Emmys confirm new date

US drama The West Wing was 2000's big winner

The Emmys, America's most prestigious TV awards, will go ahead on 4 November in Los Angeles after being postponed twice due to the situation in the US and Afghanistan.

The organisers of the ceremony, which attracts some of the biggest celebrities, said the event would not be hijacked by "terrorists".

The Shubert replaces the Shrine as the venue

But the glitz and glamour of the event is being scaled down - guest will not wear tuxedoes and evening gowns and the venue has been switched from the mammoth Shrine auditorium to the more intimate Shubert Theatre.

Mafia drama The Sopranos heads the list of nominees for the 53rd Primetime Emmy awards with 22 nominations, including nods for American TV's top award, best drama.

'Encouraged'

The decision to press ahead with the ceremony has the backing of the TV industry and the White House.

James Gandolfini was best actor in 2000

"They encouraged us to go ahead with the event as part of the return to normalcy that they're encouraging of all Americans," said Leslie Moonves, president of CBS.

The network has paid $3m (£2.07m) in licence fees for the show and stands to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars for each of the 40 minutes of commercial time during the broadcast.

"Broadway is going on; the World Series is going on; the NFL is going on. America is going on. And we are going on," he added.

Postponed

Bryce Zabel, chairman of the Emmy-sponsoring Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, said: "The terrorists won't be allowed to hijack the Emmys."

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres will host the show, which was first postponed in the wake of the 11 September attacks on the US.

A second ceremony, rescheduled for 7 October, was cancelled hours before it was due to start when US air strikes on Afghanistan began on the same day.

Plans for a live New York segment in the show have been cancelled because of "logistical problems".

Ms Moonves said: "It's got to be a very dignified show."

Last year, political drama The West Wing swept the board with nine awards and this year has 18 nominations.