Formatting Category list display?

This works.. Thanks heaps mate

<?php
$variable = wp_list_categories('echo=0&show_count=1&title_li=&hide_empty=0');
$variable = str_replace(array('('), '<em>', $variable);
$variable = str_replace(array(')'), '</em>', $variable);
$variable = str_replace(array('</a>'), '', $variable);
$variable = str_replace(array('</li>'), '</a></li>', $variable);
echo $variable;
?>