Daytime Emmy Watch Party

If you are in or near St Louis, I hope you can attend. It will be a fun time.

Also, rooms are available at the hotel on Sunday night for $49 (plus applicable taxes). Let me know if you need a room and I'll make the reservation for you.

You be the Daytime Emmy Judge

Ever wonder what determines the winner of a Daytime Emmy? Do you sit and wonder Actor A had a better year, why did Actor B win? Well, folks, it all lies in the selection of the Emmy reel. An actor can have a stellar year, but not pick an episode that reflects that and lose what should be a sure thing.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the process is fairly simple. The shows each pre-nominate 2-3 actors in each category for their show. These pre-nominated actors each pick one episode to submit to the panel. Judging is based on that one lone episode--though it would be hard not to go in completely unbiased and aware of buzz surrounding some great performers. Note: The Bold and the Beautiful, as a half-hour show, can submit two episodes as long as they are consecutive episodes.

Now that you have been educated on the process how would you like to be an unofficial Emmy judge? Be the SuperSoapFan who goes watches the August 30 ceremony with the inside scoop. Over the next several weeks, I will post the YouTube videos of performances each actor submitted. I will finish with the three shows full episodes for Outstanding Drama. A big shout out and thank you to my friends and fellow soap fans at Gold Derby at the LA Times who joined together to compile this information.

This will be fun!

2008 Daytime Emmy Nominations

The nominations for the 36th Annual Daytime Emmys (based on the work of calendar year 2008) were announced on the fourth hour of the Today Show on Thursday.

Drum roll, please....Here are the daytime drama nominees:

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
All My Children
Days of Our Lives
The Bold and the Beautiful

OUTSTANDING WRITING TEAM
All My Children
The Bold and the Beautiful
General Hospital
One Life to Live

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TEAM
All My Children
Days of Our Lives
One Life to Live

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS
Debbi Morgan - All My Children
Maura West - As the World Turns
Susan Flannery - The Bold and the Beautiful
Susan Haskell - One Life to Live
Jeanne Cooper - The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR
Thorsten Kaye - All My Children
Peter Reckell - Days of Our Lives
Anthony Geary - General Hospital
Daniel Cosgrove - Guiding Light
Christian LeBlanc - The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Melissa Clare Egan - All My Children
Alicia Mishew - All My Children
Julie Pinson - As the World Turns
Tamara Braun - Days of Our Lives
Bree Williamson - One Life to Live

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Vincent Irrizary - All My Children
Jacob Young - All My Children
Van Hansis - As the World Turns
Bradford Anderson - General Hospital
Jeff Branson - Guiding Light

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS
Meredith Hagner - As the World Turns
Rachel Melvin - Days of Our Lives
Kirsten Storms - General Hospital
Julie Berman - General Hospital
Emily O'Brien - The Young and the Restless

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR
Cornelius Smith Jr. - All My Children
Darin Brooks - Days of Our Lives
Blake Berris - Days of Our Lives
EJ Bonilla - Guiding Light
Bryton McClure - The Young and the Restless

BB: Role Reversal

These past few days Taylor has been acting like the Old-Brooke and Brooke like the old Taylor. Taylor chasing around Ridge when he is committed to another woman is the stuff Brooke used to do all the time.

Do you think Taylor has lost it?
Lost it enough to give her child to Brooke to raise knowing it would cause a rift with Ridge?

Poor Rick--he should run back to Ashley.


Update: So, I finally watched Friday's B&B and see that Brooke came to the same conclusion I did that Taylor probably gave Jack to Brooke just to be divisive.

BB: Taylor gives her son to Brooke

Are we really supposed to believe this? Taylor has problems "bonding" with her son so she gives Jack to her "sworn enemy"? Yes, the solution to not bonding with your son is to give him to another woman to raise.

I'll give you this--it's probably a first in soaps.

35th Annual Daytime Emmys: Writing

Very coveted category. With 5 hours of drama to produce each week, this is probably the toughest work in the genre.

Bold and the Beautiful
1st reel: Aftermath of Brooke's rape
2nd reel: 5000th episode show featuring the four actors who have been there since the beginning.

The first episode features one of the best storylines last year. The second was campy fun. But, probably too campy to be emmy worthy. (Darn--I was pulling for B&B, too.)


General Hospital
1st reel: Metro Court crisis
2nd reel: More Metro Court

Disaster episodes have won for GH in the past. I just wish they would quit rewarding "stunts" and start rewarding year-long quality.

Guiding Light
1st reel: Tammy's funeral
2nd reel: Various characters talk about their first time having sex

First reel is powerful. Second is not as strong. If they would have reversed the order they would have guaranteed a win.

One Life to Live
1st reel: Asa's death
2nd reel: Family gathers for Asa's funeral

Probably helped with consecutive episodes. Good dialogue thoughout the episode. Likely winner.

Young and the Restless
1st reel: News spreads throughout Genoa City about a plane crash
2nd reel: Out of the Ashes/Clear Springs disaster

The first episode I watched many times on the day it first aired. It was that good. It also shows how well YR ties all their storylines together. The second reel--well see my comments on GH.

Who Should Win: One Life to Live
Who Will Win: One Life to Live
Don't Count Out: Young and the Restless

35th Annual Daytime Emmys: Supporting Female

Alway the toughest category of the evening. So much talent, only one Emmy.

Tracey Bergman as Lauren Fenmore on Young and the Restless
1st reel: Sheila, held by Paul, hurts herself and wants to go to the hospital. Lauren refused to let her leave for treatment.
2nd reel: Lauren confronts Michael and his family about Gloria's involvement in tainting some face cream.

Tracey trades in Lauren's usual nice girl for complete intolerance for Sheila and her madness, willing to let her die than take a chance she would run the street. It is good stuff, but probably not enough to match up to her weak second reel.

Judi Evans as Bonnie Lockhart and Adrienne Karakis on Days of Our Lives
1st reel: Bonnie schemes "to keep the family together" by stealing some bones from a morgue.
2nd reel: As Adrienne, she sees Patch in the hospital after many years.

Plays two characters in these reels, but not dual roles. Basically, release from one role and then reprise a role she has played in the past. Shows range--especially humor--and that could be rewarded come Emmy night.


Kelly Menighan-Hensley as Emily Stewart on As the World Turns
1st reel: Emily's life as a hooker, where the John roughs her up a bit.
2nd reel: Dusty confront Emily with his suspicions that she is a hooker

KMH had a great year and these two episodes go a way in reflecting that. Emily shows a vulnerability with the abusive John, but goes back to a woman who can defend and handle herself when confronted by Dusty. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Gina Tognoni as Dinah Marler on Guiding Light
1st reel: Dinah is released from the hospital after being shot in the head and struggles with everyday activities.
2nd reel: Dinah tries to hide her brain damage and how it affects her while conducting a television interview.

"How didn't you know it wasn't me". Classic soap line from classy actress that just breaks your heart. Could be the line that clinches her another winged statue.


Heather Tom as Katie Logan on Bold and the Beautiful
1st reel: Katie confronts her father as the shooter of Stephanie.
2nd reel: Katie visits her father in jail.

Surprising nominee considering her short-time on the show. Her first reel also contains the wonderful Kelly Lang and Susan Flannery who overshadow Tom's performance. The second reel was more of a Tom showcase, but may not be enough.


Who Should Win: Gina Tognoni
Who Will Win: Gina Tognoni
Don't Count Out: Kelley Menighan-Hensley

BB: Storm Suicides to Give Katie his Heart

Oh wow! I've watched the Monday episode of BB about 5 times already. It is simply, in a word "Fantastic!". Great drama. Great directing. Wonderful writing. If they submit this for Outstanding Drama next year and they do NOT win a Daytime Emmy, there is no justice in this world.

Not only does it combine great soap storytelling, but they use the hospital and crime scene sets effectively. There are actual background actors used in ways not just as roaming orderly, doctors and nurses in the hospital scene.

If you haven't seen it, skip over to cbs.com. However, the video will only be up until Monday afternoon.

BB: New Katie Gets Shot

I like Heather Tom, but the newKatie is still growing on me. Thus, I thought the "Katie gets shot" storyline would be a bit of a bore. However, the family reactions are just ace and have me tearing up here at my desk.

BB: Will Stephanie's blackmail catch up with her?

As part of both Thursday and Friday's cliffhanger, Stephanie is about to tell Det Baker and son that Storm is the one who shot her. However, will it also be uncovered that Stephanie has known for sometime and blackmailed the Logan family with promises of keeping quiet?

Also, it could also be revealed Stephanie's role in Brooke's rape.

I would love if that happened. If as the story is told, Det Baker says well it looks like we have to make an arrest---and go for Stephanie instead of (or in addition to) Storm.

Well, a Goddess can dream, can't she?

BB:Brooke's Scarlett O'Hara moment

As a birthday treat to me (oh yeah and Happy B-day to Michelle Stafford, too) Bold and the Beautiful rocked. As Eric, Ridge and Brooke realized that Stephanie was the one who "served Brooke up on a silver platter".

The only thing that would have made it dynamo would be Stephanie's presence in the scene. Alas, Susan Flannery is down with illness and is taking a much deserved break.

That small thing aside, KKL's Brooke was wonderful once she got to the Forrester Mansion. She screamed, she hollered, she broke things! Once the intense rage was out of her system, she resolved to become the strong women she was before. That instead of bringing her down, she would be even better than before. That she would be a rape survivor.

Listen up other shows--this is how you tell a rape story. Not two months later the victim is in love with her attacker.

BB: Stephanie is such a Hypocrite!

For years, Stephanie has chided Brooke by saying that Brooke is so desperate for love and not to be alone that Brooke has sacraficed her pride and self-respect.

Well, today (Friday, August 3), Stephanie--in an attempt to get Ridge and Ashley back together--she uses her relationship with Eric as an example. She tells Ridge that sometimes, that no matter how much someone has hurt you, pride won't snuggle you in bed at night.

Isn't this the exact opposite of what she has been telling Brooke for years (in attempt to keep her away form Ridge)?

BB: Oh Mama!

I find it a bit ironic what the "other mothers" are doing while Brooke is having her children removed by Child Protective Services.

Ashley spends the night with Ridge to help out. However, no Abby in sight.

Stephanie is being over-meddlesome, but the last we saw her other son Thorne he was drinking and downing some pills.

Umm...perhaps one should focus on their own kids before looking down their noses at my Brooke.


Relatedly, what is Thorne doing?! Is this a suicide attempt? Oh no. He is too hot to go off the show. Put him back with Brooke.

BB: A Gut Feeling about this In-Vitro Thing PART II

My sister called a while back and said she thought the eggs were probably Brooke's. After the lab assistants cut-off conversation with Bridget the other day, I beginning to think my sister's suspicions were true.

Questions if that is the case:
1) Is Bridget doing this on purpose? If not, I really don't get her overjoyous reactions to her ex-husband having a baby with Taylor.

2) What are the legal ramifications? Say Brooke was just storing her eggs for later use, they get labeled as Marrone (since the hospital said they still had her under that name) and seeing the name they are used for Taylor in-vitro procedure.
Does Brooke have legal claim on the child?
I know there is precedence. Didn't some real-life couple have this issue recently? I will have to look up what the decision was, but I think it included a full refund of $$s and paying for the child's school. However, I am not sure if the biological father/couple had any recourse over claiming what is their biological child.

3) Does this mean Brooke and Ridge are not going to get back together? (Okay, that's just me being selfish.)

BB: A Gut Feeling about this In-Vitro Thing

First, how weird is it that Bridget is the doctor for Nick and Taylor's attempt to have a child? She isn't even an OB-GYN, let alone a fertility specialist.

But, wouldn't it be a weird twist if Bridget was the secret egg donor for the baby? She, too, has wanted to give Nick a child so it is in the realm of possibility.

I have a gut feeling this is where we are going. IF not, it should be as it would really add a twist to the "women in love with Nick" story.

34th Daytime Emmys: Writing

Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL * CBS
BRADLEY BELL, HEAD WRITER

GENERAL HOSPITAL * ABC
ROBERT GUZA, JR., HEAD WRITER
CHARLES PRATT, JR., HEAD WRITER

GUIDING LIGHT * CBS
DAVID KREIZMAN, HEAD WRITER
DONNA SWAJESKI, CO-HEAD WRITER

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS * CBS
LYNN MARIE LATHAM, HEAD WRITER
KAY ALDEN, HEAD WRITER
JOHN F. SMITH, HEAD WRITER
SCOTT HAMNER, CO-HEAD WRITER



About what you would expect in this category. Perennial nominee As the World Turns is left out. Makes you wonder if heads (or headwriters) will roll with the lack of nominations here and in the Series category. Many people think OLTL will win in Series. However, they are not in the writing category. Hmmm…perhaps the same episodes were not submitted during the pre-nomination process.

34th Daytime Emmys: Supporting Actress Nominations

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

LESLI KAY, AS FELICIA FORRESTER THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL * CBS
GENIE FRANCIS, AS LAURA SPENCER GENERAL HOSPITAL * ABC
REBECCA HERBST, AS ELIZABETH WEBBER GENERAL HOSPITAL * ABC
GINA TOGNONI, AS DINAH MARLER GUIDING LIGHT * CBS
RENEE ELISE GOLDSBERRY, AS EVANGELINE WILLIAMSON ONE LIFE TO LIVE * ABC
HEATHER TOM, AS KELLY CRAMER ONE LIFE TO LIVE * ABC


This is always a killer category—hard to get in and hard to pick who wins. At the beginning of the year, everyone was lauding Leslie Kay's cancer storyline. All the other nominees are very strong. Genie Francis is a surprise nominee just because she was only on for two weeks. Perhaps a Guest Starring category, such as the Primetime Emmys have, should be instituted for actors like Francis and Betty White.

34th Daytime Emmys: Lead Actress Nominations

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

MAURA WEST, AS CARLY SNYDER AS THE WORLD TURNS * CBS
CRYSTAL CHAPPELL, AS OLIVIA SPENCER GUIDING LIGHT * CBS
KIM ZIMMER, AS REVA SHAYNE LEWIS GUIDING LIGHT * CBS
JEANNE COOPER, AS KATHERINE CHANCELLOR THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS * CBS
MICHELLE STAFFORD, AS PHYLLIS SUMMERS NEWMAN THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS * CBS


I barely heard the other nominations since I was jumping and shouting for joy over Maura's nominations. Although now I can barely hear over the roar that CBS locked all nominations in this category. Notable oversights are Nancy Lee Grahn (GH) and Susan Flannery (BB).
My theory on the latter is that she intentionally didn't submit well (because she has great material there in December) in hopes that would bring Kathy Kelley Lang into the fold. Just a theory.
How is Jeanne Cooper in this category? I am not doubting her acting skills, just her "lead" placement.
My hopes are for Maura West. But, too early to predict until you see the submitted episodes.

34th Daytime Emmys: Outstanding Series nominees

Outstanding Series—Daytime Drama

Bold and the Beautiful
Guiding Light
One Life to Live
Young and the Restless

Bold and the Beautiful had a usual year, which comparatively is great by other show standards. They ended the year on a high with an outstanding storyline regarding childhood abuse.
Oh please, please, please let Guiding Light win. It will be the cherry on the top of their 70th anniversary.
One Life to Live had some great storylines this year. I could have left the Tess/Jess crap, but the Todd execution storyline was compelling. It was the type of drama that makes you tune back in everyday.
Young and the Restless is wonderful. They are the best at intertwining all of their storylines. However, that hardly matters when you just submit two episodes for consideration.

Notable exclusions are last year's winner, General Hospital, as well as perennial nominee As the World Turns. However, the latter has been lacking in great storyline so not really surprising (just notable).

BB: Where's Harry?

Harry was brought onto the show to create a Harry/Phoebe/Shane triangle. Of course, this was thrown out the window for the hideous Rick/Phoebe storyline.
However, while Shane's leaving has been explained, nothing has been said about Harry. He was living on Nick's boat--which last week was run over by a tanker when Taylor and Nick went for a nighttime cruise.
Yet, we haven't seen Nick contact him to say what happened to the belongings he kept on the boat. And, isn't it a little rude to just take off with someone's "home" for the evening? And to demolish it while you are out?

Of course, there is room for Harry at Massimo's house.