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.

Daytime Emmys: You be the Judge, Supporting Female

Our first category for YOU BE THE JUDGE is Outstanding Supporting Actor, Female. Below are the links to each nominated actor’s reel as posted on YouTube. I’ve also included the original US airdate and a one sentence synopsis of the episode. Your job is to watch and post your feedback and predictions in the comments. Well, that and have the inside dish come August 30!

Tamara Braun (Days of our Lives)
April 21st, 2008
Ava tries to explain her motives to Steve, Kayla, Bo and Hope
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...jHhA&feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...zdIM&feature=related
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...IPMI&feature=related
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...pjMU&feature=related

Melissa Claire Egan (All My Children)
September 15th, 2008
Annie tells Ryan about the miscarriage and then talks to a dead Richie
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...-fbU&feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...i7VM&feature=related

Alicia Minshew (All My Children)
Kendall tells Zach she slept with Aidan when she thought he was dead
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...1C8C1B7F023&index=16
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...1C8C1B7F023&index=17

Julie Pinson (As the World Turns)
October 16th, 2008
Janet learns that Jack almost slept with Carly and that Carly has been lying to her about it
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...feature=channel_page
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...feature=channel_page

Bree Williamson (One Life to Live)
June 26th, 2008
Jessica loses it at Nash's funeral
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg3Kd21mR3k
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKI9TNKPj-Q
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZhFXLjQVE

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

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

35th Annual Daytime Emmys: Younger Female

Lots of talent in this medium for this always tough and competitive category. Many thought to deserve a nomination were overlooked, while three young ladies from Young and the Restless bring on cries of "block voting".


Vail Bloom as Heather on Young and the Restless
1st reel: Heather discovers that Paul is her father. Later she goes after Phyllis for breaking terms of her probation/early release. She changes after hearing about Daniel's rocky relationship with his mother Phyllis.
2nd reel: Heather takes Paul up on a Christmas dinner invite.

I was shocked that she was nominated, but this is a good reel. Especially when she goes after Phyllis and Daniel. From tears to bitchiness--right away.


Jennifer Landon as Gwen Munson on As the World Turns
1st reel: Jade confronts Gwen about Adam, not knowing Adam is dead at the "hands" of Gwen and Maddie who buried him.
2nd reel: Gwen comes face-to-face with doppleganger Cleo.

Can you say threepeat? Dual roles are usually guaranteed winners--though the Cloe character is awful and overly dorky and mentally imbalanced--all which equal a character that is hard to watch, which is unforatunate for Landon.

Rachel Melvin as Chelsea Brady on Days of Our Lives
1st reel: Chelsea finds out Nick has slept with ther mother.
2nd reel: Chelsea joins her sorority sisters in plotting revenge on a rapist--which backfires on her.

Do tears equal talent? Usually I would say no as most soap actresses "cry pretty". Rachel is 'crying ugly' in the first reel which makes it all seem more real. I liked the second reel better, possibly because for once a soap was showing some comeuppance for a rapist.

Emily O'Brien as crazy Jana on Young and the Restless
1st reel: Janna reveals the truth about Brad's true identity, but shows a bit of her mental imbalance (e.g. brain tumor) which makes her revelation hard to believe.
2nd reel: Jana holds Kevin and Colleen hostage in a warehouse and sets it on fire.

Reel shows wide range. First, manipulative and scheming and she locks Colleen and Kevin up in a meat locker to burn. The second shows a sweet side and a bit of Jana's idiosycrancies as she falls victim to a brain tumor.

Tammy Sursock as Colleen Carlton on Young and the Restless
1st reel: Out of the Ashes episode (Clear Springs Disaster) where Colleen and Kevin search for Adrian.
2nd reel: Colleen throws a "diveroce party" for Lily.

She is completely awful and has no business being nominated. But, I had to look at the videos as stand alones and not with a reality of her known lack of acting ability. They do show some range, drama then fun/light. But the second reel is so much fluff it is hard to watch with any serious consideration.


Who Should Win: Emily O'Brien
Who Will Win: Emily O'Brien
Don't Count Out: Jennifer Landon and Rachel Melvin

35th Annual Daytime Emmys: Lead Male

In a women's medium like Daytime Drama, this is an often underserved category. The exceptions to this is Young and the Restless and General Hospital, who have men as their core characters. No surprise that men from these shows have won in the past. This year, however, is anyone's guess as a winnner.

Peter Bergman as Jack Abbott on Young and the Restless
1st reel: Jack finds out about Sharon's cheating with Brad while married to Nick.
2nd reel: It's Christmas and Jack asks Sharon to give their marriage another chance.

Peter Bergman does a great job in these reels showing his vulnerability. However, this isn't his best work of the year. I wonder why he picked this stuff over a mixture of this and maybe a Gloria confrontation (when he is being pretty mean).

David Canary as Adam & Stuart Chandler on All My Children
1st reel: Adam finds out that the baby his wife is carrying is Tad Martin's.
2nd reel: Adam has Krystal arrested

Stuart Chandler is actually in the first reel for a bit, which may help show Canary's range. And, as I will say many times during these picks: Emmy voters love the dual role. Anthony Geary as

Luke Spencer on General Hospital
1st reel: Luke discusses how he doesn't want his recent heart attack to change his life
2nd reel: Luke dreams about a life in hell during his heart surgery.

First episode is great. Second one is fair (probably would have been a good submission for writing for GH). Maybe the greatness of the first can outeweigh the blandness of the second.

Christian LeBlanc as Michael Baldwin on Young and the Restless
1st reel: Michael tries to convince William Bardwell not to press charges against his mother.
2nd reel: Michael gleefully tells Phyllis that Jack finally got was what was coming to him; later Michael agrees to defend Jana.

Typical Christian LeBlanc material. He is a great actor, so that statement is any disrespect. However, nothing really jumps out as "special".

Thaao Penghlis as Andre and Tony DiMera on Days of Our Lives
1st reel: Andre harasses Sami while dressed like a clown.
2nd reel: Andre hold Kate hostage.

He does play a good villian and he really scared me as that clown. However, that doesn't equal range.

Who Should Win: Peter Bergman (for a stellar year, despite poor submission choices)
Who Will Win: Oh, it's anybody's guess but I will stick with Bergman
Don't Count Out: The rest of them!

35th Annual Daytime Emmys: Younger Male

Darin Brooks as Max Brady on Days of our Lives
1st reel: Max comforts Morgan
2nd reel: Max and Stephanie flirt at the bar, then dance.


Hmmm…good tapes. I really like the story in the second one--more of what younger storylines should be about (fun, flirting and romance). However, nothing screams "special" in these reels.


Van Hansis as Luke Snyder on As the World Turns
1st reel: Luke confronts Noah about him acting straight just to please his father
2nd reel: Luke talks to his brother Aaron about Luke's boy problems


I so want Van Hansis to win that it is hard for me to say anything bad about these reels. The first one is very strong, the second one not as much. However, they both show how Van Hansis can make us ache for Luke. Crossing my fingers for him!


Bryton McClure as Devon Winters on Young and the Restless
1st reel: Devon tries to get Lily to leave Daniel who has had problems with a sex addiction, tieing it back to dealing with his mother who had a drug addiction.
2nd reel: Devon argues with Daniel, punching him.


This character is written so bland, it's hard to see the talent in the acting. However, Bryton has won before--so, he has shown he can work past that. But, this reel is shorter than a commercial break. But then again, it's reflective of the screen time for McClure.


Tom Pelphrey as Jonathan Randall on Guiding Light
1st reel: Tammy dies after Alan Spaulding sends someone to kill Jonathan.
2nd reel: Jonathan tries to set fire to Alan's home.


Tom Pelphrey rocks in this sad episode about Tammy's death. Will the fact that he has been gone from the show for over a year affect the voters?


Jesse Lee Soffer as Will Munson on As the World Turns
1st reel: Will reacts strongly and angrily as he is set up to make it appears he doesn't support Gwen or her singining career. 2nd reel: Will tries to calm Gwen who is hysterical thinking she killed Will's brother Adam


Jesse shines in the first reel, but may be overshadowed by Jennifer Landon's performance in the second.


Who Should Win: Tom Pelphrey
Who Will Win: Van Hansis
Don't Count Out: Jesse Lee Soffer

All Shows: Rabbits are dying everywhere!

What a surprise that ATWT's Jade and BB's Bridget are pregnant! It amazes me that they write storylines like Katie trying to get pregnant and everyone else gets pregnant after one night of sex with someone that they shouldn't be having sex!

But, the fact that it is on almost every soap, shows how overused this plot device has become. Let's see we have Lizzie on GL. I will excuse Y&R and Phyllis since her and Nick were together more than once. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if Carmen ends up preggers after her night (day--really) with Jack.

Who others are offending us with this re-tread story?

So Many Soaps, So Little Time

I am so behind on my soaps. The Goddess is enrolled in a Chemistry cram course (regular 16-week class in 5 weeks). This means more time studying, less time watching the stories.

I am caught up on B&B. It is good right now, plus it is only 1/2 hour.
I am only a day behind on As the World Turns. The Carly storyline is great right now, so if I could only have stayed awake another hour last night I would be caught up.

I am two weeks behind on GL. It's not like it doesn't interest me, I just am more interested in the others.
I am a week behind on YR. Same story on more interest in others and little time.

This weekend, I shall have a soap watching marathon. With the help of SoapNet, I will be caught up on everything by Monday. That is my solemn vow.

Who's the Daddy Month!

Well, a month or so ago we had "Teen Marriage Month". Now, we are on "Who is the Daddy Month" which will lead to a battery of DNA tests (Daddy Not Aware).
We will abbreviate this soap phenom as WTD (who's the daddy).

Y&R: The big, decade long Neil/Dru/Malcolm WTD comes to a climax as Neil finds out that Lily is not his biological daughter. On the same episode, Phyllis finds out she is pregnant, leaving us with a Nick/Phyllis/Jack WTD.

B&B: Well, if Brooke is going to sleep with two men in less than 48 hours a Ridge/Brooke/Nick WTD is sure to follow.

GL: Lizzie's WTD has been discussed in prior posts. Soon to follow, the Gus/Harley/Mallet WTD (see B&B post above).

ATWT: I think folks would like to make Emily's a WTD pregnancy. Some will speculate that Em slept with Henry or molested Dusty. On soaps a woman will miscarry if she falls out of a chair. Yet, Emily jumps off a cliff, is not breathing/no pulse, yet fetus survives. Which only proves it has to be Paul's baby: only a STENBECK could survive the jump from the cliff!!!

AMC: Fans are speculating that given Dr. Greg's history, the true paternity of Kendall's baby could be up in the air.

OLTL: There is the Antonio/Jess-Tess/Nash WTD, though not a new development.

Teen Marriage Week on Daytime

What is up with the stories? We have Gwen and Will both getting married on ATWT. Then, on GL, you have a faux "lets just recite vows" between-you-me-and-the-wall wedding of Jon and Tammy.

I guess that latter was an excuse to have them finally sleep together. Well, come to think of it, maybe it is a way for the writers to justify teen sex: "They are married!"

But, I am not going to pooh-pooh any of this. I think romance is lacking on daytime so I'll take it in any form. And I love both of these couples, however unrealistic it is to think that you have found your life partner at 17.

Brokeback Soap

With the critical acclaim of Brokeback Mountain, I wonder if soaps will start to do more gay/lesbian themed stories. And true-to-life stories, not the "second-string character with AIDS" storylines we had in the eighties and nineties.

Just curious if they thought of this. IF so, what hot soap hunks would you like to see in a romantic pairing. Hmm...what about ATWT's Jack and Mike. They have things in common besides just Carly.