Sopranos star gets whacked at Emmys

Updated 13.41 Mon Sep 17 2007

Keywords: drama, James Gandolfini, Emmys, television, The Sopranos

James Gandolfini lost out at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards despite Mob drama The Sopranos clinching the coveted best TV drama gong.

Since its 1999 debut, the HBO show has been nominated for best drama seven times, including the 2007 season, and it won the drama Emmy twice, in 2004 and again on Sunday night.

Accepting his award, Sex, Lies and Videotape actor Spader said he felt like he had just stolen money from the Mob

It also clinched awards for best directing and best writing.

Hailed by many critics as the greatest American television drama of all time, the drama ran for six seasons, concluding its run in June in a final episode that left US viewers gobsmacked.

Played by Gandolfini, wiseguy Tony Soprano is the emotionally conflicted leader of the New Jersey gang.

But the actor, who has been nominated for best actor in a drama six times, and won best dramatic actor in 2000, 2001 and 2003, lost out on Sunday night to James Spader for his Boston Legal role.

Accepting his award, Sex, Lies and Videotape actor Spader said he felt like he had just stolen money from the Mob.

Edie Falco, who plays Gandolfini's long-suffering wife Carmela, had been nominated for best actress in a drama six times, and she had won best dramatic actress three times previously, in 1999, 2001 and 2003.

However, she also lost out at the glittering ceremony, to Sally Field for family drama series brothers & Sisters.