The Emmys honored a few newcomers — such as ABC's "Lost" as top drama series last night — but television's highest prize showed a fondness for repeats.

CBS' "Everybody Loves Raymond" was named best comedy series in its ninth and final season; it had won the same prize two years ago. ABC's "Desperate Housewives," the red-hot serial, had been the heavy favorite in that category for its first season.

"All year long they've been asking us, 'Do you think now that your show is going, does that mean the end of the sitcom?' " said "Raymond" creator Phil Rosenthal. "I want to say yes. I also think, beyond that, it's the end of laughing."

"Lost" co-creator Damon Lindelof thanked ABC and Emmy voters for believing in the challenging mystery. "We know it can be frustrating," he said. "Bear with us."

The other "Lost" win last night was for Best Directing for a Drama Series, which it won for its two-episode pilot.

All told, the series won six Emmys this year after being nominated in 12 categories. The other four wins were announced on Sept. 11 at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards show, where local special-effects expert Archie Ahuna of "Lost" was part of a nine-member special-effects team that took home the award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series. The three other awards the show won last week: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore).

But it wasn't all about "Lost" last night.

The two winners for top actresses in series were major surprises. Felicity Huffman earned the comedy award for "Desperate Housewives" over co-stars Teri Hatcher and Marcia Cross. Huffman thanked her "incomparable" husband, actor William H. Macy.

Patricia Arquette was named top drama actress for her role in NBC's "Medium" in its first season. She saluted volunteer workers in the hurricane-devastated Gulf Coast.

Otherwise, familiar faces kept appearing at the podium. In supporting comedy roles, Doris Roberts won her fourth Emmy as the meddling mother on "Everybody Loves Raymond," and Brad Garrett earned his third as her sad-sack son. Garrett joked: "I have to dedicate this to Britney (Spears) and our baby. This is amazing."

Tony Shalhoub earned his second award for comedy actor as the obsessive-compulsive detective on USA's "Monk."

James Spader of ABC's "Boston Legal" picked up his second award as dramatic actor for playing Alan Shore. Spader thanked his mother twice, saying it was because he forgot to mention her last year when he won for the same character on "The Practice."

William Shatner was named best supporting actor in "Boston Legal," his second award for playing Denny Crane.

CBS' "The Amazing Race" won its third consecutive trophy as top reality competition.

But the most prominent repeat was Ellen DeGeneres' return as host. Four years ago, she guiding an Emmy telecast that had been twice delayed after the terrorist attacks and the start of air strikes on Afghanistan. In overseeing the 57th annual ceremony, New Orleans native DeGeneres stressed the need for laughter after the national tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.

"Be sure to look for me next month when I host the North Korean People's Choice Awards," she joked.

The ceremony started with a weird musical performance by the Black Eyed Peas and Earth, Wind & Fire that recapped the past year in television. (Jon Stewart and Jennifer Garner looked as if they were witnessing an accident. Others, such as Marg Helgenberger, danced exuberantly.)

David Letterman paid tribute to the late Johnny Carson, saluting him for 30 years of "such wit, charm, intelligence and grace."

Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" earned its third consecutive Emmy as top variety series. Star Stewart said current comedians have the same high regard for Letterman as the CBS host does for Carson.

Former news anchors Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw received a prolonged standing ovation in a tribute that also honored the late Peter Jennings. "He left us far too soon," Rather said.

Blythe Danner, a three-time nominee this year, won as supporting dramatic actress for Showtime's "Huff." "I think my husband, Bruce Paltrow, is up there, stirring this up for me," she said of her late husband, a director. Danner also thanked her children, who include actress Gwyneth Paltrow, and pleaded for the return of U.S. troops from Iraq.

HBO dominated the movie categories. Geoffrey Rush won as top actor for the role in "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers." Rush, an Australian, recalled the thrill of watching American entertainers such as Jackie Gleason and Red Skelton.

The Sellers film also won honors for writing and direction. Director Stephen Hopkins, currently working in Baton Rouge, La., called attention to the selflessness there after the hurricane.

The best-movie honor went to HBO's "Warm Springs," the story of Franklin Roosevelt overcoming self-pity after contracting polio. Jane Alexander won the supporting actress prize for playing Roosevelt's mother.

S. Epatha Merkerson was named best movie actress for HBO's "Lackawanna Blues."

The "Law & Order" actress had put her acceptance speech down the bosom of her dress and couldn't retrieve it. "It's probably stuck to me," she said, as the audience laughed. "My mother's watching. She's going to die."

Paul Newman was named top supporting actor in a movie for HBO's "Empire Falls."

HBO didn't win the miniseries prize — that went to "The Lost Prince," which aired on PBS' "Masterpiece Theatre."

"Thank you all for supporting public broadcasting," said executive producer Rebecca Eaton in accepting that prize.

To heighten viewer interest, the Emmys instituted a celebrity-singing contest modeled on "American Idol." "Apprentice" star Donald Trump and Megan Mullally of "Will & Grace" were winners for a zany rendition of the "Green Acres" theme.

Charles McDougall was named top comedy director for "Desperate Housewives. When his agent told him of the project, McDougall said, "I wasn't sure whether it was a TV program or an invitation to a Hollywood party."