "Jesus," CBS; "P.T. Barnum," A&E.

Television movie: "Annie," ABC; "If These Walls Could Talk II," HBO; "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO; "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie," ABC; "RKO 281," HBO.

Actor, comedy series: Michael J. Fox, "Spin City," ABC; Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier," NBC; John Lithgow, "3rd Rock from the Sun," NBC; Eric McCormack, "Will & Grace," NBC; Ray Romano, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS.

Actress, comedy series: Jenna Elfman, "Dharma & Greg," ABC; Patricia Heaton, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; Debra Messing, "Will & Grace," NBC; Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex and the City," HBO.

Supporting actor, comedy series: Peter Boyle, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Brad Garrett, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS; Sean Hayes, "Will & Grace," NBC; Peter MacNicol, "Ally McBeal," Fox; David Hyde Pierce, "Frasier," NBC.

Supporting actress, comedy series: Jennifer Aniston, "Friends," NBC; Kim Cattrall, "Sex and The City," HBO; Lisa Kudrow, "Friends," NBC; Megan Mullally, "Will & Grace," NBC; Doris Roberts, "Everybody Loves Raymond," CBS.

Actor, drama series: Dennis Franz, "NYPD Blue," ABC; James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos," HBO; Jerry Orbach, "Law & Order," NBC; Martin Sheen, "The West Wing," NBC; Sam Waterston, "Law & Order," NBC.

Actress, drama series: Lorraine Bracco, "The Sopranos," HBO; Amy Brenneman, "Judging Amy," CBS; Edie Falco, "The Sopranos," HBO; Julianna Margulies, "ER," NBC; Sela Ward, "Once and Again," ABC.

Supporting actor, drama series: Michael Badalucco, "The Practice," ABC; Dominic Chianese, "The Sopranos," HBO; Steve Harris, "The Practice," ABC; Richard Schiff, "The West Wing," NBC; John Spencer, "The West Wing," NBC.

Supporting actress, drama series: Stockard Channing, "The West Wing," NBC; Tyne Daly, "Judging Amy," CBS; Allison Janney, "The West Wing," NBC; Nancy Marchand, "The Sopranos," HBO; Holland Taylor, "The Practice," ABC.

Actor, miniseries or movie: Beau Bridges, "P.T. Barnum," A&E; Brian Dennehy, "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman," Showtime; Jack Lemmon, "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie," ABC; William H. Macy, "A Slight Case Of Murder," TNT; Liev Schreiber, "RKO 281," HBO.

Actress, miniseries or movie: Halle Berry, "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO; Judy Davis, "A Cooler Climate," Showtime; Sally Field, "A Cooler Climate," Showtime; Holly Hunter, "Harlan County War," Showtime; Gena Rowlands, "The Color of Love: Jacey's Story," CBS.

Supporting actor, miniseries or movie: Hank Azaria, "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie," ABC; Klaus Maria Brandauer, "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO; James Cromwell, "RKO 281," HBO; Danny Glover, "Freedom Song," TNT; John Malkovich, "RKO 281," HBO.

Supporting actress, miniseries or movie: Kathy Bates, "Annie," ABC; Elizabeth Franz, "Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman," Showtime; Melanie Griffith, "RKO 281," HBO; Vanessa Redgrave, "If These Walls Could Talk 2," HBO; Maggie Smith, "David Copperfield," PBS.

Guest actor in a comedy series: Anthony LaPaglia, "Frasier," NBC; Carl Reiner, "Beggars and Choosers," Showtime; Tom Selleck, "Friends," NBC; Bruce Willis, "Friends," NBC; Henry Winkler, "Battery Park," NBC.

Guest actress in a comedy series: Bea Arthur, "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; Cheri Oteri, "Just Shoot Me," NBC; Debbie Reynolds, "Will & Grace," NBC; Jean Smart, "Frasier," NBC; Holland Taylor, "The Lot," AMC.

Guest actor in a drama series: Alan Alda, "ER," NBC; Paul Dooley, "The Practice," ABC; Kirk Douglas, "Touched by an Angel," CBS; James Whitmore, "The Practice," ABC; Henry Winkler, "The Practice," ABC.

Guest actress in a drama series: Jane Alexander, "Law & Order/Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC; Kathy Baker, "Touched by an Angel," CBS; Marlee Matlin, "The Practice," ABC; Tracy Pollan, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC; Beah Richards, "The Practice," ABC.

Individual performance in a variety or music program: Billy Crystal, "72nd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; Cher, "Cher: Live in Concert - From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas," HBO; Eddie Izzard, "Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill," HBO; Chris Rock, "Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker," HBO; Molly Shannon, "Saturday Night Live," NBC.

Variety, music or comedy series: "The Chris Rock Show," HBO; "Dennis Miller Live," HBO; "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS; "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher," ABC; "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," NBC.

Variety, music or comedy special: "72nd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker," HBO; "Cirque du Soleil - Quidam," Bravo; "Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill," HBO; "Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special," NBC.

Classical music-dance program: "Andrea Bocelli: Sacred Arias (Great Performances)," PBS; "Central Park (Great Performances)," PBS; "Dance in America: American Ballet Theatre in Le Corsaire," PBS; "Mostly Mozart Festival Opening Concert (Live From Lincoln Center)," PBS; "Perlman at the Penthouse (Live from Lincoln Center)," PBS.

Children's program: "The Color of Friendship," Disney; "Disney's Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra in Concert," Disney; "Goodnight Moon and Other Sleepytime Tales," HBO; "Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years!," CBS; "Rugrats," Nickelodeon.

Nonfiction special: "American Hollow," HBO; "Cancer: Evolution to Revolution," HBO; "Children in War," HBO; "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," HBO; "Raising the Mammoth," Discovery.

Nonfiction series: "American Masters: Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood," PBS; "Behind the Music: Tina Turner," VH1; "Biography: Oprah Winfrey: Heart of the Matter," A&E; "Inside the Actors Studio: Kevin Spacey," Bravo; "New York (The American Experience)," PBS.

Animated program (one hour or less): "Family Guy: Road to Rhode Island," Fox; "MTV Downtown: Show 11," MTV; "The Powerpuff Girls: Beat Your Greens/Down on Dirty," Cartoon; "The Simpsons: Behind the Laughter," Fox; "South Park: Chinpoko Mon," Comedy Central.

Animated program (more than one hour): "Olive: The Other Reindeer," Fox; "Walking With Dinosaurs," Discovery.

Directing for a comedy series: "Ally McBeal: Ally McBeal: the Musical," Fox; "Everybody Loves Raymond: The Christmas Picture," CBS; "Friends: The One That Could Have Been, Parts 1 & 2," NBC; "Malcolm in the Middle: Pilot," Fox; "Sports Night: Quo Vadimus," ABC; "Will & Grace: Homo for the Holidays," NBC.

Directing for a drama series: "ER: All in the Family," NBC; "ER: Such Sweet Sorrow," NBC; "The Sopranos: Funhouse," HBO; "The Sopranos: The Knight in White Satin Armor," HBO; "The West Wing: Pilot," NBC.

Directing for a variety or music program: "72nd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker," HBO; "The Gershwins' Crazy for You (Great Performances)," PBS; "Late Show with David Letterman," CBS; "Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special," NBC; "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," NBC.

Directing for a miniseries, movie or special: "Annie," ABC; "The Corner," HBO; "Fail Safe," CBS; "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO; "RKO 281," HBO.

Writing for a comedy series: "Everybody Loves Raymond: Bad Moon Rising," CBS; "Frasier: Something Borrowed, Someone Blue," NBC; "Freaks and Geeks: Pilot," NBC; "Malcolm in the Middle: Pilot," Fox; "Sex and the City: Evolution," HBO; "Sex and the City: Ex in the City," HBO.

Writing for a drama series: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Hush," WB; "The Sopranos: Funhouse," HBO; "The Sopranos: The Knight in White Satin Armor," HBO; "The West Wing: In Excelsis Deo," NBC; "The West Wing: Pilot," NBC.

Writing for a variety, music or comedy program: "Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker," HBO; "The Chris Rock Show," HBO; "Eddie Izzard: Dress to Kill," HBO; "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," NBC; "Late Show With David Letterman," CBS.

Writing for a miniseries or movie: "Cheaters," HBO; "The Corner," HBO; "Homicide: The Movie," NBC; "If These Walls Could Talk 2: 1961," HBO; "RKO 281," HBO.

Music direction: "Annie," ABC; "Super Bowl XXXIV Halftime Show," ABC; "Heroes for the Planet, Featuring Special Guest Charlotte Church," A&E; "The Kennedy Center Honors," CBS; "The Little Richard Story," NBC.

Main title theme music: "Falcone," CBS; "Jack London's Call of the Wild," Animal Planet; "Jack of All Trades," syndicated; "The Pretender," NBC; "The West Wing," NBC.

Music composition for a series (dramatic underscore): "Falcone: Lealta," CBS; "Felicity: Help for the Lovelorn," WB; "Star Trek: Voyager: Spirit Folk," UPN; "The X-Files: Thief," Fox; "Xena: Warrior Princess: Fallen Angel," syndicated.

Music composition for a miniseries, movie or special: "Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder," CBS; "Don Quixote," TNT; "Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble," Showtime; "RKO 281," HBO; "Walking With Dinosaurs," Discovery.

Music and lyrics: "AFIs 100 Years . . . 100 Stars," CBS, song title: "Without You"; "The 14th Annual American Comedy Awards," Fox, song title: "My Bill Gates"; "Family Guy," Fox; "Freedom Song," TNT, song title: "Song of Freedom"; "Nickellennium," Nickelodeon, song title: "Up to You."

Commercial: FedEx/Shipping Services, "Action Figures"; Electronic Data Systems (EDS), "Cat Herders"; Nike, "The Morning After"; Budweiser, "Whassup True"; Monster.com, "When I Grow Up".

Art direction for a multicamera series: "Dharma & Greg: Hell to the Chief," ABC; "Love & Money: Pilot," CBS; "3rd Rock from the Sun: Dial M for Dick," NBC; "Will & Grace: Ben? Her?," NBC.

Art direction for a single-camera series: "Judging Amy: Spoil the Child," CBS; "Sex and the City: They Shoot People, Don't They?," HBO; "The Sopranos: House Arrest," HBO; "The West Wing: Pilot," NBC.

Art direction for a miniseries, movie or a special: "Annie," ABC; "Arabian Nights, Part 2," ABC; "Geppetto," ABC; "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO; "RKO 281," HBO.

Art direction for a variety or music program: "72nd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Cher: Live in Concert - From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas," HBO; "The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards," CBS; "MADtv: Show 511," Fox; "Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special," NBC.

Casting for a comedy series: "Freaks and Geeks," NBC; "Malcolm in the Middle," Fox; "Sex and the City," HBO; "Sports Night," ABC; "Will & Grace," NBC.

Casting for a drama series: "ER," NBC; "Law & Order," NBC; "The Practice," ABC; "The Sopranos," HBO; "The West Wing," NBC.

Casting for a miniseries, movie or a special: "Annie," ABC; "The Corner," HBO; "Fail Safe," CBS: "If These Walls Could Talk 2," HBO.

Choreography: "Annie," ABC; "Cher: Live in Concert - From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas," HBO; "The Drew Carey Show," ABC; "Ice Wars," CBS; "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO.

Cinematography for a multicamera series: "Everybody Loves Raymond: Roberts Rodeo," CBS; "Spin City: Goodbye," ABC; "Sports Night: Cut Man," ABC; "3rd Rock from the Sun: Dick and Harry Fall in a Hole," NBC; "Will & Grace: Acting Out," NBC.

Cinematography for a single-camera series: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Hush," WB; "JAG: Boomerang (Part 2)," CBS; "Law & Order: Entitled (Part 2)," NBC; "The Sopranos: D-Girl," HBO; "The West Wing: Pilot," NBC.

Cinematography for a miniseries, movie or special: "Annie," ABC; "A Christmas Carol," TNT; "Dirty Pictures," Showtime; "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO; "Witness Protection," HBO.

Costumes for a series: "Any Day Now: It's Not About the Butter (Part 1 and Part 2)," Lifetime; "Providence: Syd in Wonderland," NBC; "Sex and the City: La Douleur Exquise!" HBO; "The Sopranos: Commendatori," HBO; "Star Trek: Voyager: Muse," UPN; "The West Wing: The State Dinner," NBC.

Costumes for a miniseries, movie or special: "Annie," ABC; "Arabian Nights Part 2," ABC; "Don Quixote," TNT; "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO.

Costumes for a variety or music program: "Cher: Live In Concert - From the MGM Grand In Las Vegas," HBO; "Elizabeth Taylor: A Fashion Biography," AMC; "MADtv: MADtvs Movie Show," Fox; "Saturday Night Live - Host: Christopher Walken," NBC; "Target Stars On Ice," CBS.

Single-camera picture editing for a series: "ER: All in the Family," NBC; "The Sopranos: Funhouse," HBO; "The Sopranos: The Knight in White Satin Armor," HBO; "The West Wing: In Excelsis Deo," NBC; "The West Wing: What Kind of Day Has it Been," NBC.

Single camera picture editing for a miniseries, movie or a special: "Annie," ABC; "The Beach Boys: An American Family - Part 1," ABC; "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO; "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie," ABC; "RKO 281," HBO.

Multicamera picture editing for a series: "Frasier: Dark Side of the Moon," NBC; "Frasier: Something Borrowed, Someone Blue," NBC; "Friends: The One with the Proposal (Parts 1 and 2)," NBC; "Sports Night: The Cut Man Cometh," ABC; "Will & Grace: Ben? Her?," NBC.

Multicamera picture editing for a miniseries, movie or special: "72nd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "AFIs 100 Years . . . 100 Stars," CBS; "Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker," HBO; "Here's to You Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years!," CBS; "A Supernatural Evening With Santana," Fox.

Hairstyling for a series: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Beer Bad," WB; "MADtv: Movie Show," Fox; "Saturday Night Live - Host: Alan Cumming," NBC; "The Sopranos: Full Leather Jacket," HBO; "Star Trek: Voyager: Dragons Teeth," UPN; "That '70s Show: Vanstock," Fox.

Hairstyling for a miniseries, movie or special: "Annie," ABC; "Arabian Nights: Part 2," ABC; "Geppetto," ABC; "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO; "RKO 281," HBO.

Lighting direction (electronic): "72nd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Arista Records 25th Anniversary Celebration," NBC; "Cher: Live in Concert," HBO; "Fail Safe," CBS; "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: 1738," NBC.

Main title design: "Nature," PBS; "Now and Again," CBS; "The 10th Kingdom," NBC; "The West Wing," NBC.

Makeup for a series: "Angel: The Ring," WB; "MADtv: Movie Show," Fox; "Star Trek: Voyager: Ashes to Ashes," UPN; "That '70s Show: Vanstock," Fox; "The X-Files: Thief," Fox.

Makeup for a miniseries, movie or special: "Arabian Nights: Part 2," ABC; "Don Quixote," TNT; "Geppetto," ABC; "Jason and the Argonauts: Part 1," NBC; "Jesus: Part 2," CBS.

Sound editing for a series: "ER: All in the Family," NBC; "The Others: Eyes," NBC; "Star Trek: Voyager: Equinox, Part 2," UPN; "Third Watch: Welcome to Camelot," NBC; "The X-Files: First Person Shooter," Fox.

Sound editing for a miniseries, movie or special: "Animal Farm," TNT; "The Crossing," A&E; "Harlan County War," Showtime; "The Hunley," TNT; "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," HBO.

Sound mixing for a comedy series or special: "Ally McBeal: Car Wash," Fox; "Frasier: Something Borrowed, Someone Blue," NBC; "Friends: The One After Vegas," NBC; "Sex and the City: Ex and the City," HBO; "Spin City: Goodbye," ABC; "3rd Rock from the Sun: Dick and Harry Fall in a Hole," NBC.

Sound mixing for a variety or music series or special: "72nd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Cher: Live in Concert - From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas," HBO; "The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards," CBS; "The Kennedy Center Honors," CBS; "One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute," TNT; "Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special," NBC.

Sound mixing for a drama Series: "ER: All in the Family," NBC; "Law & Order: Gunshow," NBC; "NYPD Blue: Along Came Jones," ABC; "The Sopranos: D-Girl," HBO; "The West Wing: In Excelsis Deo," NBC; "The X-Files: First Person Shooter," Fox.

Sound mixing for a miniseries, movie or special made-for-television movie: "Annie," ABC; "The Beach Boys: An American Family, Part 1," ABC; "Dirty Pictures," Showtime; "Fail Safe," CBS; "Tuesdays With Morrie," ABC; "RKO 281," HBO.

Special visual effects for a series: "Star Trek: Voyager: Life Line," UPN; "Star Trek: Voyager: The Haunting of Deck 12," UPN; "Stargate SG-1: Nemesis," Showtime; "The X-Files: First Person Shooter," Fox; "The X-Files: Rush," Fox.

Special visual effects for a miniseries, movie or special: "72nd Annual Academy Awards: Billy's Film," ABC; "Aftershock: Earthquake in New York - Part 1," NBC; "Jason and the Argonauts - Part 2," NBC; "The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns - Part 1," NBC; "Walking With Dinosaurs," Discovery.

Technical direction, camerawork, video for series: "Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher: Sp-05," ABC; "Saturday Night Live - Host: Christopher Walken," NBC; "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Show 1785," NBC.

Technical direction, camerawork, video for a miniseries, movie or special: "72nd Annual Academy Awards," ABC; "Cher: Live in Concert - From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas," HBO; "Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker," HBO; "Fail Safe," CBS; "Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary Special," NBC.

Achievement in nonfiction programming - cinematography: "Children in War," HBO; "New York (The American Experience)," PBS; "Raising the Mammoth," Discovery.