History waits in wings at tonight's Emmy Awards show Cable's new role, cheers for 'Cheers' enliven telecast

Will "Cheers" surpass "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" as the most celebrated TV series?

2 * Robert Morse,"Tru (American Playhouse)," PBS

Guest actress,comedy series:

* Shelley Long,"Cheers," NBC

* Gwen Verdon,"Dream On," HBO

* Ruby Dee, "Evening Shade," CBS

* Carol Burnett,"The Larry Sanders Show," HBO

1% * Tracey Ullman,"Love & War," CBS

Lead actress,comedy series:

* Marion Ross,"Brooklyn Bridge," CBS

* Kirstie Alley,"Cheers," NBC

* Helen Hunt,"Mad About You," NBC

* Candice Bergen,"Murphy Brown," CBS

1% * Roseanne Arnold,"Roseanne," ABC

Guest actress,drama series:

* Diane Ladd,"Dr. Quinn:Medicine Woman," Pilot,CBS

* Gwen Verdon,"Homicide -- Life on the Streets:A Ghost of a Chance," NBC

* Rosanna Carter,"I'll Fly Away:What's In a Name," NBC

* Elaine Stritch,"Law & Order:Point of View," NBC

* Bibi Besch,"Northern Exposure:Grosse Pointe 48230," CBS

Lead actress,drama series:

* Regina Taylor,"I'll Fly Away," NBC

* Angela Lansbury,"Murder,She Wrote," CBS

* Janine Turner,"Northern Exposure," CBS

* Kathy Baker,"Picket Fences," CBS

.` * Swoosie Kurtz,"Sisters," NBC

Lead actress,miniseries or special:

* Joanne Woodward,"Blind Spot," CBS

* Holly Hunter,"The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom," HBO

* Helen Mirren,"Mystery!: Prime Suspect 2," PBS

* Glenn Close,"Hallmark Hall of Fame:Skylark," CBS

* Maggie Smith,"Great Performances:Suddenly Last Summer," PBS

Supporting actor,comedy series:

* Michael Jeter,"Evening Shade," CBS

* Jeffrey Tambor,"The Larry Sanders Show," HBO

* Rip Torn, "The Larry Sanders Show," HBO

* Michael Richards,"Seinfeld," NBC

1% * Jason Alexander,"Seinfeld," NBC

Supporting actor,drama series:

* Chad Lowe,"Life Goes On," ABC

* John Cullum,"Northern Exposure," CBS

* Barry Corbin,"Northern Exposure," CBS

* Fyvush Finkel,"Picket Fences," CBS

4( * Dean Stockwell,"Quantum Leap," NBC

Supporting actor,miniseries or special:

* Jonathan Pryce,"Barbarians at the Gate," HBO

* Peter Riegert,"Barbarians at the Gate," HBO

* Brian Dennehy,"Murder in the Heartland," ABC

* Beau Bridges,"The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged ,, Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom," HBO

* Maximilian Schell,"Stalin," HBO