It’s time for HBO’s yearly spotlight dance.

Also known as the “56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards,” arriving on a TV screen near you at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday on ABC.

This year – perhaps to the chagrin of the major broadcast networks – the television industry’s annual celebration of itself may become even more of an HBO gloryfest than usual.

Led by “Angels in America,” “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City,” the cable channel that has become a favorite destination for viewers in search of top-quality, innovative entertainment piled up an astonishing 124 Emmy nominations. The HBO total nearly doubled the 65 nominations for runner-up NBC.

“Angels in America” led all programs with 21 nominations, with “The Sopranos” a close second at 20.

At the very least, the 2004 Emmys should supply some comic merriment.

That’s because Garry Shandling will be on zinger and wisecrack duty as the host. And that’s always good news for those of us who enjoy a little celebrity-tweaking irreverence.

Of course, we must still cope with the Emmys’ annual comparison to the Oscars and Grammys. It’s the one awards show where we must sometimes endure repeat nominees – and winners – year after year.

In fact, “The West Wing” is aiming to make TV history by collecting its fifth straight Emmy as best drama series. Get real! Emmy voters fall into a real annoying rut.

That “The Sopranos” has never won the drama series award remains one of the great mind-boggling Emmy injustices of all time.

The same thing happens in the acting categories.

Patricia Heaton, as delightfully tart as she can be on “Everybody Loves Raymond,” doesn’t really deserve a third Emmy for portraying snarky suburban spouse Debra Barone. But it could happen.

And how about those truly outstanding performances that aren’t even acknowledged? This year’s No. 1 example of Emmy voter amnesia is the lack of a nomination for Ian McShane. He was simply brilliant as emotionally toxic saloon owner Al Swearengen on “Deadwood,” HBO’s excellent Western noir.

Knight Ridder predictions on a couple of key Emmy Award categories:
DRAMA SERIES: “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (CBS), “Joan of Arcadia” (CBS), “The Sopranos” (HBO),

“24” (Fox), “The West Wing” (NBC).
Will Win: “The Sopranos.”
Should Win: “The Sopranos”
COMEDY SERIES: “Arrested Development” (Fox), “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO), “Everybody Loves Ray

mond” (CBS), “Sex and the City” (HBO), “Will & Grace” (NBC).
Will Win: “Sex and the City”
Should Win: “Arrested Development”
MINISERIES: “American Family: Journey of Dreams” (PBS), “Angels in America” (HBO), “Horatio Hornblow

er” (A&E), “Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness” (PBS), “Traffic: The Miniseries” (USA Network).
Will Win: “Angels in America.”
Should Win: “Angels in America.”
ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES: James Gandolfini, “The Sopranos”; Anthony LaPaglia, “Without a Trace”; Martin

Sheen, “The West Wing”; James Spader, “The Practice”; Kiefer Sutherland, “24.”
Will Win: LaPaglia
Should Win: James Spader
ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES: Edie Falco, “The Sopranos”; Jennifer Garner, “Alias”; Mariska Hargitay, “Law &

Order: Special Victims Unit”; Allison Janney, “The West Wing”; Amber Tamblyn, “Joan of Arcadia.”
Will Win: Falco
Should Win: Amber Tamblyn
ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES: Larry David, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”; Kelsey Grammer, “Frasier”; Matt LeBlanc,

“Friends”; John Ritter, “8 Simple Rules”; Tony Shalhoub, “Monk.”
Will Win: Shalhoub
Should Win: Kelsey Grammer
ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES: Jennifer Aniston, “Friends”; Patricia Heaton, “Everybody Loves Raymond”;

Bonnie Hunt, “Life with Bonnie”; Jane Kaczmarek, “Malcolm in the Middle”; Sarah Jessica Parker, “Sex and

the City.”
Will Win: Sarah Jessica Parker.
Should Win: Parker
VARIETY/MUSIC/COMEDY SERIES: “Chappelle’s Show” (Comedy Central), “The Daily Show with Jon Stew

art” (Comedy Central), “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (NBC), “Late Show with David Letterman” (CBS),

“Saturday Night Live” (NBC).
Will Win: “The Daily Show”
Should Win: “Chappelle’s Show”