2 Baby Boom Programs Win Major Emmys

Two first-year ABC television series aimed at the Baby Boom generation shared top honors at the 40th annual nighttime Emmy Awards Sunday. “The Wonder Years” won as best comedy and “thirtysomething” was named best drama series.

“Thirtysomething,” about a group of friends and married couples trying to balance their personal and professional lives, also won Emmys for co-star Patricia Wettig, guest star Shirley Knight and writing.

But “The Wonder Years,” a mid-season entry about growing up during the 1960s, did not win any other awards. It was only nominated in one other category--best comedy writing--and lost there to another first-year series, CBS’ “Frank’s Place.”

NBC’s “Inherit the Wind” was named best drama or comedy special of the 1987-88 season while another NBC program, “The Murder of Mary Phagan,” got the Emmy for best miniseries.

While the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences showed a preference for newcomers in its choices for best series, some familiar names were summoned to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium stage in the acting categories.

John Larroquette won his fourth Emmy in as many years for his performance as prosecutor Dan Fielding on “Night Court,” Michael J. Fox picked up his third in a row as Alex Keaton on “Family Ties,” and Tyne Daly got her fourth for playing Detective Mary Beth Lacey on “Cagney & Lacey.’

“OK, now I am officially overwhelmed,” Larroquette quipped.

“The Golden Girls” failed to win for a third year as best comedy series, but the popular NBC program was honored with Emmys for lead actress Beatrice Arthur and supporting actress Estelle Getty.

Their victories mean that all four actresses on the show have now won Emmys. Rue McClanahan won last year and Betty White the year before. Both were nominated against Arthur this year.

Two for ‘L.A. Law’

Top-rated NBC, which has dominated the nighttime Emmys in recent years and captured the most nominations again this season, wound up finishing third among the networks. Its “L.A. Law,” last year’s drama series winner and recipient of a leading 19 nominations this year, collected only two, for supporting actor Larry Drake and editing.

Counting the Emmys for technical categories handed out in ceremonies Saturday, ABC collected 21, CBS 20 and NBC 19.

NBC also came in for a critical barb Sunday night during the national telecast on Fox Broadcasting Network from Richard Kiley, who was named best actor in a drama series for his role as the patriarch in “A Year in the Life,” a first-year drama that was canceled because of low ratings.

“I have nothing but affection and admiration for (my co-stars), and nothing but sadness for the corporate myopia that killed a fine show,” he said.

In the first year that cable television reached enough homes to qualify for Emmy Awards, only one cable program was honored. Jackie Mason won for writing his Home Box Office special, “Jackie Mason on Broadway.”

HBO’s documentary, “Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam” had won two awards in an earlier round of Emmy announcements, including best informational program of the season.

In accepting an Emmy for best drama series, “thirtysomething” co-executive producer Edward Zwick acknowledged that the show has its share of critics.

“If there were another category for the most annoying show on television, I think we’d win that too,” he said.

But he went on to challenge critics who contend that television is a “cool medium . . . incapable of reaching out and touching people’s hearts.”

“I disagree with that,” Zwick said. “And I take this (the Emmy) to mean you do too.”

In her acceptance speech, Wettig, who plays Nancy on “thirtysomething,” thanked her fellow cast members but paid special tribute to her husband, Ken Olin, who plays Michael.

‘Best Husband’

“He really is the best husband in the world--not just on television,” she said.

In addition to its Emmy as best drama special, “Inherit the Wind” got another award for Jason Robards.

Robards was one of seven winners who were not present to collect their Emmys. They were picked up instead by Tony Danza, the “Who’s the Boss?” star who was given the comical title of “designated acceptor” for the evening.

Enjoying the role at first, Danza eventually ran out of material and said in frustration on his last appearance, “Now I’m mad! Where are these people?”

Other acting Emmys went to Jane Seymour for “Onassis: the Richest Man in the World,” John Shea for “Baby M,” Robin Williams for “ABC Presents a Royal Gala” and Jessica Tandy for “Foxfire.”

The award for best variety, music or comedy program went to CBS’ “Irving Berlin’s 100th Birthday Celebration.”

Directors who won Emmys were Gregory Hoblit for “Hooperman,” Mark Tinker for “St. Elsewhere,” Lamont Johnson for “Gore Vidal’s Lincoln” and Patricia Birch and Humphrey Burton for “Celebrating Gershwin.”

Other awards went to William Hanley for writing “The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank,” to Pete Menefee and Ret Turner for costume design on “Las Vegas--An All Star 75th Anniversary Special,” and to Ian Fraser, Chris Boardman, Alexander Courage and Angela Morley for music direction on “Julie Andrews . . . The Sound of Christmas.”

The latter holiday special also won four awards at the ceremonies Saturday, making it the single most-honored program in the Emmys this year with five.

Also honored Sunday night with the prestigious Governors Award for career contributions were William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, whose animation studio is the home of such well-known cartoon characters as Yogi Bear, the Smurfs, The Jetsons and The Flintstones.