20 Best Moments in Emmy History

What do <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/michael-j-fox/24577/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Michael J. Fox</font></a>, <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/meryl-streep/68676/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Meryl Streep</font></a> and <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kirstie-alley/1093/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Kirstie Alley</font></a> have in common? They all know how to give outrageous acceptance speeches. Browse our gallery of the most memorable moments in Emmy history.

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

20. Small Stuff

<b>The Year Was 1986 ...</b> Five-foot, four-inch <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/family-ties/SH0015580000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">'Family Ties'</font></a> star <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/michael-j-fox/24577/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Michael J. Fox</font></a> was delighted to beat out taller, more acclaimed stars like <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/ted-danson/16938/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Ted Danson</font></a> and <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/bob-newhart/52389/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Bob Newhart</font></a> for best actor in a comedy. He jokingly exclaimed, "I feel four feet tall!"

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

19. Save Bob!

<b>The Year Was 2006 ...</b> As a gimmick to keep acceptance speeches short, host <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/conan-obrien/276931/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Conan O'Brien</font></a> jokingly trapped TV icon <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/bob-newhart/52389/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Bob Newhart</font></a> 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.

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

18. Just in Tyne

<b>The Year Was 1985 ...</b> <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/cagney-and-lacey/SH0007410000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">'Cagney & Lacey'</font></a> star <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/tyne-daly/16712/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Tyne Daly</font></a> 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 <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/miami-vice/SH0028810000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">'Miami Vice'</font></a> and <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/hill-street-blues/SH0020940000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">'Hill Street Blues'</font></a> for best drama.

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

17. We're Listening

<b>The Year Was 1995 ...</b> <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/frasier/SH0809390000/main" target="_blank"><font color="#07a4f5">'Frasier'</font></a> star <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kelsey-grammer/28139/main" target="_blank"><font color="#07a4f5">Kelsey Grammer</font></a> 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."

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

16. Three Cheers!

<b>The Year Was 1990 ...</b> After nine losses, <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/ted-danson/16938/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Ted Danson</font></a> took a lot of ribbing from his <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/cheers/SH0008820000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">'Cheers'</font></a> co-star <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kirstie-alley/1093/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Kirstie Alley.</font></a> 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."

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

15. Size Matters

<b>The Year Was 1998 ...</b> Plus-size <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/the-practice/237349/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">'Practice'</font></a> co-star <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/camryn-manheim/45044/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#07a4f5">Camryn Manheim</font></a> had the audience cheering as she celebrated her win for best supporting actress with the enthusiastic declaration, "This is for all the fat girls!"

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

14. And the Emmy Goes to ... ?

<b>The Year Was 1975 ...</b> Presenters <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/lucille-ball/3574/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Lucille Ball</font></a> and an ailing <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/groucho-marx/46156/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Groucho Marx</font></a> attempted to give out the coveted best comedy Emmy, but Lucy was unable to read the envelope because she forgot her glasses. Thankfully <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/milton-berle/81579/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Milton Berle</font></a> stepped up and gave the prize to <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/the-mary-tyler-moore-show/SH0028100000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'The Mary Tyler Moore Show.'</font></a>

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

13. Yep, She's Gay!

<b>The Year Was 1997 ...</b> Before <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/ellen-degeneres/17737/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Ellen DeGeneres</font></a> 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 <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/ellen/SH1011690000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'Ellen.'</font></a> She told fans, "Don't ever let anybody make you feel ashamed of who you are."

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

12. Follow That Bird

<b>The Year Was 1970 ...</b> Big Bird may have had his feathers ruffled a bit when <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/sesame-street/SH0037860000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'Sesame Street'</font></a> lost the best new series award to 'Room 222,' but he didn't show it while presenting an award with co-host <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/dick-cavett/11901/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Dick Cavett.</font></a> Besides, Big Bird and co. still took three other trophies home to 'Sesame Street.'

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

11. Masterful Television

<b>The Year Was 1993 ...</b> In his self-deprecating manner, <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/seinfeld/SH0169160000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'Seinfeld'</font></a> writer <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/larry-david/207898/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Larry David</font></a> 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.'"

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

10. <A HREF='http://television.aol.com/show/mash/SH0027100000/main' target='_blank'><FONT COLOR='#07a4f5'>M*A*S*H</font></a> Up

<b>The Year Was 1979 ...</b> 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 <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/alan-alda/79264/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Alan Alda</font></a> quite literally flipped when he went up to accept his award.

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

9. Wardrobe Malfunction

<b>The Year Was 2005 ...</b> <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/s-epatha-merkerson/48559/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4"> S. Epatha Merkerson</font></a> 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."

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

8. Say What?

<b>The Year Was 1983 ...</b> Censors were on alert when bawdy <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/joan-rivers/108387/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Joan Rivers</font></a> and funnyman <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/eddie-murphy/51440/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Eddie Murphy</font></a> 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 <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/dynasty/SH0013710000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'Dynasty'</font></a> star <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/joan-collins/14235/?pid=SH0013710000" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Joan Collins</font></a>.

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

7. Mo' Better Blues

<b>The Year Was 1981 ...</b> Narrowly escaping cancellation (NBC had barely agreed to renew the low-rated series for a second season), gritty cop drama <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/hill-street-blues/SH0020940000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'Hill Street Blues'</font></a> wowed the crowd with a whopping eight trophies. Even recurring guest star <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/barbara-babcock/3098/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Barbara Babcock</font></a> won for best lead actress.

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

6. Funny Girl

<b>The Year Was 1965 ...</b> <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/barbra-streisand/112652/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4"> Barbra Streisand</font></a> 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?"

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

5. American Beauty

<b>The Year Was 2004 ...</b> Oscar winner <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/meryl-streep/68676/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Meryl Streep</font></a> faced tough competition in the race for best actress in a miniseries, but she giddily claimed the prize for her <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/angels-in-america/248985/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'Angels in America'</font></a> role and proclaimed, "There are some days when even I think I'm overrated ... but not today."

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

4. The Show Must Go On

<b>The Year Was 2001 ...</b> After three postponements because of the Sept. 11 tragedy and the subsequent war in Afghanistan, a subdued Emmys took place in November. Host <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/ellen-degeneres/17737/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Ellen DeGeneres</font></a> quipped, "What would bug the Taliban more than a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?"

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

3. You Say Potato

<b>The Year Was 1992 ...</b> Vice President Dan Quayle's campaign for better family values took aim at <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/murphy-brown/SH0029960000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'Murphy Brown'</font></a> for showing a sassy and confident single mother. 'Murphy' star <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/candice-bergen/5591/?pid=SH0029960000" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Candice Bergen</font></a> got back at Quayle during her acceptance speech by cleverly poking fun at his infamous misspelling of potato.

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

2. Oh My!

<b>The Year Was 1991 ...</b> <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/cheers/SH0008820000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4"> 'Cheers'</font></a> star <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/kirstie-alley/1093/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Kirstie Alley</font></a> 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 <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/celebrity/jerry-seinfeld/64376/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">Jerry Seinfeld</font></a> kept the show moving by teasing, "The big one? That could be anything!"

20 Best Moments in Emmy History

1. Landslide Victory

<b>The Year Was 2000 ...</b> The fast-talking political drama <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/the-west-wing/SH3169910000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'The West Wing'</font></a> 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 <A HREF="http://television.aol.com/show/hill-street-blues/SH0020940000/main" target="_blank"><FONT COLOR="#2864B4">'Hill Street Blues.'</font></a>