James Spader, who toppled the mighty, really knows how to give a compliment

Not everyone can say he’s taken on a Mafia don and the president of the U.S. and lived to tell about it. Actor James Spader, known for off-beat movie roles, scored a major upset, beating James Gandolfini (“Sopranos”) and Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”) to win an Emmy for outstanding actor in a TV drama for his role on “The Practice.” Spader said he was caught off guard by the win: He improvised a speech, telling the audience: “You’ve all made wonderful choices in shoes and dresses tonight, and you all look absolutely beautiful.”