Emmys Show a Winner

By Stephen M. Silverman

07/28/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Host Garry Shandling led Sunday's Emmy Awards to its highest ratings in at least 14 years. The telecast of the 52nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards nearly approached "Survivor" numbers: ABC estimates that 46 million viewers tuned in for at least some portion of the 3-hour show. (The show's opening spoof of "Survivor" was an early indication that Shandling -- an Emmy winner himself for the late but great "The Larry Sanders Show" -- would deliver laughs as the show's host.) According to preliminary figures released by Nielsen Media Research, an average audience of 21.6 million viewers tuned in throughout the telecast. Further, ABC said that the Shandling-hosted ceremony was the most-watched Emmy broadcast in at least 14 years (since Nielsen began compiling total viewer statistics). The ratings also mark a 23% jump from last year's show (aired on Fox), which averaged 17.5 million viewers. Somebody get this guy another series.