Daytime Emmy Press Room/Winners Gallery

The 38th Annual Daytime Emmy’s press room and winners walk area gave journalists and soap pundits from various outlets around the globe the opportunity to fire questions, as well as celebrate with the recipients of this year’s Emmy Gold. In a night that was bittersweet due to the recent cancellations of All My Children and One Life to Live, and the heavy times the daytime industry is facing, everyone was ready to have a good time and acknowledge the accomplishments of their peers. There was the annual shocker, and long-awaited overdue moments for some of the winners that made the backstage interesting and profound.

The Bold and the Beautiful did what it set out to do, and that was to have three-peat in the Outstanding Drama Series category. With their Emmy submission of the homeless storyline on Skid Row Los Angeles, intertwined with Stephanie’s stage four cancer battle and her unwillingness to accept treatment, the series was able to mix social issues of the day with strong soap storytelling. Brad Bell, the executive producer and head writer for B&B, had this to say in the pressroom, “We submitted our episodes of our Skid Row remote, which was filmed on the hottest day in Los Angeles. And when we got there we thought we were being touched by a divine presence, because it is such a special place with such special people. These were people who have nowhere to go, but they welcomed us with a big embrace. It was a very special experience. I think my dad, Bill Bell Sr., would be very proud. I was hoping to win an Emmy when he was alive, but I know he is here in spirit. He was such a great family man, and I know this evening would have been wonderful for him, especially since it is Father’s Day.”

Pressroom/Winners Gallery

Photo Credit: Steven Bergman

When the Lead Actor and Actress category winners were announced on-stage by presenters Shemar Moore and Susan Lucci, (who can ever forget Moore presenting Lucci her long-awaited Emmy with the words, “The streak is over!”) On-Air On-Soaps could not have been more pleased! Both acting victors were our choices for Should Win in their respective categories in our annual Emmy Predictions. First, As the World Turns’ Michael Park (who was not in attendance since he is currently performing on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) won his second Emmy in a row for Lead Actor for his moving and emotional portrayal of Jack Snyder, who in his Emmy winning scenes is trying to be with the woman he loves, while trying to extricate himself from his current marriage. It was subtle and the reel spoke volumes, and the academy awarded Park once again. On the female side, General Hospital’s Laura Wright (Carly) won her first Daytime Emmy in twenty years on soaps! Wright’s Emmy reel showed Carly trying to hold it together while having to say goodbye to her son, Michael, before he is carted away to Pentonville Prison after being found guilty for the murder of Claudia Zacchara. In the pressroom, Wright elaborated as to what the Emmy meant to her! “It feels amazing. It was 20 years ago this month that I started in daytime, so this is a pretty emotional evening. I never really considered myself in the same category as others who deserved a nomination. When I was working on Loving and Guiding Light, I would be an annoying cheerleader who loved every Emmys and could not wait to go, and I was so excited for all the actors. It was just one big fun party, but I never ever thought for a second I would be part of the group of actors nominated, I was just the cheerleader. It was not until I had a major story line on Guiding Light, that I started being considered. So no, absolutely not, did I ever think this could happen! I am so grateful.” Many in the crowd also loved Wright’s beautiful Emmy dress, and she let the press know someone very special in her life picked it out. “I picked this dress because my daughter told me to wear this dress! I had two dresses that came with me to Las Vegas, she chose this one, and she was right. And then we, as a family, all matched!”

In the Supporting Actor and Actress category, there was one heavily favored winner and one that came as a surprise to many! General Hospital’s Jonathan Jackson won as expected for his transcendent performance as Lucky Spencer confronting Elizabeth and Nikolas about their affair. And Heather Tom took home the gold for her performance as Katie Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful, winning her third Emmy. This was Jackson’s fourth! Jackson’s category was the first up in the Emmy telecast and it was presented by Penn and Teller and Rachael Ray as a card trick! Jackson admitted he was not sure when the gag ended and when the winner was really announced, even though they said his name! It was all a blur when they call my named, because it seemed like it was still part of the magic trick by Penn and Teller. So when Rachael Ray called my name, I did not know what was going on. And the category came so quick, because the show starts and then they go into Supporting Actor.” In talking about the scenes that won him this Emmy, Jonathan explained how he and Becky Herbst (Liz) and Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) got through their emotional scenes together. “It is difficult to rip into Becky and Tyler in these scenes, because I love them as people. And when you have to go there, I had to ask Tyler and Becky to have a prayer with me before we shot the scenes. I don’t like going to those places without a prayer first, and then as soon as the cameraman would yell, ‘Cut’, I would go, “I am sorry Becky.” Believe me, I felt horrible, but it’s the job.” Without question, the cutest family of the night belongs to the Jackson’s! Jonathan and his wife Lisa brought with them their two oldest kids, Adora and Caleb, and Jackson explained the significance! “Originally, I was just going to come with my wife, but then we thought, “You know, the Emmys are on Father’s Day. We should take the kids to have a memory together.” They have been such a huge support for me!”

Winner Heather Tom, once she got to the podium realized she forgot to thank the man in her life on the live telecast! “I forgot to thank my boyfriend James, but they were doing the countdown to get me off the stage!” As to her shocked reaction to her win, she revealed how amazing the competition was in the Supporting category. “I thought the competition was pretty stiff. This is a great surprise, and any one of those beautiful ladies could have hopped up on stage and been very deserving. I know all of them and am a big fan of all of their work.” Tom also admitted playing Katie Logan is one of her all-time favorite soap roles now. “I like that Katie started as this mousy girl and has grown into her own woman. I love what is going on right now with her, and it’s some of the best stuff I have had in a long time.”

B&B’s Scott Clifton, can finally shed that Susan Lucci-esque Emmy losing streak now that he was finally awarded the Outstanding Younger Actor prize in Sin City! Cliton who has been a nominee for his roles on General Hospital, One Life to Live and The Bold and the Beautiful was very excited that he won for his role as Liam Cooper in his final year of eligibility in the category! Clifton said to the press corp, “I am going to do everything I can to make sure I don’t remember any of this tomorrow morning. (Laughs) I am going to go to the after-parties and sort of bask in my happiness! If I had to look back on every single time I had been nominated and had to choose a character that I could win it for, it would be this one. I am so happy with this character and I feel I have grown so much as an actor, but I never thought I really deserved the Emmy till now. So I am really happy.” But the real shocker and ultra-surprise of the night came in the Outstanding Younger Actress category when Brittany Allen won for her former role as Marissa Chandler on All My Children! Those in the know, realize that Allen was fired from AMC and replaced with Sarah Glendening in the role. So, truly for Britanny, this was a sort of vindication after being axed! The heavily favored Lexi Ainsworth was thought to be a shoo-in for the Younger Actress prize for her tour de force performance as Kristina in the teen abuse storyline on GH! Allen, stunned and excited, stated about her bizarre set of circumstances that led her to an Emmy. “It’s interesting. Through this whole time I had the support of All My Children and one of the first persons that called when I got the nomination was Julie Hanan Carruthers, the Executive Producer, and everyone from every part of the cast and crew has been supportive. Also, I love Sarah Glendening. We have met several times and I think she is a really sweet girl.”

In the end it was a big night for the Bell family. Not only did Brad Bell’s The Bold and the Beautiful win Drama Series, but also it tied for Outstanding Directing Team with The Young and the Restless. And, in the Writing Team Drama Series category, the award went to Y&R’s executive producer and head writer, Maria Arena Bell, who finally won her first ever Emmy for writing… something she considers her true love. Maria offered these parting thoughts, “I think we have told a lot of exciting stories during my tenure. The thing I did not get the opportunity to do on stage was thank my mentor, Bill Bell. I was really his protégé and he spent a ton of time with me. I got to know what a great storyteller he was. I actually know that the experience with Bill changed me. What Y&R does best is true emotional storytelling that fans can relate to. That is why we went with the submission we chose, which was the aftermath of Billy and Victoria’s wedding and Nina’s son getting shot by her other son, and Tricia Cast (Nina) was magnificent. Our whole writing team is very proud tonight.”

Check out our photo gallery of some fantastic moments in the winner’s circle backstage, and the pressroom!

EMMY WEEKEND VEGAS-STYLE BABY!

Weekend Photo Gallery

Photo Credit: Steven Bergman

You know what they say: “What happens in Vegas… stays in Vegas.” Or does it? Not necessarily when you have the whole daytime community enveloping Sin City and lots of paparazzi around! With the annual lead actress nominee luncheon, parties poolside, and private suite gatherings in fabulous hotels, and of course, hot dance club parties through the night, the soap stars got a chance to experience and see all that Vegas has to offer. And yes, it does have more than a myriad of slot machines and Celine Dion! Saturday night’s big Emmy kick-off party was held by Innovative Artists for their clients and celebrity friends and high-profile nominees. So to ring in Emmys 2011, their soiree was held at the new Nikki Beach Las Vegas at the new Tropicana Hotel and Resort. Clearly the party brought out many stars looking to kick- it, before the main event on Sunday including: Y&R’s Christian Leblanc, Billy Miller, Jeff Branson, Elizabeth Hendrickson, DAYS’ Nadia Bjorlin, Shawn Christian, Crystal Chappell, Freddie Smith, Bren Foster, GH’s Laura Wright, and Bradford Anderson, and B&B’s Scott Clifton and Adrienne Frantz. While many were enjoying the fun at Nikki Beach, On-Air On-Soaps was attending a very private affair at the Venetian Hotel for GH’s Younger Actress nominee, Lexi Ainsworth. In attendance were Lexi’s castmates: Nancy Lee Grahn, Lisa LoCicero, and Haley Pullos among other soap notables.

Saturday and Sunday also provided the opportunity for nominees, presenters, and soap stars to check out the Gifting Suite inside the Las Vegas Hilton for some new first-look interesting swag. Following the 38th Annual Daytime Emmy Telecast, several post-party bashes began, and these invitation-only events were being held around the Las Vegas strip. The night began with the official Daytime Emmy Post Party and dinner at the Las Vegas Hilton. Clearly it was the first stop for the largest daytime contingent.

This year’s NBC/Days of our Lives Post Emmy Bash was held at the Venetian’s Canelleto Restaurant, where you could find most of the citizens of Salem, hanging out! However, the place to be on Emmy night for the second year in a row was the Tryst Nightclub inside the Wynn Hotel. It was there that the Bell’s, Brad and Maria, celebrated their Emmy victories with the official Y&R and B&B after party. From blackjack tables, to waterfalls, to attendees dancing with their cast and their peers, the Tryst dance floor was hot! In fact, B&B’s Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy) took a turn at the deejay booth spinning a fantastic dance set! Now, check out our photo gallery of some of the sights and images from Emmy Weekend, Vegas-style!