This year's Emmy Awards, America's most prestigious television prizes, are being handed out in Los Angeles.
Comic Ellen DeGeneres is hosting the ceremony, with Desperate Housewives and Will and Grace up for the most awards.
The Louisiana-born comedian is expected to pay tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina during this year's three-hour live telecast.
Celebrity presenters have been invited to wear magnolias - the state flower of storm-hit Louisiana and Mississippi.
Desperate Housewives and Will and Grace both have 15 nominations, while Everybody Loves Raymond has 13 and Lost has 12.
Housewives stars Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman go head to head for the best actress in a comedy award.
Hugh Laurie, Kenneth Branagh and Ian McShane are among the British stars up for acting awards.
Ricky Gervais' The Office Special is nominated in the TV movie category.
During the ceremony, on-screen messages will encourage viewers to donate to hurricane relief charities.
Four years ago the Emmys were twice postponed following the terror attacks of 11 September 2001.
DeGeneres earned rave reviews for her hosting of the toned-down ceremony that eventually took place at a smaller venue that November.
Executive producer Ken Ehrlich said he also expected the disaster to resonate during a segment paying tribute to news anchormen Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and the late Peter Jennings.
"We have a renewed sense of importance of what news is all about," he said.
But there will be lighter moments during a ceremony Ehrlich said he hoped would offer the public "a little bit of healing".
Stars including William Shatner and Donald Trump are to take part in a Pop Idol-style competition that will see them sing themes from classic TV series.
And the show will open with veteran R&B group Earth Wind and Fire performing alongside contemporary hip-hop act Black Eyed Peas.
Last year's ceremony was dominated by Aids drama Angels in America, which won seven prizes - three more than its nearest rival, The Sopranos.
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