EMMY BOLSTERS EGOS, NOT WALLETS, WINNERS FIND

The Emmys that were handed out Sunday night cost the Television Academy $135 apiece. However, they have a higher value to the lucky winners.

Emmy is not as golden as her older cousin, Oscar, which can raise obscure movie actors to $1-million-a-picture stars, but it does have advantages.

“The Emmy doesn’t produce fame, nor does it provide a salary boost,” said actress Diana Muldaur, president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

“It’s not a popularity contest. It’s a very honored award bestowed by people’s peers for what they think are the best achievements of the year. That means a lot to careers.”

“I don’t think (the Emmy) gives you jobs,” said past Emmy winner Ed Asner. “But to an insecure performer like me, it provides a jolt of confidence.”

For Bruce Weitz, who won last year as supporting actor in “Hill Street Blues,” the award gave him “an ego boost for one evening.”

“Did it help by career, my price, my public recognition? Yes, on public recognition; no, on the other two,” he said.

The money factor is different in television. Relatively unknown actors such as F. Murray Abraham, Ben Kingsley or Linda Hunt can improve their future contracts after winning an Academy Award. But how could the Emmy help the careers of last year’s winners for acting in limited series, Laurence Olivier and Jane Fonda? Or even the dramatic series winners, Tom Selleck (“Magnum, P.I.”) and Tyne Daly (“Cagney & Lacey”)? Both are already under hefty contracts.

Some actors need neither the money nor the ego boost. Bill Cosby, Martin Sheen and Michael Landon asked to be removed from this year’s nominees, believing that acting should not be competitive. Their requests were granted.

“One thing the Emmy can do,” said Diana Muldaur, “is to save a show from being canceled. The network may take a second look at a low-rated show that is so honored.”

The most notable example was “Hill Street Blues.”

“It was the lowest-rated show ever to be picked up for a second season,” recalls Steven Bochco, co-creator of the police series. “We won eight Emmys and caused a furor.”