The Sopranos lead nominations for the Prime Time awards

There were also awards for actors Derek Jacobi, Sally Field and Hank Azaria at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

The ceremony rewarded the best behind-the-scenes work, plus actors who made guest appearances.

The higher profile Prime Time Emmy awards, for shows and actors, take place on Saturday, 15 September.

Presidential drama The West Wing took four awards at the technical ceremony, which some see as a pointer towards the main awards.

Frasier: Chance to break Emmys record

Makers of the West Wing will hope that last year's success - where the show beat rival drama The Sopranos at the technical ceremony and went on to do the same at the Prime Time awards - can be repeated.

The West Wing also won four technical awards last year - and then went on to win five prizes at the main ceremony.

The Sopranos collected a sole award for make-up at Saturday's ceremony.

But The Sopranos leads the nominations for the Prime Time awards, named in 22 categories. The West Wing has 18 nominations.

Hit comedy Frasier won three technical awards, meaning it could break the record for the most Emmys ever won at next week's ceremony.

Jacobi: Starred in one episode of Frasier

It has a total of 27 - two less than the record held by The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

It has a chance in three categories, including Best Comedy, at next Saturday's ceremony.

British star Derek Jacobi was awarded for his guest appearance in one episode of Frasier, while Sally Field received a prize for her portrayal of a bipolar sufferer in hospital drama ER.

"Oh my God - I love being an actor," she said at the ceremony. "I'm so goddamn grateful I still get to work."

Best animation

Hank Azaria, who provides voices for Moe, Apu and Chief Wiggum in The Simpsons, won for his voicing of an un-named "comic-book guy" in the hit cartoon.

The show was also named best animated program (less than one hour), and Azaria revealed that the forthcoming series will see Homer Simpson getting stoned on medicinal marijuana.

Other categories at the Creative Arts Emmys, which are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, included categories for costumes, casting, cinematography and lighting.