Accepting her trophy for best guest actress in a comedy, Fey thanked "SNL" producer Lorne Michaels and her parents, "who are lifelong Republicans, for their patience."

She was honoured at the Creative Arts Primetime Emmys, which recognize technical and other achievements for the 2008-09 season and preceded next weekend's main ceremony. Fey has the chance for more awards: She could repeat last year's win as best actress in a comedy series for "30 Rock," and the show also could again claim top comedy honours.

Justin Timberlake was another "SNL" winner Saturday, honoured as best guest actor in a comedy series.

On the drama side, Michael J. Fox won the guest actor award for his turn on "Rescue Me," and Ellen Burstyn was honoured as best guest actress for "Law&Order;: Special Victims Unit."

"I always wanted one of these," Burstyn said, winning her first Emmy after being nominated five times.

Neither Timberlake nor Fox were on hand to accept.

Kathy Griffin was host of the nearly four-hour ceremony, her trademark outrageous humour intact with risque jokes and filmed bits.

The top network winner was HBO with 16 trophies, followed by NBC with 11. Fox and ABC each won eight awards, with CBS, PBS and Cartoon Network each claiming six.

PBS' "Little Dorrit," an adaptation of the Dickens novel, was the most-honoured program with four awards. Several shows, including the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and "American Idol," received three creative arts trophies.

Next Sunday's Emmy ceremony, with Neil Patrick Harris as host, will air on CBS.