What were the hottest TV shows during the decade of the 2000s? “Doctor/cop/lawyer” shows such as Law & Order, Boston Legal, House and Grey’s Anatomy were all popular in the 2000s. But apparently, TV viewers wanted something a bit…more. They wanted to see what happened when you dropped a bunch of people on a tropical island and forced them to fend for themselves (vis a vis Lost and Survivor). Want to see washed-up actors in a dance competition? Then Dancing With the Stars was YOUR show. And judging from the popularity of shows like The Office and Arrested Development, viewers wanted to see what happens when dysfunctional people are in charge of other dysfunctional people (and maybe the occasional fourth wall breaks). How about a series about the mishaps of making your own meth (Breaking Bad)?  And standard sitcoms were still popular (my co-workers would NOT shut up about Everybody Loves Raymond). Did you want to see a “behind the scenes” simulation of what shows such as SNL are like backstage? Then you probably loved 30 Rock. Into serial killers? Dexter was your jam. Funeral homes? Six Feet Under. Can’t get enough of people with Kiwi accents? Then you booked a “flight” with the Conchords (Flight of the Conchords).

Beginning in 2003, the “Reality Show” category was added to the Emmy Awards.

Which TV series won the lion’s share of Emmy Awards in the 2000s? During this decade, Hill Street Blues‘ record of four wins for best drama series was tied by The West Wing and a little later on in the 2010s, would also be tied by Mad Men. Sigh. I generally don’t tune into too many “drama” series unless they have some kind of space, aliens, or otherwise supernatural angle – or I’m held captive at my in-laws’ house (LOL)!

Below is a list of series nominated for and winning Emmy Awards for comedy, drama and reality series (acting and best series). Winners will be denoted in boldface type.

2000

I’m going to presume that The West Wing is about the White House or something? Maybe I’ll have to call my dad to ask (LOL) On the right is Allison Janney, whom won at least a couple of lead actress Emmy Awards during the 2000s.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Michael J. Fox, Spin City
• Eric McCormack, Will & Grace
• John Lithgow, 3rd Rock From the Sun
• Kelsey Grammer, Frasier
• Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
• Jerry Orbach, Law & Order
• Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue
• Martin Sheen, The West Wing
• Sam Waterston, Law & Order

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond
• Jenna Elfman, Dharma & Greg
• Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle
• Debra Messing, Will & Grace
• Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Sela Ward, Once & Again
• Lorraine Bracco, The Sopranos
• Amy Brenneman, Judging Amy
• Edie Falco, The Sopranos
• Julianna Marguilies, ER

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• Will & Grace
• Everybody Loves Raymond
• Frasier
• Friends
• Sex and the City

Outstanding Drama Series:

• The West Wing
• The Practice
• Law & Order
• ER
• The Sopranos

2001

Tony Sirico as “Paulie Walnuts” and James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano on The Sopranos. Thanks to a neighbor in our apartment complex doing a little jimmying with a coaxial cable, we were able to get HBO for free for a while (but don’t tell anyone)!

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Eric McCormack, Will & Grace
• Frankie Muniz, Malcolm in the Middle
• John Lithgow, 3rd Rock From the Sun
• Kelsey Grammer, Frasier
• Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
• Andre Braugher, Gideon’s Crossing
• Dennis Franz, NYPD Blue
• Martin Sheen, The West Wing
• Rob Lowe, The West Wing

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond
• Calista Flockhart, Ally McBeal
• Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle
• Debra Messing, Will & Grace
• Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Edie Falco, The Sopranos
• Marg Helgenberger, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• Sela Ward, Once & Again
• Lorraine Bracco, The Sopranos
• Amy Brenneman, Judging Amy

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• Sex and the City
• Will & Grace
• Everybody Loves Raymond
• Frasier
• Malcolm in the Middle

Outstanding Drama Series:

• The West Wing
• The Practice
• Law & Order
• ER
• The Sopranos

2002

I tuned into The Shield during the first season, mainly because I found Michael Chiklis’ violent, take-no-prisoners character (far left) entertaining. But I lost interest by season 2. Chiklis would win an Emmy for his performance in this series.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond
• Matt LeBlanc, Friends
• Bernie Mac, The Bernie Mac Show
• Matthew Perry, Friends
• Kelsey Grammer, Frasier

 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• Michael Chiklis, The Shield
• Michael C. Hall, Six Feet Under
• Felipe Colombo, Erreway
• Kiefer Sutherland, 24
• Martin Sheen, The West Wing

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Jennifer Aniston, Friends
• Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond
• Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle
• Debra Messing, Will & Grace
• Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Allison Janney, The West Wing
• Frances Conroy, Six Feet Under
• Jennifer Garner, Alias
• Rachel Griffiths, Six Feet Under
• Amy Brenneman, Judging Amy

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• Friends
• Sex and the City
• Will & Grace
• Everybody Loves Raymond
• Curb Your Enthusiasm

Outstanding Drama Series:

• The West Wing
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• Law & Order
• 24
• Six Feet Under

2003

Emmy nominee Frances Conroy in Six Feet Under, which is about the goings-on in a funeral home.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond
• Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Matt LeBlanc, Friends
• Bernie Mac, The Bernie Mac Show
• Eric McCormack, Will & Grace

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
• Michael C. Hall, Six Feet Under
• Peter Krause, Six Feet Under
• Kiefer Sutherland, 24
• Martin Sheen, The West Wing

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Debra Messing, Will & Grace
• Jennifer Aniston, Friends
• Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond
• Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle
• Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Edie Falco, The Sopranos
• Allison Janney, The West Wing
• Frances Conroy, Six Feet Under
• Jennifer Garner, Alias
• Marg Helgenberger, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• Everybody Loves Raymond
• Friends
• Sex and the City
• Will & Grace
• Curb Your Enthusiasm

Outstanding Drama Series:

• The West Wing
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
• The Sopranos
• 24
• Six Feet Under

Outstanding Reality Competition Program:

• The Amazing Race
• 100 Years of Hope and Humor
• AFI’s 100 Years 100 Passions
• American Idol: The Search for a Superstar
• Survivor

2004

Fun untrue fact! Did you know that if you say Mariska Hargitay’s name three times in a row while staring into a mirror she will show up and grant you three wishes? She is most famous for playing Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but is also “sort of” famous for being the daughter of Jayne Mansfield.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Kelsey Grammer, Frasier
• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• John Ritter, 8 Simple Rules
• Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond
• Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Matt LeBlanc, Friends

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• James Spader, Boston Legal
• James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
• Felipe Colombo, Erreway
• Kiefer Sutherland, 24
• Martin Sheen, The West Wing

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City
• Bonnie Hunt, Life With Bonnie
• Jennifer Aniston, Friends
• Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond
• Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Allison Janney, The West Wing
• Edie Falco, The Sopranos
• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order
• Jennifer Garner, Alias
• Amber Tamblyn, CSI: Joan of Arcadia

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• Arrested Development
• Everybody Loves Raymond
• Sex and the City
• Will & Grace
• Curb Your Enthusiasm

Outstanding Drama Series:

• The Sopranos
• Joan of Arcadia
• The West Wing
• 24
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Outstanding Reality Competition Program:

• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• The Apprentice
• Last Comic Standing
• Survivor

2005

 

Before Tony Shalhoub won Emmy attention for his Monk character, he played a quirky alien in Men in Black and its sequel.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• Jason Bateman, Arrested Development
• Zach Braff, Scrubs
• Eric McCormack, Will & Grace
• Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• James Spader, Boston Legal
• Hank Azaria, Huff
• Hugh Laurie, House
• Ian McShane, Deadwood
• Kiefer Sutherland, 24

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives
• Marcia Cross, Desperate Housewives
• Teri Hatcher, Desperate Housewives
• Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond
• Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Patricia Arquette, Medium
• Glenn Close, The Shield
• Frances Conroy, Six Feet Under
• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order
• Jennifer Garner, Alias

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• Everybody Loves Raymond
• Arrested Development
• Desperate Housewives
• Will & Grace
• Scrubs

Outstanding Drama Series:

• Lost
• Deadwood
• The West Wing
• 24
• Six Feet Under

Outstanding Reality Competition Program:

• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• The Apprentice
• Project Runway
• Survivor

2006

Jessica Walter on Arrested Development.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• Steve Carell, The Office
• Larry David, Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Kevin James, The King of Queens
• Charlie Sheen, Two And a Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• Kiefer Sutherland, 24
• Peter Krause, Six Feet Under
• Denis Leary, Rescue Me
• Christopher Meloni, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Martin Sheen, The West Wing

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Stockard Channing, Out of Practice
• Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
• Jane Kaczmarek, Malcolm in the Middle
• Debra Messing, Will & Grace

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Geena Davis, Commander in Chief
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
• Frances Conroy, Six Feet Under
• Allison Janney, The West Wing

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• The Office
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Arrested Development
• Two and a Half Men
• Scrubs

Outstanding Drama Series:

• 24
• Grey’s Anatomy
• House
• The Sopranos
• The West Wing

Outstanding Reality Competition Program:

• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• Dancing With the Stars
• Project Runway
• Survivor

2007

Ian McKellen and Ricky Gervais in Extras. This episode resulted in an Emmy win for Gervais. Here, McKellen (playing himself) is explaining to Gervais (a film “extra”) how to play the role of a wizard (though his explanation is really un-helpful).

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Ricky Gervais, Extras
• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• Steve Carell, The Office
• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Charlie Sheen, Two And a Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• James Spader, Boston Legal
• Kiefer Sutherland, 24
• James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
• Hugh Laurie, House
• Denis Leary, Rescue Me

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• America Ferrara, Ugly Betty
• Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives
• Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Tina Fey,30 Rock
• Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Patricia Arquette, Medium
• Minnie Driver, The Riches
• Edie Falco, The Sopranos
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• 30 Rock
• The Office
• Entourage
• Ugly Betty
• Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Drama Series:

• The Sopranos
• Grey’s Anatomy
• House
• Heroes
• Boston Legal

Outstanding Reality Competition Program:

• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• Dancing With the Stars
• Project Runway
• Top Chef

2008

Christina Applegate in her Emmy-nominated role in Samantha Who?

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies
• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• Steve Carell, The Office
• Charlie Sheen, Two And a Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
• James Spader, Boston Legal
• Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
• Michael C. Hall, Dexter
• Hugh Laurie, House
• John Hamm, Mad Men

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• America Ferrara, Ugly Betty
• Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
• Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Glenn Close, Damages
• Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• 30 Rock
• The Office
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Entourage
• Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Drama Series:

• Mad Men
• Dexter
• Damages
• House
• Lost
• Boston Legal

Outstanding Reality Competition Program:

• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• Dancing With the Stars
• Project Runway
• Top Chef

2009

Excuse me if I go on a bit of a…tangent here, but Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) has an amazing ability to be both hot – and ugly – at the same time. And I COULD LISTEN TO HIM TALK ALL DAY (what a voice)! He received an Emmy nod for his Conchords role.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:

• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
• Jemaine Clement, Flight of the Conchords
• Tony Shalhoub, Monk
• Steve Carell, The Office
• Charlie Sheen, Two And a Half Men

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:

• Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
• Simon Baker, The Mentalist
• James Spader, Boston Legal
• Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment
• Michael C. Hall, Dexter
• Hugh Laurie, House
• John Hamm, Mad Men

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:

• Toni Collette, The United States of Tara
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• Sarah Silverman, The Sarah Silverman Program
• Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
• Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:

• Glenn Close, Damages
• Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
• Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
• Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Outstanding Comedy Series:

• 30 Rock
• The Office
• Family Guy
• Flight of the Conchords
• How I Met Your Mother
• Weeds

Outstanding Drama Series:

• Mad Men
• Big Love
• Breaking Bad
• Dexter
• Damages
• House
• Lost

Outstanding Reality Competition Program:

• The Amazing Race
• American Idol
• Dancing With the Stars
• Project Runway
• Top Chef