LOS ANGELES — Out on the Emmys red carpet, the stars were well turned out — and outspoken, as usual.

"This makes up for a lot of dateless proms," joked Conchata Ferrell, nominated as best supporting actress for her role on the CBS sitcom "Two and a Half Men."

Some would win; most would not. But there was a lot of good humor out there. The grueling heat on the carpet was a breeze for "Lost" star Michael Emerson after that hell he called Hawaii. "We're filming in the jungle. It's sun, blood and mud. They're running out of places to put wounds on me," said Emerson, chuckling on a loud and crowded red carpet Sunday before the Emmys show at the Shrine Auditorium.

Emerson, who plays the mysterious Ben Linus on the ABC hit series, was nominated but ceded the Emmy for best supporting actor in a drama to co-star Terry O'Quinn. Later backstage O'Quinn said he would have been happy if Emerson had won instead. Like Emerson, O'Quinn said his character appeals to viewers because he's a mystery. "My character is a bit of a puzzle."

Idol' chat

It wasn't a winner Sunday, but "American Idol" — losing its best reality series bid to "The Amazing Race" — was the subject of plenty of buzz; its Season 7 premieres in January on Fox.

Nigel Lithgow said the series will go back to focusing more on the contestants than the mentors, with more taped feature stories. And he said the series will try to put more emphasis on talent than weirdness.

Other Emmy contenders — and winners — hoped their results Sunday would draw more viewers. Tina Fey, creator, executive producer and star of "30 Rock," said she hopes that her show's win for best comedy would translate into higher ratings for the second season. For now, she is enjoying the moment: "I will celebrate by overeating."

Powerful universality'

Out on the (recycled) red carpet, ecology was a hot topic; so was diversity.

"Ugly Betty" star Tony Plana, who plays Betty's father, Ignacio, said the show helps Latino actors by integrating them with other ethnic groups. "There's a powerful universality about it," he said.

He disagreed with George Lopez, who recently said network television was becoming more white after cancellation of his self-titled sitcom. "George was on for six seasons," Plana said.

Backstage after winning her Emmy for best actress in a comedy, "Betty" star America Ferrera said she hopes that her character serves as a role model for young women, regardless of their appearance. "I'm so happy and humble to be part of it — the experience of making a difference and inspiring people and challenging how we look at prejudice and diversity," she said. "I feel so blessed."

Also backstage, the cast of "Roots," the landmark miniseries honored on its 30th anniversary, addressed the social importance of Alex Haley's story about an African slave and his American descendants. "This country is on the precipice of becoming a multicultural, faceted diamond or going back to the Dark Ages," "Roots" co-star Louis Gossett Jr. said. "It's up to each of us to make this one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

"It's always two steps forward and one step back," said LeVar Burton, who played slave Kunta Kinte. But he added that history has marched forward. "In 2007, we have a real chance of electing our first black president," he said.

Sopranos'

Beyond propriety, much of the attention Sunday was on the hit show about a hit man.

Critics and fans have expressed disappointment and even anger that "The Sopranos" finished its run on HBO without a definitive ending. Backstage after winning an Emmy, "Sopranos" director Alan Taylor said executive producer David Chase didn't want to resolve the series in the typical way. He said "The Sopranos" ended as he always wanted it to end and whether Tony Soprano survived is open to interpretation.