The point I was trying to make with DR Cillaliz last night about my surprise over EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND winning Best Comedy Series:
Only three times in the history of the Emmy has a long-running comedy show won Best Comedy Series in its last year of eligibility: THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, and BARNEY MILLER.
GET SMART, TAXI, ALL IN THE FAMILY, MASH, CHEERS, SEINFELD, FRASIER, FRIENDS, SEX AND THE CITY: none of them were able to pull out a win during their final year on the air.
So, the odds were against RAYMOND last night, especially with the year's biggest hit DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and last year's winner ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT as its major competition.