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!

Passions saved by DirecTV

According to TV Guide, DirecTV will include new, original episodes of Passions on its original programming channel (Channel 101 for my fellow DirecTVers).
This is good news not only for Passions fans but for all soap fans. No longer should we worry about our soaps' demise, if cable/satellite outlets are willing to pickup the production.

34th Daytime Emmys: Younger Male Lead

Outstanding Younger Actor In A Drama Series

VAN HANSIS, AS LUKE SNYDER AS THE WORLD TURNS * CBS
JESSE SOFFER, AS WILL MUNSON AS THE WORLD TURNS * CBS
TOM PELPHREY, AS JONATHAN RANDALL GUIDING LIGHT * CBS
JAMES STEVENSON, AS JARED CASEY PASSIONS * NBC
BRYTON MCCLURE, AS DEVON HAMILTON THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS * CBS

Wow! What a category! Van Hansis has great stuff from his coming out storyline. Jesse Soffer and Tom Pelphrey are always great. I admittedly am not familiar with lone NBC nominee James Stevenson. Bryton McClure had his meningitis/deaf storyline that he made believable as well as his involvement in the Carmen Mesta murder whodoneit.

Passions Cancelled

During the TV critics tour of Los Angeles, NBC triumphantly announced that The Today Show would be going to 4 hours. The victim on this nonsense is Passions.

Now, I admit, I am no fan of Passions. I find it rather silly. I laugh each time Robyn is home from some offbeat school holiday and calls me to ask "Have you watched this Passions show, it is CRAZY?!" However, the show does great with the younger demographic. And, for the most part soap fans are loyal. This is why I have always said that NBC should stick with Passions because it could beat Y&R in the ratings in a decade or so. Alas, network executives have no patience.

Which leads to the question WHY? The Today Show is too long as it now stands. Do we really need one more hour of cooking segments, celebrity interviews and lame weather jokes?

And, not only does it speak to the little patience that network execs possess, it speaks volumes to what may possibly be the future of soaps.

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.