...And 'Seinfeld curse' is lifted

The US version of The Office has been named best comedy in America’s top television awards.

But its star, Steve Carell, lost the Emmy for best actor in a comedy series to Tony Shalhoub of Monk.

Executive Jeff Zucker, of the NBC network that stuck with The Office through early disappointing ratings, told reporters: ‘The win for The Office is a particularly sweet victory.’

Former Seinfeld star Julia Louis-Dreyfus won the best comedy actress Emmy for her new sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine.

Collecting her trophy she referred to the so-called ‘Seinfeld curse’ that that kept its stars from launching successful series.

‘I'm not somebody who really believes in curses - but curse this, baby,’ she said.

Megan Mullally won best supporting actress in comedy for her role in Will & Grace, while  Jeremy Piven of Entourage was named best supporting actor.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart won two Emmys, for best variety, music or comedy and the writing award for that category.

Stewart said: ‘I think this year you actually made a terrible mistake. But thank you.’

Greg Garcia won another writing Emmy for My Name Is Earl, but broke with tradition by sarcastically listing people who had done nothing to help his career.

‘My eighth-grade social studies teacher who told me to sit down and shut up because I wasn't funny. No, thank you Mr. McAdoo," he said.

My boss when I was a production assistant on the show Step By Step who made me clean the gum off the executive producer's shoe.

Published: 28 Aug 2006