HOLLYWOOD — The usual suspects ruled the night, hosted by Conan O'Brien, but new blood drew the top Emmy honors.

"24," Fox's popular action series that stars Kiefer Sutherland as a terrorist-fighting antihero, and "The Office," NBC's mockumentary remake of the acclaimed British series, took home the major awards last night at the 58th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, winning respectively for outstanding drama and outstanding comedy.

HBO's "Elizabeth I" was the night's top winner with nine Emmys, including best miniseries and Helen Mirren as best actress in a miniseries.

Before the final few awards, during which "24's" Sutherland won best actor in a drama for the first time, the Emmys had favored the tried-and-true, despite some controversial rule changes instituted this year that were designed to shake up the awards.

The shows that have been breathing new life into primetime television in recent years — such as "House," "Grey's Anatomy," and "American Idol" — were overlooked in the awards. And several of last year's most-honored shows, such as "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives," received few nominations and won no major awards.

Until the final moments of the show, if you had won before, the chances were you won again. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, a best supporting actress Emmy winner from "Seinfeld," won for best actress in a comedy for CBS' "The New Adventures of Old Christine," while Tony Shalhoub won his third Emmy for best actor in a comedy for "Monk" on USA Network.

Megan Mullally of NBC's "Will & Grace" won her second Emmy for best supporting actress in a comedy. Alan Alda, a multiple Emmy winner for "M*A*S*H," won for best supporting actor in a drama for "The West Wing" on NBC.

And though critics thought it had an off year, CBS' "The Amazing Race" trounced the juggernaut of "American Idol" for the fourth straight time for outstanding reality series.

Mariska Hargitay, who had been nominated three times for NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," finally won for best lead actress in a drama.

Host O'Brien and the show's writers brought their quirky sense of silliness to the proceedings, with bits that hit (Bob Newhart in a cylinder that would run out of air when the show ran past its allotted time) and missed (stilted dialogue between presenters).

A film clip that started the show — of O'Brien being forced to make his way through TV series such as "Lost" on his way to the Emmys — had the feel of a Billy Crystal Oscar opening, but was clouded by a scene showing a plane crash, which many felt was in poor taste considering the plane crash hours earlier in Kentucky that left 49 dead.

Newcomers to the major categories such as Denis Leary ("Rescue Me") and Elizabeth Perkins ("Weeds") were left out in the cold. Film actresses Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer") and Geena Davis ("Commander in Chief") who had revived their careers on TV, came away losers.

In winning for best comedy, "The Office" extends its status as a low-key winner. It is far below the popularity levels of "Two and a Half Men," which was also nominated for best comedy. Like the canceled "Arrested Development," which won six Emmys but was never able to attract a large audience, "The Office" is a critical favorite that has yet to attain wide popularity with audiences.

Both "24" and "The Office" have been hailed for their innovative upheavals of the traditional sitcom and episodic drama. But their victory did not demonstrate a wave of fresh vision or brave new directions that the redesigned nomination process were meant to achieve.

While "The Colbert Report" this year may have received most of the headlines in topical humor, it was unable to unseat its parent show, "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," which took home its fourth consecutive Emmy for both best variety, music and comedy program, and for best writing. Even Stewart, in an apparent reference to Colbert's show, quipped in his acceptance speech that he thought the Academy had "made a mistake."

In fact, one of the evening's few surprises came courtesy of a crooner who is often the butt of jokes. Musician Barry Manilow triumphed over his TV competition Stephen Colbert, Craig Ferguson, David Letterman and Hugh Jackman in winning the award for individual performance in a variety or music program with his PBS special, "Barry Manilow: Music and Passion."

Showtime scored one of the night's upsets when Blythe Danner won her second consecutive Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama for "Huff," which the pay cable network canceled in its second season.

HBO got gold for "Entourage," which some insiders felt was overlooked in the major comedy categories. Jeremy Piven, who plays foul-mouthed agent Ari Gold, won for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy.

Heartfelt emotion took center stage at various points during the evening. A tribute to late TV mogul Aaron Spelling, who died in June, included remembrances by three stars from his shows — Joan Collins ("Dynasty"), Stephen Collins ("7th Heaven"), and Heather Locklear ("Melrose Place").

But the true surprise came when the three original "Charlie's Angels" — Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith — strode on stage. The three had not appeared together on television since 1977. Fawcett teared up while holding her hands in a prayerful gesture, and said, "Thank you, Aaron."

Another poignant moment came during a tribute to Dick Clark, who suffered a stroke in 2004. The segment included clips of the host introducing future music superstars such as Madonna and Michael Jackson on "American Bandstand."

Simon Cowell of "American Idol" then introduced Clark, who was sitting behind a podium, making his first public appearance since last year's "New Year's Rockin' Eve." Clark tried to cut short the audience's standing ovation by pointing to his watch and warning them that the show might run long. Even with slurred speech, he eloquently expressed his gratitude that his show-business dream had come true.

Overall, HBO was the big winner with a total of 26 Emmys, followed by NBC with 14, ABC with 11, Fox with 10, CBS with nine and PBS with eight.

AND THE WINNERS ARE ...

Drama Series: "24," Fox



Comedy Series: "The Office," NBC



Miniseries: "Elizabeth I," HBO



Variety, Music or Comedy Series: "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central



Made for TV Movie: "The Girl in the Cafe," HBO



Reality-Competition Program: "The Amazing Race," CBS



Actor, Drama Series: Kiefer Sutherland, "24," Fox



Actor, Comedy Series: Tony Shalhoub, "Monk," USA



Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Andre Braugher, "Thief," FX



Actress, Drama Series: Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," NBC



Actress, Comedy Series: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "The New Adventures of Old Christine," CBS



Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Helen Mirren, "Elizabeth I," HBO



Supporting Actor, Drama Series: Alan Alda, "The West Wing," NBC



Supporting Actor, Comedy Series: Jeremy Piven, "Entourage," HBO



Supporting Actor, Mini series or Movie: Jeremy Irons, "Elizabeth I," HBO



Supporting Actress, Drama Series: Blythe Danner, "Huff," Showtime



Supporting Actress, Comedy Series: Megan Mullally, "Will & Grace," NBC



Supporting Actress, Mini series or a Movie: Kelly Macdonald, "The Girl in the Cafe," HBO



Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Barry Manilow, "Barry Manilow: Music and Passion," PBS



Directing for a Drama Series: "24," "7:00 a.m. -8:00 a.m.," Fox



Directing for a Comedy Series: "My Name Is Earl: Pilot," NBC



Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: "Elizabeth I," HBO



Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: "78th Annual Academy Awards," ABC



Writing for a Drama Series: "The Sopranos: Members Only," HBO



Writing for a Comedy Series: "My Name Is Earl: Pilot," NBC



Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special: "The Girl in the Cafe," HBO



Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," Comedy Central



— Associated Press