It's good to be front and center for the 56th annual Emmy Awards, but still a bit in the background.

First of all, when you're writing about the Emmys, you don't have to worry about music cutting you off after 40 seconds. Unless, of course, you're Al Pacino, star of movies, who gets an Emmy award and the music doesn't play at all. Hey, it even cut off Meryl Streep and Broadway legend Elaine Stritch.

Well, I digress. Let's get right to it. I'm going to say the "Celebrity Chatter Emmy goes to":

SPUNKIEST SENIOR: Elaine Stritch's boundless energy is unmatched. Did you know she's 79?

DRESS WITH THE MOST FLOWERS: Barbra Streisand looked smashing in a pink dress adorned around the neckline with budding fabric flowers. Some folks made fun, I liked the look.

MOST WEDDING INVITATIONS: Star Jones' November wedding (did you know she's getting married? Yuk, yuk.) will have more guests than a royal wedding. As host of E! channel's pre-show as the replacement for Joan Rivers this year, Jones invited every single person who stopped to talk to her to the nuptials. Wonder what happened to Rivers? She got a gig with the TV Guide Channel.

MOST UNNECESSARY MOMENT: Do we really need to see men in tuxedos talking to one another while in a urinal? Gary Shandling, Chris Rock and Ray Romano's bit in the bathroom was tasteless.

CLASSIEST MOMENT: Kelsey Grammar accepted his award for "Frasier" but paid respects to the late John Ritter, who was nominated in the category and should've won posthumously.

FUNNIEST GARRY SHANDLING NON-EMMY JOKE: "We missed Osama Bin Laden, but we got Martha Stewart. Don't we feel a little safer?"

CUTEST PRESENTING COUPLE: Simon Cowell and Donald Trump were just adorable together. Meanwhile, how could "The Apprentice" not win in the reality show category? Who ever heard of "The Amazing Race?"

CUTEST FRONT ROW COUPLE: Why that has to be Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, of course.

STRANGEST THANK YOU: Mary Louise Parker thanked director Mike Nichols for making her performance work in "Angels In America." "Mike Nichols, you could get a great performance out of quiche." OK, ML, is that a quiche lorraine or just a plain spinach quiche?

BOLDEST THANK YOU: Playwright Tony Kushner thanking his partner. "Someday we can get a marriage license and you can make an honest homosexual out of me!"

FUNNIEST DIG AT REALITY SHOWS: The digs at reality television were plenty, but Shandling's admission of loving commercials because they feature professional actors and a real story was right on.

BEST BLING BLING: Ellen DeGeneres showed off the dripping-with-diamonds Rolex lent to her to wear to the Emmys by Gearys of Beverly Hills. It's a shame she has to give it back. Barbara Walters' and Jennifer Aniston's chandelier earrings were stunning.

BEST DESIGNER: There were some beautiful dresses, but Chanel took the cake with both Sarah Jessica Parker's strapless black-lace dress with a feathered skirt and Jennifer Aniston's white Chanel strapless gown with gold bursts.

BABY BOO-BOO: Star Jones interviewed Debra Messing and ask the new mother about her weight gain post baby. Messing said the worst part was her larger breasts and breastfeeding. Jones then asked Messing how the "booby" was. Jones calls babies "boobys." Messing took a pregnant pause before answering.

P.S.: Don't forget, everyone's invited to Star Jones' wedding. Did you know she's getting married?

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Michelle Solomon's gossip column, Celebrity Chatter, usually appears each Monday. E-mail us with questions or comments. Michelle Solomon@Celebrity Chatter.