Baldwin takes TCA Award, Gives Story

''The Sopranos'' dominated the 23rd annual Television Critics Association Awards Saturday at the Beverly Hilton, not only winning two awards in the week it led TV series in Emmy nominations, but getting the attention, too, of Alec Baldwin, on hand to pick up an individual achievement in comedy award for his role on ''30 Rock.''

In accepting though, Baldwin told a story about his disappointment at never being cast in ''The Sopranos'' and finally meeting its creator David Chase in a restroom at the Four Seasons restaurant in New York, bare-chested, drying out a sweat soaked shirt on the blower.

Other shows got the spotlight too in the modest event, held in the Beverly Hilton ballroom where the Golden Globe Awards originate, including shows snubbed by Emmy nominations this week, particularly ''Friday Night Lights,'' chosen outstanding new program, and Michael C. Hall as ''Dexter'' for individual achievement in drama.

Producers from ''Kyle XY'' thanked critics for giving that series its first award, albeit in the children’s programming category. ''Heroes'' was named program of the year; ''The Office'' repeated as best comedy and Discovery Channel’s ''Planet Earth'' won a pair of awards, for news and miniseries.

Mary Tyler Moore wasn’t present to win her career achievement award, but Dusty Saunders, who presented it, was feted later for his decades of TV coverage for the Denver Post, before taking a buy-out there this year.

John Oliver, the British correspondent on ''The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.'' opened the show with some standup comedy noting two news events of the day: David Beckham’s debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy and Dick Cheney briefly taking power Saturday.