Meantime, costar Anthony Geary (as Luke) has won FIVE as best lead actor, but lost Friday night to Christian LeBlanc ("The Young and the Restless").

"I have waited 31 years for this moment," Francis roared at the podium, triumphant at last.

Backstage she told reporters: "I can't believe that they actually called my name! I really thought that I was all done. Who would've thought that a little four-week visit — after I really had wrapped up there — would produce an Emmy? After years and years and years of working year round! It's water from the moon!"

The win was one of several dramatic award results in the soap races. Another was an unprecedented tie for best drama series by two of the four nominees considered longshots by pundits: "Guiding Light" and "The Young and the Restless."

Many Emmywatchers expected the big win of the night would be "The View" claiming its first-ever victory in the host category following a breakout year when Rosie O'Donnell's shenanigans made the chat show, literally, the talk of daytime TV. But Ellen DeGeneres claimed the hosting prize for a third year in a row and won best talk show a fourth consecutive time.

"This was the year ('The View') should have won," DeGeneres confessed to reporters backstage. "I want to see people happy. I don't want to take something away from them. I wanted to acknowledge Rosie because she has done a lot."

DeGeneres' dual victories marked a rare defeat by O'Donnell in either category. Previously, "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" won the host award six times and best talk show five times between 1997 and 2002. Many Emmy experts believe that there's a strong voter preference for solo-host programs over multiple-host shows.

Backstage, retired "The Price Is Right" host Bob Barker — who claimed his 19th trophy on Emmy night — said O'Donnell could return to daytime TV in his old job.

"She told me she loved 'The Price Is Right' and wanted to host it one day," he said. Referring to the game show's producers, he said, "I believe they're going to have a meeting with Rosie."

But it was Paris Hilton — not nominated in any category — who dominated most backstage celeb banter. One by one, the stars who stopped by the press room were quizzed about what they thought of the imprisoned primetime TV reality star.

When DeGeneres was asked if she'd like to have Hilton as a guest on her chat show, she replied, "Absolutely! And I'm gonna quiz her on if she read 'The Secret' or not. I'll actually ask her some passages."

DeGeneres said she's most curious to probe Hilton's recent claim that she's only been acting dim-witted in public.

"If that really was an act, if she really was playing dumb, then what does that say about our society that we're celebrating someone who's successful because they're not smart?" DeGeneres asked. "I just think it's a bad sign and she shouldn't contribute to that. It's amazing if that was an act the whole time!"