Complex sentence: On the drama side, "Northern Exposure" was the defending champion and was seen heavily as the favorite coming into the ceremony being the most nominated show with 11 major nominations--but in a major upset, "Picket Fences" took home Outstanding Drama Series.
Split into simpler sentences: On the drama side, "Northern Exposure" was the defending champion and was seen heavily as the favorite coming into the ceremony being the most nominated show with 11 major nominations. But in a major upset, "Picket Fences" took home Outstanding Drama Series.