Emmys draw huge audience

Maybe it was the promise of seeing those “Desperate Housewives” tussle over the best-acting trophy or watching “Lost” find Emmy gold. Whatever the reason, the awards ceremony drew its biggest audience in three years.

More than 18.5 million viewers tuned in to Sunday’s show, a 35 percent increase over last year, according to preliminary estimates from Nielsen Media Research.

The CBS broadcast reversed a ratings slide that in 2004 saw the ceremony drop to its second-smallest audience ever, 13.8 million, on ABC. The event rotates among the four major networks.

Conventional wisdom has it that popular movies draw big audiences to the Academy Awards. The ABC freshman sensations “Desperate Housewives” and “Lost” may have done the same for the Emmys.

“Lost,” about plane crash survivors on a mysterious and dangerous island, received the best drama series award and won a directing trophy.

“To get this award right now right before our second season kicks off is incredibly exciting and puts us in a really good spot,” series star Matthew Fox said backstage Sunday.

The suburban satire “Desperate Housewives” failed to grab the best-comedy award but Felicity Huffman was named best comedy actress, prevailing over co-stars Teri Hatcher and Marcia Cross. The series also received a directing award.