A Final Smooch For 'Raymond'

There are quite a few new pretty faces on the block, but apparently everybody still loves Raymond.

The hit sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," which told its last story earlier this year - going out on a high note - bagged one last major honor Sunday night in a surprise win at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

"It was a shock to win," series star Ray Romano said later of the best Comedy Series award, telling reporters: "Even you guys - admit it - you thought 'Desperate Housewives' was going to win."

"Raymond" joins "Barney Miller" and the "Mary Tyler Moore" show as only the third series in 30 years to win top honors in its last season.

The CBS comedy also won supporting actor and supporting actress trophies, with Brad Garrett and Doris Roberts - who played meddling mother-in-law Marie Barone - adding to their collections.

Romano, however, was beaten out by Tony Shalhoub of HBO's "Monk" for best comedy actor.

"To my fellow nominees, whoever they are - I'm not that familiar with their work, I just want to say, there's always next year. Except, you know, for Ray Romano," Shalhoub joked.

The ABC series "Lost" about plane crash survivors stranded on a mysterious island won trophies for best drama and directing.

"To get this award right now right before our second season kicks off is incredibly exciting and puts us in a really good spot," said Matthew Fox, the leading man of an ensemble cast.

Earning best drama honors over perennial champ "The West Wing" could propel "Lost" even higher.

"It's possible. There are ratings spikes for shows that win the top awards," said Tom O'Neil, author of "The Emmys."

Felicity Huffman's first-time victory as a harried homemaker was one of two for ABC's "Desperate Housewives."

She beat out her more glamorous and talked-about co-stars, Teri Hatcher and Marcia Cross. The other housewives, Eva Longoria and Nicollette Sheridan, weren't nominated.

"I hugged them and they kissed me," Huffman said backstage. "We all support each other. A win for one is a win for all."

The show also won a directing Emmy.

"The Amazing Race" was named outstanding reality-competition program for the third time.

It was also a good night for ABC's "Boston Legal," David E. Kelley's revamped version of the former series "The Practice." James Spader was named best dramatic actor for his portrayal of an ethically challenged lawyer and veteran William Shatner won supporting actor.

"I'm an example of what can happen when you don't drink, don't smoke, exercise every day, eat carefully, love passionately and eat Wheaties. Wheaties are good." - Emmy winner William Shatner of "Boston Legal."

Besides Huffman, another first-time winner was Patricia Arquette, who plays a crime-solving psychic on NBC's "Medium." She won for best actress in a drama series.

Like many of the winners and performers at the ceremony, Arquette talked about the plight of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"This is like wartime. And all the poor, all the working poor who live from paycheck to paycheck," said Arquette. "This is America. This is the richest country in the world. I can't sleep at night."

Tyler James Williams, star of Chris Rock's upcoming UPN series "Everybody Hates Chris," delivered a plea for donations to Habitat for Humanity. He was accompanied by his "new friend," Charles Evans, a boy from New Orleans who appeared in news clips asking, "What is going on here?"

Awards show host Ellen DeGeneres, a New Orleans native, and others wore magnolias as symbols of the hurricane victims - but while the disaster was a backdrop, the show focused mostly on the awards and the TV industry.

David Letterman introduced a tribute to late-night king Johnny Carson, "The Tonight Show" host who died in January.

Comedian Jon Stewart, a double winner for the second straight year in the writing and best variety, music or comedy series categories for "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, complimented Letterman.

"As I was watching Dave talking about Johnny Carson, the way he feels about Carson is the way we, the comedians of our generation, feel about him," Stewart said.

Also honored were network TV's erstwhile news anchors, the retired Dan Rather of CBS, Tom Brokaw of NBC and the late Peter Jennings of ABC. Rather and Brokaw earned the evening's only standing ovation when they took the stage.

"It makes it all the more poignant because of the absence of our colleague Peter Jennings," Brokaw said. "We had hoped that he would be here tonight so we could have a reunion, a celebration."

HBO emerged as the most honored network with a total of 27 awards, including seven honors Sunday and 20 trophies given at last week's Creative Arts Emmys recognizing technical and other achievements. ABC received a total of 16 awards, followed by CBS with 11, NBC and PBS with 10 each and Fox with six.