HBO Takes Lion’s Share of Honors at ACE Awards

Robin Williams, Hal Holbrook, Garrison Keillor, Larry King, Sir John Gielgud and Jennifer Holliday were among the winners Sunday at the ninth annual ACE Awards, presented in recognition of the best in cable programming during the past year.

Led by three awards each for “Robin Williams--An Evening at the Met” and its suspense series “The Hitchhiker,” Home Box Office grabbed 25 of the 75 awards.

With several strong programs from the British Broadcasting Corp. leading the way, the Arts & Entertainment Network picked up 13 ACE awards. Cinemax, Showtime and Cable News Network garnered six awards each.

The National Academy of Cable Programming presented its “Golden ACE Award,” the cable industry’s highest honor, to the Discovery Channel for “Soviet Television Week--Russia: Live From the Inside,” a 66-hour look at television inside the Soviet Union that aired last February.

Ralph M. Baruch, chairman of the National Academy of Cable Programming, won the first “Governors’ Award” for his lifelong contribution to the development of the cable industry.

The cable academy received 940 entries in 74 categories for this year’s ACE competition. Some winners were announced in non-televised ceremonies Friday; the others were scheduled to be unveiled Sunday night at the Wiltern Theatre in ceremonies that were to be carried on HBO.

Here’s a partial list of winners:

Dramatic Special: “Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8,” HBO.

Movie or Miniseries: “Hotel Du Lac,” A&E.;

Actor, Movie or Miniseries: Sir John Gielgud, “Time After Time,” A&E.;

Actress, Movie or Miniseries: Googie Withers, “Time After Time,” A&E.;

Supporting Actor, Movie or Miniseries: Deholm Elliott, “Hotel Du Lac,” A&E.;

Supporting Actress, Movie or Miniseries: Colleen Dewhurst, “Anne of Avonlea,” The Disney Channel.

Dramatic Series: “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” USA.

Actress, Dramatic Series: Barbara Babcock, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” USA.

Actor, Dramatic Series: Timothy Bottoms, “The Hitchhiker,” HBO.

Comedy Series: “Blackadder II,” A&E.;

Comedy Special: “On Location: Robin Williams--An Evening at the Met,” HBO.

Actress, Comedy Series: Lucy Webb, “Not Necessarily the News,” HBO.

Actor, Comedy Series: Paul Eddington, “Yes, Prime Minister,” A&E.;

Performance, Comedy Special: Robin Williams, “Robin Williams--An Evening at the Met,” HBO.

News Special or Series: “Jihad: Afghanistan’s Holy War,” WTBS.

Documentary Series: “Ordinary People,” The Learning Channel.

Documentary Special: “America Undercover: Drunk and Deadly,” HBO.

Talk Show Special or Series: “Larry King Live,” CNN.

Magazine Show Special or Series: “Good News,” WTBS.

Public Affairs Special or Series: “Living Dangerously: Running Wild,” A&E.;

Extended News or Public Affairs Coverage: “Moneyline,” CNN.

News Anchor: Don Harrison, “Headline News,” CNN.

Program Interviewer: Larry King, “Larry King Live,” CNN.

Informational or Documentary Host: Hal Holbrook, “Portrait of America,” WTBS.

Music Host: Garrison Keillor, “A Prairie Home Companion,” Disney Channel.

Performance, Musical Special: Jennifer Holliday, “Cinemax Sessions: A Gospel Session: Everybody Say Yeah,” Cinemax.

Variety Special or Series: “Showtime Coast to Coast,” Showtime.

Music Series: “Cinemax Sessions,” Cinemax.

Music Special: “Paul Simon’s Graceland: The African Concert,” Showtime.

Theatrical Special: “The Browning Version,” A&E.;

Actor, Theatrical Special: Ian Holm, “The Browning Version,” A&E.;

Actress, Theatrical Special: Judi Dench, “The Browning Version,” A&E.;

Sports Special: “ESPN: The America’s Cup--Challenge Down Under,” ESPN.

Sports Event Coverage: “Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard,” HBO.

Sports Information Series: “CNN Sports Tonight,” CNN.

Sports Information Special: “Road to the Superfight: Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard,” HBO.

Sports Host: Jim Kelly, “The America’s Cup--Challenge Down Under,” ESPN.

Children’s Educational Special: “Down at Fraggle Rock . . . Behind the Scenes,” HBO.

Children’s Entertainment Special or Series--9 and older: “The Truth About Alex,” HBO.

Children’s Entertainment Special or Series--8 and younger: “The Worst Witch,” HBO.

Educational Series: “Science/Technology Week,” CNN.

Educational Special: “How to Raise a Street-Smart Child,” HBO.

Cultural or Performing Arts Special: “Dancer,” A&E.;

Recreation and Leisure Special or Series: “The Grand Knockout Tournament,” USA.