50th Anniversary of the Daytime Emmys — Marlena’s Picks

The first time I went to the Daytime Emmys was in 1981, when I was the editor of Afternoon TV magazine. I had never seen a soap opera star in the flesh.

That year Douglas Watson (Mackenzie Corey on Another World) won for Best Actor and Judith Light (Karen Wolek, One Life to Live) won for Best Actress.  Both were brilliant and I was absolutely thrilled to be at the Emmys to see their wins.

All these years later, we’ve all written thousands of words about the Daytime Emmys. I haven’t been to the ceremony (June 16^th, CBS) in years, but I still like watching the broadcast.

This year, what a miracle! My objections to the list of nominations are few.

The highlight of the nominations for me is that so many long-term players of 30 or more years have a chance finally to be honored. On General Hospital, Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) and Jon Lindstrom (twins Kevin and Ryan Collins), both veterans of decades on the show, finally have their first chances to take home the statuette.

Here are Marlena’s picks in individual categories:

Best Actor: Thorsten Kaye (Ridge Forrester), Bold and the Beautiful.) A dependable and so romantic leading man, Marlena has adored watching him since he took over the role of Ridge from Ronn Moss. A classically trained theater actor, I’ve written lots about him since his soap debut as Patrick Thornhart on One Life to Live.

This year on B&B, headwriter Bradley Bell did the unexpected. He finally made peace between two of Ridge’s wives, Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Krista Allen (Dr. Taylor Hayes). What will Ridge Forrester do without women to joust over him?

Also nominated in this category is Jason Thompson, who plays Billy Abbott in Young and the Restless.

Best Actress:  Okay, here’s an Emmy goof. Neither of my two favorite daytime actresses, Maura West (Ava Jerome) and Cynthia Watrous (Nina Reeves), both of General Hospital, were nominated.

But those who are nominated are all worthy contenders.

Another veteran actress overdue for an award is Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Lawson, Young and the Restless). Her character tried to jump off a building this year. As I’ve often said, Marlena doesn’t believe suicide should ever be done on soaps because of their suggestive quality. But Missy and aforementioned Best Actor nominee Jason Thompson, whose Billy Abbott stopped her from jumping, had marvelously melodramatic scenes between them on a building’s parapet where he talked her down.

Best Supporting Actor: Nicholas Chavez, who plays Spencer Cassidine on General Hospital. He won the award for Best Younger Actor last year.  The best new young actor in soaps in years, I’m surprised primetime or movies haven’t stolen him away by now.  His character’s romance with Trina has been touted as the next Luke and Laura.  It’s sweet, but not that legendary.

On GH, Robert Gossett is just terrific as Marshall Ashford. The sensitive, intelligent way he portrays the character’s schizophrenia frequently makes me cry. And bravo to GH for being brave enough to do the story.)

Best Supporting Actress:  The field is impressive. Sonja Eddy (Nurse Euphemia, GH) passed away recently and we will miss her wonderfully intelligent performances.  A posthumous award is a good possibility.  As I’ve written in the past, I think Krista Allen (Dr. Taylor Hayes, B&B) has been a sensational replacement in the role originated by Hunter Tylo.  Kelly Thiebaud as Dr. Britt Westbourn on GH is nominated in this category even though she has left the show. Last year she won for Best Actress. Another award may be merited.

Also from GH is Brook Kerr (Dr. Portia Robinson), who had some interesting material when she married Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner), the probable father of her daughter Trina (Tatyana Ali).

For Best Show, there are five nominees, four of them completely predictable. They are the four surviving soaps, reminding us of how far behind daytime drama has fallen. The fifth is The Bay, an online soap produced by the great Wendy Riche, former executive producer of GH.

Which show deserves an Emmy and which will win?  I have a longtime attachment to B&B, having written the first article published on it in 1987. (Bold and Beautiful is a Camp Classic.)  I still find the Bell show glossy and entertaining.

But in its 60^th year on television (the longest running series on broadcast TV) General Hospital is a grand production, well produced by Frank Valentini and written by Chris von Etten and Dan O’Connor. I wouldn’t be surprised if GH wins the top prize.

So, who after all is going to win this year’s Daytime Emmys? Hooray to CBS for televising the ceremony in just two weeks in primetime.  Between the Emmy broadcast and the great promotional hoopla it gave Y&R’s recent 50^th anniversary shows, it’s encouraging that at least one network is fully promoting its and ours soaps.

For a complete list of this year’s nominees, see the comprehensive work of my friends at Soaphub.com.