LOS ANGELES - "The Sopranos" took aim Sunday at its final Emmy Awards while "Heroes" and "Ugly Betty" made a stand for television's new generation.
The mob saga, which ended its six-season run in June, was competing for best drama series and was prominent in the acting categories, with stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco and supporting players Michael Imperioli, Aida Turturro and Lorraine Bracco up for honors.
"The Sopranos" wasn't a sure bet for the top trophy, which it claimed in 2004: It's rarely gone to a drama after it's off the air. The series also faced tough rivals that included "Grey's Anatomy," the controversy-rocked medical drama, and sci-fi freshman hit "Heroes."
Last year's winner, "24," was snubbed in the nominations.
Newcomer "Ugly Betty," the high-camp series adapted from a Colombian telenovela, was nominated for best comedy and drew a bid for star America Ferrera. Another freshman comedy, "30 Rock," which has drawn critical raves but low ratings, and last year's winner "The Office" also were vying for the comedy crown.
Ryan Seacrest of "American Idol" fame was to host the 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards show, set to air on Fox from the downtown Shrine Auditorium.
The usually staid ceremony had a shot at some MTV-style brashness: There were hints that Justin Timberlake might perform the song from "(Blank) in a Box," the racy "Saturday Night Live" fake music video about a gift-wrapped part of the male anatomy.
On a different note, former Vice President Al Gore, whose global-warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" received an Oscar earlier this year, was up for an Emmy for Current TV, his youth-oriented channel featuring viewer-created videos.
Ratings expectations were dampened by last year's outcome, when the show drew its fourth-smallest audience ever of about 16 million viewers. There also was formidable competition from Sunday evening's Chargers-Patriots NFL game airing on NBC.
Network Emmy tallies going into Sunday night's ceremony included HBO with 15; NBC with 12, CBS with nine, Fox with seven, PBS six and ABC four. All were presented at last week's creative arts ceremony.
Guest actors in drama and comedy series honored at the creative arts awards were Elaine Stritch for "30 Rock," Leslie Caron for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," John Goodman for "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and Stanley Tucci for "Monk."
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