( CNN ) -- HBO's "The Sopranos," considered the front-runner for best drama series, has won two awards at the Emmys Sunday night, for directing and writing.
The second award went to the show's creator, David Chase.
The AMC miniseries "Broken Trail" was also roundly honored at the show, winning three awards in the early going -- for best actor, best supporting actor and best miniseries or movie.
Katherine Heigl of "Grey's Anatomy" and Jaime Pressly of "My Name Is Earl" took home Emmys in supporting categories.
"Here's to our little engine that could, that finally did," said a tearful Pressly, accepting her honor.
Heigl maintained she didn't come prepared with a speech because her mother told her she wasn't going to win.
Also taking home supporting performer Emmys were Jeremy Piven of "Entourage" and Terry O'Quinn of "Lost." Piven, who emotionally thanked his late father after winning at last year's Emmys, did so again this year.
The show began with an irreverent musical number sung by "Family Guy's" Stewie and Brian, taking aim at everything from "the garbage on the airwaves" to the reputations of the broadcast networks.
"We're definitely on Fox tonight," joked host Ryan Seacrest, noting the characters' jibes
Despite being a favorite, "The Sopranos," which concluded its run with one of the most talked-about final episodes in TV history, has no guarantee of winning best drama.
all, the HBO mob drama has won that award only once, in 2004. In other years -- including the show's first seasons on the air, when it was widely hailed as a television breakthrough -- it was regularly defeated for the top award, almost always by "The West Wing."
This year, "The Sopranos" faces other challenges. The Emmys rarely give awards to shows that have left the air. Moreover, its competition includes both the highly rated medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" and the much buzzed-about superhero show "Heroes."
Still, "The Sopranos" has numbers in its corner, having been nominated for 15 Emmys, leading all series. The HBO film "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" led all programs with 17 nominations.
Already, HBO has a lead on other networks, having picked up 15 awards at the creative arts Emmys last week.
Among other notable winners from that show: "(Blank) in a Box," an off-color song from "Saturday Night Live" about wrapping a part of the male anatomy as a gift for a loved one; Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke," about the effects of Hurricane Katrina; and performers Elaine Stritch ("30 Rock"), Leslie Caron ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"), John Goodman ("Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") and Stanley Tucci ("Monk"), all of whom won for guest appearances.
"My Life on the D-List's" Kathy Griffin, who won an award at the creative arts Emmys and then had her speech edited for the show's broadcast Saturday night, couldn't have been more pleased with the controversy her words drummed up.
"This has been the best week of my career," she told CNN. She was accompanied by a notable figure in another arena: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
On the comedy side, "Ugly Betty" topped nominees with 11 nods, including best comedy and a pick for star America Ferrera. The show will go against "Entourage," "30 Rock," "Two and a Half Men" and last year's winner, "The Office."
Host Seacrest may have some meaty material to work with. The TV academy has dropped hints that Justin Timberlake may perform "(Blank) in a Box," as he did in the original "SNL" skit. Internet rumors have been maintaining that Britney Spears may come on to apologize for her appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards.
And Al Gore may appear; already the recipient of an Oscar for "An Inconvenient Truth," he may win an Emmy for his youth-oriented TV channel, Current TV.
"We're just honored and excited to be nominated ... representing the thousands of young people who are making Current TV," Gore told CNN from the red carpet.
Whatever happens, "The Office's" Rainn Wilson wasn't taking the awards too seriously.
Asked to explain why he was nominated this year but not last, he had a straightforward answer: "I'm a much better actor this year than last year," he told CNN on the red carpet.
He didn't win, which was probably for the best. If he had, he impishly threatened to put the statue on eBay.