HBO the Big CableACE Award Winner : Television: Its taking of 34 of 88 trophies far outdistances Showtime’s second place with 10.

Home Box Office, its “The Larry Sanders Show” and “HBO Comedy Hour: John Leguizamo’s ‘Spic-o-Rama’ ” were the big winners at the 15th annual National CableACE Awards, while the best movie or miniseries category saw a reversal of the Emmys.

HBO took 34 of the 88 awards signifying excellence in cable television among programs presented between Sept. 1, 1992, and Aug. 31, 1993. The winners were announced in a pair of ceremonies, with 74 categories revealed Friday night in non-televised proceedings at the Biltmore Hotel and 14 Sunday night in a nationally cable-televised event from the Pantages Theatre.

Showtime was second with 10, Cable News Network and ESPN each had six and the Arts & Entertainment Network, Discovery Channel and Disney Channel each had five. Sixteen networks won at least once.

“Larry Sanders” and “Spic-o-Rama” each received four CableACEs, the most of any program. “Sanders” was tabbed as the best comedy series, beating a field that included HBO’s “Dream On,” which won two years ago, and MTV’s controversial animated series, “Beavis and Butt-head.” Starring Garry Shandling as a television talk-show host, “Sanders” has won the category in both of its seasons.

The series got its other awards in the best actor in a comedy series, with Rip Torn triumphing over co-stars Shandling and Jeffrey Tambor; writing in a comedy series with Shandling and four others cited, and Todd Holland for directing in a comedy series.

“Spic-o-Rama” won for comedy special, directing in a comedy special, Leguizamo’s performance and writing in a comedy special.

Wendie Malick of “Dream On” maintained her streak of being honored as the best actress in a comedy, winning for the third consecutive year, matching the show’s run. “Dream On” was also cited for best editing in a comedy/music special or series.

“The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom” took best movie or miniseries honors, defeating fellow HBO nominees “Barbarians at the Gate” and “Stalin,” which shared best made-for-television movie Emmys. Its star, Holly Hunter, added a CableACE for best actress in a movie or miniseries to the Emmy she also won for the role.

Brian Dennehy won for best actor in a movie or miniseries for Turner Network Television’s “Foreign Affairs.”

Other awards included: CNN’s “Larry King Live,” bypassed a year ago, won as best talk-show series; Michael Jackson as the top performer in a music special or series for his Bucharest concert on the ill-fated Dangerous Tour carried by HBO and Walter Cronkite as program interviewer for the Discovery Channel’s “The Holocaust: In Memory of Millions.”

Three special awards were also presented. The Golden CableACE, the industry’s highest honor for a special project or program, was given to American Movie Classics for its film preservation festival. Michael J. Fuchs, chairman and chief executive officer of HBO, won the Governors Award, honoring an individual for outstanding achievements in advancing the development of cable programming. ESPN was the second recipient of the Creators Award for its development of niche programming that proved to be a cornerstone upon which the cable industry was built.

Among the winners:

* Comedy series: “The Larry Sanders Show,” HBO.

* Dramatic series: “Avonlea,” Disney Channel.

* Dramatic or theatrical special: “The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,” Showtime.

* Movie or miniseries: “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom,” HBO.

* Actor, comedy: Rip Torn, “The Larry Sanders Show,” HBO.

* Actress, comedy: Wendie Malick, “Dream On,” HBO.

* Actor, dramatic series: Gary Oldman, “Fallen Angels: Dead End for Delia,” Showtime.

* Actress, dramatic series: Mariangela Pino, “The Showtime 30-Minute Movie: Evening Class,” Showtime.

* Actor, movie or miniseries: Brian Dennehy, “Foreign Affairs,” TNT.

* Actress, movie or miniseries: Holly Hunter, “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom,” HBO.

* Supporting actor, movie or miniseries: Maximillian Schell, “Stalin,” HBO.

* Supporting actress, movie or miniseries: Juanita Jennings, “Laurel Avenue,” HBO.

* Directing, comedy series: Todd Holland, “The Larry Sanders Show: The Guest Host,” HBO.

* Directing, dramatic series: Alfonso Cuaron, “Fallen Angels: Murder Obliquely,” Showtime.

* Directing, movie or miniseries: David Wheatley, “Hostages,” HBO.

* Writing, comedy series: Maya Forbes, Victor Levin, Drake Sather, Garry Shandling, Paul Simms, “The Larry Sanders Show: Larry’s Agent,” HBO.

* Writing, movie or miniseries: Larry Gelbart, “Barbarians at the Gate,” HBO.

* Writing, dramatic series: Chris Geroimo, “The Showtime 30-Minute Movie: The Witness,” Showtime.

* News special or series: “Hate Rock: An MTV News Special Report,” MTV.

* Business or consumer special or series: “Work in Progress,” CNN.

* Extended news or public affairs coverage: “CNN’s Coverage of the Stand-off in Waco, Texas,” CNN.

* Newscaster: Bernard Shaw, CNN.

* Public affairs special or series: “Ms. Smith Goes to Washington,” Lifetime.

* Documentary special: “The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter: America Undercover,” HBO.

* Documentary series: “Archaeology,” Learning Channel.

* Environmental/nature documentary special: “Earth and the American Dream,” HBO.

* Entertainment/cultural documentary or information special: “Mo’ Funny: Black Comedy in America,” HBO.

* Information or documentary host: Peter Jepson-Young, “The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter: America Undercover,” HBO.

* Program interviewer: Walter Cronkite, “The Holocaust: In Memory of Millions,” Discovery Channel.

* Entertainment host: Robin Williams, “Shakespeare: The Animated Tales,” HBO.

* Comedy special: “HBO Comedy Hour: John Leguizamo’s ‘Spic-o-Rama,’ ” HBO.

* Stand-up comedy special: “HBO Comedy Hour: Richard Jeni: Platypus Man,” HBO.

* Stand-up comedy series: “London Underground,” Comedy Central.

* Performance in a comedy special: John Leguizamo “HBO Comedy Hour: John Leguizamo’s ‘Spic-o-Rama,’ ” HBO.

* Music series: “Birdland,” Bravo.