MOMENTS

On stage, Don Rickles took some potshots at the Emmy broadcast's entertainment value and even gave one of co-presenter Kathy Griffin's jokes the thumbs-down. But back in the press tent, seated in a director's chair clutching his statuette and being called a "legend" by a fawning scrum of reporters, the caustic comedy icon -- a guy for whom "hockey puck" is a term of endearment -- played nice.

"Tonight was very entertaining," said Rickles, 82. "There's that British gentleman" -- he was referring to Ricky Gervais -- "Jon Stewart and Stephen [Colbert]."

"You have to work at it," Rickles continued. "It's not geared toward ha, ha, ha. There are times when it has to be serious. All in all, I think they did a good job. I really do."

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Chris Lee

Anyone have a question?

Greg Yaitanes, one of the directors of "House," won an Emmy for his work on the first part of last season's finale. But when he walked into the press tent, no one jumped at a chance to ask him a question. Just as the director was going to leave, one reporter jumped up (out of pity?).

Before she asked her question, Yaitanes said, "Wouldn't it have been better and more uncomfortable if I didn't answer any questions?"

The reporter asked, anyway: "It seems House becomes more and more unlikable as the seasons go on. Do you think there's going to be redemption for him this season?"

Yaitanes said, "I am not a writer. I'm a director."

The reporter tried to ask the question again in a different way but then just gave up.

"It's OK," Yaitanes said. He left the stage.

Next up was Kirk Ellis, who won for writing "John Adams." Before he came into the tent, an ABC representative asked the press whether there would be questions for him.

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Maria Elena Fernandez

Tina, about that resemblance . . .

Tina Fey was asked in the press tent about how she feels when she's told she looks like Sarah Palin.

"I was reluctant to admit that there's a resemblance," Fey said. "But then my kid saw her on TV and said, 'There's Mommy,' and I had to admit that there was."

And although Fey walked away with three statuettes Sunday, she was still a loser. The writer-star quietly uttered as she was leaving the media room stage: "If anyone sees a small purple purse with an i-Phone in it with a picture of a naked toddler . . . ."

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