Steve Burton
The Daytime Emmy nominations, which usually usher in a period of bitching and complaining among fans and journalists, were announced this week, and I was shocked. Many of the nominations are quite good.
As you know, this is the first year that the relatively new soap “Beyond the Gates” qualified for the Emmys, and it did wonderfully — seven nominations including Best Show and Best Writer. As soon as I congratulated creator/headwriter Michele Val Jean online, the phone rang. It was the CBS publicist, finally offering up the interview with her that I had long been after. My exclusive talk with Michele will be the subject of my very next column.
Of course, she’ll talk about her nominees — including the remarkable Tamara Tunie, whose portrayal of Anita’s painful journey through breast cancer resulted in her Best Actress nomination. Tunie would seem to be a shoo-in to win. For the first time, two Black actresses have received Best Actress nominations; Karla Mosley as that hell raiser Dani also received a nomination in that category. Other interesting nominees from “BTG” include the very handsome Timon Kyle Durrett (who plays Bill) for Best Supporting Actor and another great fave of mine, Trisha Mann-Grant, nominated for Best Supporting Actress as the bitchy phenomenon known as Leslie. Ambyr Michelle (who plays Eva) was nominated as Best Emerging Talent. Also in that category is Arielle Prepetit (who plays Naomi). The unique and very interesting Jasmine Burke (who plays June) has been nominated for Outstanding Guest Performance. Finally, the likable Mike Manning (who plays Smitty) was nominated as Best Supporting Actor.
Heather Thom
Other nominations from other shows yielded more surprises. Marlena’s eternal fave Thorsten Kaye (who plays Ridge on “The Bold and the Beautiful”) was nominated for Best Actor, although the show has given him too little to do lately. Michelle Stafford — who at this point should be declared a national monument as Phyllis on “The Young and the Restless” received an nomination for Best Actress, and the equally monumental Eric Braeden (who plays Victor on “Y&R”) received one for Best Actor. Most interesting, Heather Tom (who plays Katie on “B&B”) received a nomination for Best Actress. If she wins, she will break a record — she has already won six times. (She formerly played Victoria on “Y&R,” and she won her first Emmy in 1993 for Outstanding Younger Actress.)
Then there is the race for Best Show. Of all four remaining major network soaps, only “B&B” did not get a nod. (“Y&R” did, and so did “Days of Our Lives” and the previously mentioned “BTG.”) But the most likely winner is “General Hospital” — which has been written this year by Best Writer nominees Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte. It is a marvel of an action-adventure soap. No, this isn’t the second coming of Luke and Laura and executive producer Gloria Monty, who are remembered fondly from so long ago — but “GH” is certainly daytime’s most entertaining hour, and it is a must-see on a daily basis. It and its stars, which include nominees such as the newly returned Steve Burton (who plays Jason) as Best Actor, should do very well this year. Amanda Setton, who has a lot of depth as Brook Lynn on “GH” has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress. I particularly like that my guy, Giovanni Maaza (who plays Gio on “GH”), and Braedyn Bruner (who plays Emma) received nominations for Best Emerging Talents. It is so cute that they are involved in real life.
Tamara Tunie
And of course, there are other great nominations, too. Stacy Haiduk who is really slaying them right now on “Y&R” was nominated for her role as Kristen on “DOOL.” The very special Beth Maitland, who won for Best Supporting Actress in 1985 as Traci on “Y&R,” is up again for that award. Interestingly, her Y&R castmate Roger Howarth (who plays Matt) is nominated again as Best Supporting Actor, an award he won in 1994 when he played the immortal rapist Todd Manning on “One Life to Live.”
Not long after the nominations were announced, one favored soap site scored an exclusive barrage of interviews with the lucky nominees. It was good coverage, but it’s yet more evidence that the networks are playing favorites. Hey, don’t independent soap journalists deserve equal access?
Connie, if this last part is about Michael Fairman & his annual Zoom interviews about what is on people’s reels, that is a personal tradition that he has cultivated all on his own & I have no reason to think that if someone else wanted to do something similar that they would not be allowed to. But, also GREAT NEWS that you get to talk to MVJ soon!!! I have a different take on these nods. Understanding that we do not know who might have not submitted, I am seriously looking for Erika Slezak in the Guest category, also Katey McMullen in either Lead or Supporting. Generally speaking that GH only got 2 standard acting nods & 2 Emerging Talent & again a few in Guest, Overall, Great column & so timely!
Michael and I worked together on an early ABC soap site and I think he is a terrific journalist–I always enjoy his columns and interviews. I should have complained about the Erika omission!
What I am thinking is that Miz Slezak did not submit which makes me want to scream but it’s the only possible explanation I can mentally entertain! I had her down as the odds-on favorite to take GUEST. She was brilliant on GH & that it was her acting with no sign at all of the OLTL character was so refreshing!!! Then, with Katey, I figure she must have submitted in Lead & not made it out of that so fierce competitive pack & so she should’ve submitted in Supporting. As it is we have the Producer Michelle Henry to thank for Amanda Setton submitting as going by what she told MFairman Michelle put together an unasked for reel & basically said, SEE! Because Setton was not planning on submitting!!! WOW.
Interesting. I hope that someone talks to Erika and clarifies the situation. She is more than deserving of an award. Thanks Donna!
Erika Slezak did indeed submit her name.
Thank you! We love Erika always!