Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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Washington Blade - September 24, 2004
Brian Moylan, Columnist
With 11 total wins, "Angels" bested the nine trophies "Roots" won in 1977 and tied 1976's "Eleanor and Franklin" as the most-honored program in one season. It was also this year's most-nominated program, competing in 21 categories.
"I think that shows that are more for the mass audience are more likely to reach out to people who otherwise wouldn't be getting the message," said Stephen Tropiano, gay television expert and author of "The Prime Time Closet," about the impact of the miniseries.
"When it came out as a play, 'Angels' was preaching to the choir a bit. Now it probably has had an impact on people seeing it, especially because it had mainstream stars in it. I think it opened eyes for a lot of people, especially younger people."
Based on gay writer Tony Kushner's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play about the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, the televised version of the work won the writing for a miniseries, movie or dramatic special award for Kushner, who adapted his play for TV.
Kushner used his time on the podium to make a political statement by thanking his husband, Mark. "Someday soon we can have a legal marriage license and you can make an honest homosexual out of me," he said during the ceremony, which aired on ABC.
"Angels" director Mike Nichols also won for his efforts.
Actors from "Angels" swept in the four categories for made-for-television movie/miniseries. Aside from the general award and writing, directing, and acting awards, the miniseries also won for art direction, casting, makeup and sound mixing for a miniseries, movie or special.
Meryl Streep won for lead actress, miniseries or movie, (beating out costar Emma Thompson) for her multiple roles; Al Pacino won lead actor, miniseries or movie, for his role as gay lawyer Roy Cohn; and Mary-Louise Parker won supporting actress, miniseries or movie, as Harper Pitt, the wife of a closeted gay man.
Jeffrey Wright, the only actor from the original Broadway production to return for the miniseries, won supporting actor, miniseries or movie, repeating his gay role as Belize/Mr. Lies. He won a 1994 Tony award for the same role.
In his category, Wright was chosen over fellow "Angels" actors Patrick Wilson, Justin Kirk and Ben Shenkman. The only other nominee in the category was William H. Macy for his role in "Stealing Sinatra."
Plea for awareness
Though he was interrupted by the music that was meant to usher winners offstage, Wright made an impassioned plea for AIDS awareness.
"When I originally started this journey with the pieces, AIDS affected mainly gay men," he said. The music started after that sentence, but Wright continued, "Now the disease affects African Americans in extraordinary numbers, sub-Saharan Africa is being devastated by this disease."
He said he hoped his award would inspire others to "tell those stories and keep those realities and struggles alive in the public dialogue." Wright did not respond to Blade inquiries for comment by press time.
Ellen loses to Elaine
Also giving a rousing speech was Broadway legend Elaine Stritch, who won for performance in a variety or music program for her HBO special "Elaine Stritch: At Liberty."
She first mentioned her competition - Ellen DeGeneres, Tracy Ullman, Billy Crystal, and Bill Maher - and then said, "Look at the company I'm in, just look at it, I mean, and I'm so glad none of them won. I won."
The program was previously named best variety, music or comedy special at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony, which was held on Sept. 12.
Other winners included Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon as actress and supporting actress in a comedy series for their work on the final season of HBO's "Sex and the City." The show, however, lost the comedy series award to Fox's critically acclaimed but low-rated "Arrested Development."
For the second year in a row, CBS's "The Amazing Race" was named best reality-competitive program. The show included several gay contestants in the past (including past gay winners Chip Arndt and Reichen Lehmkuhl).
Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" won the reality program trophy.
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