Best Emmy Moments

What do Michael J. Fox, Meryl Streep and Kirstie Alley have in common? They all know how to give outrageous acceptance speeches. Browse our gallery of the most memorable moments in Emmy history.

20. Small Stuff

The Year Was 1986 ... Five-foot, four-inch 'Family Ties' star Michael J. Fox was delighted to beat out taller, more acclaimed stars like Ted Danson and Bob Newhart for best actor in a comedy. He jokingly exclaimed, "I feel four feet tall!"

19. Save Bob!

The Year Was 2006 ... As a gimmick to keep acceptance speeches short, host Conan O'Brien jokingly trapped TV icon Bob Newhart in an enclosed box with only three hours of air. O'Brien warned that if the telecast ran over the allotted time, the beloved star would die.

18. Just in Tyne

The Year Was 1985 ... 'Cagney & Lacey' star Tyne Daly was pregnant and one week overdue when she accepted her third consecutive best actress trophy. She proudly proclaimed that she was "the luckiest lady alive." The female-dominated show also upset the favored 'Miami Vice' and 'Hill Street Blues' for best drama.

17. We're Listening

The Year Was 1995 ... 'Frasier' star Kelsey Grammer accepted his best actor award amid a flood of rumors that he'd engaged in sexual relations with a minor. He addressed the situation very simply from the stage: "It was kind of a rough year this year, but everything turned out OK."

16. Three Cheers!

The Year Was 1990 ... After nine losses, Ted Danson took a lot of ribbing from his 'Cheers' co-star Kirstie Alley. But the one-time Sam Malone finally won and graciously accepted his award, telling the audience, "I guess you'll be saying 'you've been robbed' to some other boy. I'll miss that."

15. Size Matters

The Year Was 1998 ... Plus-size 'Practice' co-star Camryn Manheim had the audience cheering as she celebrated her win for best supporting actress with the enthusiastic declaration, "This is for all the fat girls!"

14. And the Emmy Goes to ... ?

The Year Was 1975 ... Presenters Lucille Ball and an ailing Groucho Marx attempted to give out the coveted best comedy Emmy, but Lucy was unable to read the envelope because she forgot her glasses. Thankfully Milton Berle stepped up and gave the prize to 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show.'

13. Yep, She's Gay!

The Year Was 1997 ... Before Ellen DeGeneres started racking up Emmys for her talk show, she won the best actress race and a writing award for the groundbreaking coming-out episode of her sitcom 'Ellen.' She told fans, "Don't ever let anybody make you feel ashamed of who you are."

12. Follow That Bird

The Year Was 1970 ... Big Bird may have had his feathers ruffled a bit when 'Sesame Street' lost the best new series award to 'Room 222,' but he didn't show it while presenting an award with co-host Dick Cavett. Besides, Big Bird and co. still took three other trophies home to 'Sesame Street.'

11. Masterful Television

The Year Was 1993 ... In his self-deprecating manner, 'Seinfeld' writer Larry David joked, "This is all very well and good, but I'm still bald." He then referenced the famed 'Contest' episode by dedicating his award "to all those out there who are 'masters of their domain.'"

10. M*A*S*H Up

The Year Was 1979 ... What made a star who had already won Emmys for acting and directing do a cartwheel in the aisle? An accolade for writing, of course. Triple threat Alan Alda quite literally flipped when he went up to accept his award.

9. Wardrobe Malfunction

The Year Was 2005 ... S. Epatha Merkerson learned the hard way not to store her acceptance speech in her cleavage. Her notes had shifted and she sighed, "Oh God ... it's down there." She tried to remember names, but when told to wrap it up, she sweetly said, "OK, thank you."

8. Say What?

The Year Was 1983 ... Censors were on alert when bawdy Joan Rivers and funnyman Eddie Murphy riled up the crowd with some edgy remarks. The red-carpet maven shocked the crowd the most with irreverent references to her sex life and biting comments about 'Dynasty' star Joan Collins.

7. Mo' Better Blues

The Year Was 1981 ... Narrowly escaping cancellation (NBC had barely agreed to renew the low-rated series for a second season), gritty cop drama 'Hill Street Blues' wowed the crowd with a whopping eight trophies. Even recurring guest star Barbara Babcock won for best lead actress.

6. Funny Girl

The Year Was 1965 ... Barbra Streisand racked up five awards for her first television special, 'My Name Is Barbra.' The star told the world why she loved to watch the Emmys, saying "I didn't care who won then, just how she looked, how he looked ... was he drunk?"

5. American Beauty

The Year Was 2004 ... Oscar winner Meryl Streep faced tough competition in the race for best actress in a miniseries, but she giddily claimed the prize for her 'Angels in America' role and proclaimed, "There are some days when even I think I'm overrated ... but not today."

4. The Show Must Go On

The Year Was 2001 ... After three postponements because of the Sept. 11 tragedy and the subsequent war in Afghanistan, a subdued Emmys took place in November. Host Ellen DeGeneres quipped, "What would bug the Taliban more than a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?"

3. You Say Potato

The Year Was 1992 ... Vice President Dan Quayle's campaign for better family values took aim at 'Murphy Brown' for showing a sassy and confident single mother. 'Murphy' star Candice Bergen got back at Quayle during her acceptance speech by cleverly poking fun at his infamous misspelling of potato.

2. Oh My!

The Year Was 1991 ... 'Cheers' star Kirstie Alley made her third Emmy speech one to remember by thanking her then-husband Parker Stevenson for giving her "the big one for the last eight years." Quick-witted co-host Jerry Seinfeld kept the show moving by teasing, "The big one? That could be anything!"

1. Landslide Victory

The Year Was 2000 ... The fast-talking political drama 'The West Wing' rocked the Emmys when it took home nine awards in its very first year on the air, beating the record of eight trophies previously set by cop series 'Hill Street Blues.'