LOS ANGELES — Friendly ghosts from television's past are revisiting the 60th Emmy Awards.

Today's ceremony will feature surprise cast reunions, famous lines ("Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!") and beloved moments from the past six decades of television. Even the Nokia Theater stage will be getting into the act, dressing up as sets from iconic shows past and present, executive producer Ken Ehrlich said.

"We're paying homage to the heritage of the medium and the history, but we've tried to do it in a very contemporary way," he said. "We want to show the through line from what television has meant to us to what it is now."

The Emmy stage will masquerade as sets from "The Simpsons," "M*A*S*H" and "Desperate House-wives," among others.

Ehrlich, who has produced dozens of Emmy and Grammy telecasts, said he usually shies away from themes "because I think they can limit you from time to time." But creating a show that celebrates the history of television suited him just fine: "It really gave us opportunities to salute the medium," he said.

Prodded for details, Ehrlich said that a popular TV cast that split more than a decade ago will reunite.

Charlie Sheen, Helen Mirren and Kristin Chenoweth will help open the show by delivering popular TV catch phrases. (Guess who says, "Good morning, angels.") And Ehrlich hints at several can't-miss moments.

"(Viewers) will want to see the reality-show hosts category," he said. "It's one of the most interesting ones on the show. It's not what you're expecting."