LOS ANGELES (AP) – The fourth time was the charm for Debra Messing, who was honored as best actress in a comedy series for “Will & Grace” at Sunday’s Emmy Awards.

“Oh my God,” said an exuberant Messing, who was nominated three times before and went home empty-handed. “I never thought this was going to happen.”

TNT’s “Door to Door,” based on the true story of Bill Porter, a salesman with cerebral palsy, won four awards, including best made-for-TV movie. William H. Macy, who portrayed Porter, won best actor in a miniseries. The movie also won writing and directing awards.

Doris Roberts and Brad Garrett, who play two members of the battling Barone family on CBS’ “Everybody Loves Raymond,” were honored as supporting actors in a comedy series.

“Wow. That was worth coming up here for,” Roberts said after receiving a congratulatory kiss from presenter Matthew Perry as she accepted the comedy series supporting actress award. It was her third career Emmy.

Garrett, who went on a short walkout from work on the new season of “Everybody Loves Raymond” in a contract dispute, won best supporting actor. He jokingly thanked CBS and the show’s producers for not firing him.

“It’s good to be back,” Garrett said. It was his second supporting actor Emmy.

Tyne Daly was honored for her supporting role in the CBS drama series, “Judging Amy,” while Joe Pantoliano – who lost his head on “The Sopranos” – won best supporting actor in a drama series.

CBS’ “The Amazing Race” won the first-ever Emmy in the reality competition category, beating more popular series “American Idol” and “Survivor.”

Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart, which received plaudits for poking fun at war coverage, won for the first time as best variety show, breaking a five-year winning streak for David Letterman. “The Daily Show” was also honored for its writing.

“Everybody Loves Raymond” won for best writing in a comedy series. HBO’s “The Sopranos” won best writing in a drama series.

“The West Wing” received the Emmy for best directing for a drama series, while the comedy trophy in the category went to “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Garry Shandling, one of many comedians serving as hosts of the show, received a long kiss from Garrett that parodied the Madonna-Britney Spears kiss from the MTV Video Music Awards. Perry kept the joke going with his smooch planted on Roberts.

In the miniseries or movie categories, Maggie Smith won lead actress for “My House in Umbria.” The movie “Hysterical Blindness” won best supporting actor and actress honors for Ben Gazzara and Gena Rowlands, respectively.

Wayne Brady was named best individual performer in a variety or musical program for “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

“Cher – The Farewell Tour” was named best variety, music or comedy special.

“The Sopranos,” which received 13 nominations for the 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, had the chance to become the only cable series ever named best drama.

The funeral home drama “Six Feet Under,” another HBO series, was the top nominee with 16 bids, followed by NBC’s “The West Wing” with 15 nominations.

The top comedy nominees, with 13 bids each, were CBS’ “Everybody Loves Raymond” and HBO’s “Sex and the City.”

HBO led the nominations with its highest-ever total, 109. NBC was second with 77, followed by CBS with 59, Fox with 37 and ABC with 33. PBS earned 16 nominations. The awards are given by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

The second Bob Hope Humanitarian Award was presented to Bill Cosby.

Winners in creative arts categories were announced at a Sept. 13 ceremony, including one award for “Six Feet Under” and one each for “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Sex and the City.”

Among networks, NBC received a leading 11 creative arts awards, followed by HBO with 10, CBS with nine, ABC with eight and Fox and PBS with seven each.

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In the creative arts ceremony held earlier this month, awards were announced in craft categories including outstanding choreography, editing and makeup.

Four acting awards for guest roles also were given out. Emmys for best guest actress and actor in a drama series went to Alfre Woodard for “The Practice” and Charles S. Dutton for “Without a Trace.”

For guest actor and actress in a comedy series, the winners were Gene Wilder for “Will & Grace” and Christina Applegate for “Friends.”

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http://www.emmys.org

AP-ES-09-21-03 2243EDT