More Emmy Buzz: Theater Vets Close, Baldwin, Lange & More Take Home Trophies

Was it the Emmys or the Tonys? The host was the same (suave and charming Neil Patrick Harris), and by the end of the night on September 20, the winners’ list at the 61st annual Emmy Awards had a decidedly theatrical look. In addition to Tony winners Kristin Chenoweth and Cherry Jones, Emmys went to three-time Tony winner Glenn Close (Damages), Tony winner Ken Howard (Grey Gardens) and off-Broadway stalwart Michael Emerson (Lost, who thanked his theater vet wife, Carrie Preston).

In a Stanley and Blanche reunion, Alec Baldwin (who later won his second Emmy in a row for 30 Rock), presented the Best Actress award to his former Streetcar Named Desire co-star Jessica Lange (for Grey Gardens). Baldwin and Lange shared the stage in a 1992 Broadway revival of the Tennessee Williams classic, but the very tan Lange failed to mention the connection in her acceptance speech. (Maybe it’s because his reviews were a lot better than hers.)

Speaking of tan, Tony nominee Toni Collette was a surprise Best Actress winner for The United States of Tara. The Best Comedy and Best Drama Series winners were repeats from 2008, 30 Rock and Mad Men.

Spotted in the audience as Emmy nominees were six actresses who appeared on Broadway last season: Hope Davis and Tony winner Marcia Gay Harden (who presumably took a day off from God of Carnage to be there), Elisabeth Moss, Janet McTeer, Dianne Wiest and Mary-Louise Parker.