‘L.A. Law’ Adds Emmy to Growing Collection : Television: Richard Dysart takes best supporting actor award. ‘Murphy Brown’ director wins for comedy.

NBC’s “L.A. Law” continued its winning ways at the 44th annual Emmy awards Sunday as winners announced early in the ceremonies included Richard Dysart for best supporting actor in a drama series.

Early winners also included Laurie Metcalf of ABC’s “Roseanne,” who was named best supporting actress in a comedy series. Barnet Kellman, of CBS’ “Murphy Brown,” won for best directing in a comedy series and an episode of CBS’ “Northern Exposure” took the best writing award for a drama series.

The awards, like a wedding, offered something old, new, borrowed and, uh, Brown.

Old comedy favorite “Cheers” looked ready to set an Emmy record . . . new drama series “Northern Exposure” hoped to cash in on its 16 nominations . . . a rule change allows the TV movie category to “borrow” a series pilot for consideration . . . and “Murphy Brown” tried for Emmys for the show and its star in a televised awards ceremony whose “salute to comedy” planned to refer wryly to Vice President Dan Quayle’s family values remarks about the sitcom.

But the sentimental favorite promised to be “Cheers,” which had a chance at passing “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” as the most-honored comedy series in TV history with 29 Emmys. “Cheers” had 26 Emmys as of Sunday evening, and nominations for several more.

“Cheers’ ” Kirstie Alley was to share the show’s hosting duties with Tim Allen and Dennis Miller. Sunday’s program reached 57 countries beyond the United States, including first-time broadcasts in Japan and the former Soviet Union.

The quirky new series “Northern Exposure” was off to a good start Sunday, with technical awards for series cinematography and single-camera editing of a series in addition to the writing award.

But “L.A. Law,” with 27 Emmys, was poised to become the Emmy leader in best drama series.

For the first time since the top-rated “Roseanne” debuted four years ago, its star, Roseanne Arnold was nominated as best actress in a comedy series. And Angela Lansbury is hoping to break her long losing streak with her eighth nomination as best lead actress in a drama series, “Murder, She Wrote.”

The awards program, taped for prime-time airing in the West, went out live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to points east. And in order to accommodate the time difference, the glitterati did what they must do every year: show up at the auditorium in the bright, late-afternoon California sun wearing formal after-dark ensembles more suited to artificial light than sunlight.

Arnold arrived at the awards in a low-cut, red lace and leather outfit. Many in attendance, though, turned out wearing the colors of original TV--black and white.

Outside the awards ceremony, unswayed by the star power across the street, about two dozen people held a banner reading “Stop Promoting Sin” and “Stop TV Scum.”

“There are a majority of people dissatisfied with television because of sex, profanity and violence,” said demonstrator Cheryl Christian.

Burt Reynolds, who took home an Emmy last year for “Evening Shade” and was nominated again, said, “I have a feeling it’s somebody else’s time this year.”

Among the major categories in contention Sunday night:

Outstanding comedy series: “Brooklyn Bridge,” “Cheers,” “Home Improvement,” “Murphy Brown” and “Seinfeld.”

Outstanding drama series: “I’ll Fly Away,” “L.A. Law,” “Northern Exposure,” “Law & Order,” and “Quantum Leap.”

Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series: Marion Ross, “Brooklyn Bridge,” Kirstie Alley, “Cheers,” Betty White, “The Golden Girls,” Candice Bergen, “Murphy Brown,” Roseanne Arnold, “Roseanne,” Tyne Daly, “Wings.”

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series: Ted Danson, “Cheers,” Craig T. Nelson, “Coach,” Burt Reynolds, “Evening Shade,” John Goodman, “Roseanne,” Jerry Seinfeld, “Seinfeld,” and Kelsey Grammer, “Wings.”

Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Kate Nelligan, “Avonlea,” Dana Delany, “China Beach,” Regina Taylor, “I’ll Fly Away,” Shirley Knight, “Law & Order,” Angela Lansbury, “Murder, She Wrote,” Sharon Gless, “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill.”

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Christopher Lloyd, “Avonlea,” Sam Watterston, “I’ll Fly Away,” Michael Moriarty, “Law & Order,” Rob Morrow, “Northern Exposure,” Harrison Page, “Quantum Leap,” Scott Bakula, “Quantum Leap,” Kirk Douglas, “Tales from the Crypt.”

Outstanding miniseries: “Cruel Doubt,” “Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel,” “In a Child’s Name,” “Scott Turow’s: The Burden of Proof,” “A Woman Named Jackie.”

Outstanding made-for-television movie, including pilots of new programs: “Doing Time on Maple Drive,” “Homefront,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Miss Rose White,” “Without Warning: The James Brady Story.”

Among the creative awards announced Saturday night were:

Children’s program: “Mark Twain and Me.”

Classical program, performing arts: “Perlman in Russia.”

Classical, music-dance program: “The Metropolitan Opera Silver Anniversary Gala,” (three individual winners).

Informational series: “MGM: When the Lion Roars.”

Informational programming: “Hearts of Darkness.”

Informational special: “Abortion: Desperate Choices.”

Ted Turner, who launched Cable News Network in 1980 and heads Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System, received the Governors Award for outstanding achievement in the arts, sciences or management of television.

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