In what could prove to be a massive shake-up ahead, both the TV Academy (ATAS), who presides over the Primetime Emmys, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), who preside over the Daytime Emmys, are in exploratory reunification discussions to merge the two organizations into one.

Both sides received an overwhelming vote and support from their boards to evaluate what a unified Academy could look like. However there is no formal calendar at this juncture for the discussions. In addition, because of the ongoing unification talks that should occur, the TV Academy board has voted to extend all current sitting Governors’ terms by one year so they can see the process through.

Boards at both organizations voted overwhelmingly to evaluate what a unified Academy could make possible: a strong vision for the Academy’s future, more effective thought leadership for the industry, broader service and support for members coast-to-coast, and new momentum and opportunities across the full complement of national Emmy competitions.

Photos: ATAS/NATAS

AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS, CAN THE EMMYS BE UNDER ONE BANNER?

In a joint statement, ATAS and NATAS shared, “Television remains the most powerful medium we have to shape culture and prompt conversations that define us—no matter the size of the screen, With the business of television undergoing such a monumental transformation, this is the right moment to explore a reunification of our Academies, providing our members and our industry with a bolder voice advocating for them and a stronger partner to navigate the future with them.”

If the reunification talks continue, this would be the first time since the two Emmy organizations split back on June 30, 1977 that they have tried to come together, all of this after almost three decades of often uneasy and strained tension between the two.

The most recent joint change came in 2022 when a move of the game show categories went from NATAS to ATAS’ and now are in the Primetime Emmys.

Deadline notes that a unification of the two television academies who overall preside over nighttime and daytime programming would be similar how SAG and AFTRA used to represent performers from completely different dayparts of work.

Could the Daytime Emmys finally see some love in primetime and have their major categories televised as part of the annual kudofest every September? Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will take place live on Monday, September 14th starting at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT and air on NBC and stream on Peacock emanating from the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. While, the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards will take place on Friday, October 30, time to be announced, live from the Hollywood Palladium and will be streamed on watchtheemmys.tv

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Awards for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime and Children’s & Family programming, as well as achievements in television Technology & Engineering.

The Television Academy (ATAS) strives to shape and advance the dynamic television landscape; cultivate a diverse, inclusive and accessible professional community; and advocate for the television industry while capturing the spirit of a new generation of content creators and industry professionals. Through innovative programs, publications and events, the Academy and its Foundation foster and empower storytellers. The Academy also celebrates those who excel in the industry recognizing their achievements through awards and accolades, including the renowned Emmy Award. Membership in the Academy is open to working professionals in the television industry.

So, would you like to see the Primetime Emmy and the Daytime Emmys fold into one show if the two unions reached a unification arrangement? Do you hope that after almost 50 years, the two organizations can finally make some serious headway? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

It’s always tricky deciding what scenes to represent your performances to include on your Daytime Emmy Reel. In the case of two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Steve Burton (Jason Morgan, General Hospital), he knows a thing or two, or three, of what gives an actor the best shot at taking home the gold.

This year, Steve became one of the five nominees for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards when his name was announced two weeks ago on Extra.

GH viewers know 2025 was a banner year for Burton who delivered very emotional and powerful scenes, which often revolved around the death of Jason’s mother who raised him, Monica Quartermaine (Susan Moore was his bio-mom) in tribute to her portrayer, the late Leslie Charleson.

Photo: ABC

Some of Steve’s most highly-regarded work came when Jason has to give a eulogy and share his remembrances of Monica at her funeral in front of the Quartermaine family and Monica’s friends and loved ones. It was a particularly emotional day for the cast and crew, where reality and acting blurred the lines.

On the latest episode of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli, GH), the duo welcomed to the show, a very special guest, Giovanni Mazza (Gio, GH), who himself landed a nomination for the first time in his career in the Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category.

As the three men discussed pouring their hearts and souls into their work and scenes, Giovanni Mazza, said to Burton, “What you did, particularly with Monica’s funeral, I know that whatever prep you did and with everything that you put into it, I know that it was a culmination of everything that you have ever done and experienced, and you put it into your work and everyone saw it.”

Photo: ABC

STEVE BURTON SHOCKS GIOVANNI MAZZA

Suddenly, Steve had to correct Giovanni, with what might be to some, startling news. However, when you think about it, as Burton explains it made sense. Steve responds to Mazza, “I appreciate that. But what’s crazy was that wasn’t in my reel.”

Burton continued, “I’ve been on the show for so long. I’ve been through so many storylines and there’s times where you do scenes where you’re going, ‘This is good’ And then, when you’re getting feedback from your coworkers and the crew going, ‘Hey, man, that was really incredible,’ you go, “Yeah, that’s probably pretty good. I’m going to take a look at it for my Emmy reel.’  So, that’s all I was focused on for my Emmy reel. I go, “Man, this is so good. I can’t wait to see it. This is it.’ No. It was one of those things where there was a million cutaways.”

“There were no true closeups, really, because they had to include everybody in the scene, which is totally fine,” explained the two-time Emmy winner. “But that was an interesting process for me, because I thought that was it. I thought that was going to be the anchor to the scenes that I submitted, and it wasn’t.”

DID STEVE BURTON USE ANY OF THE SCENES FOR HIS EMMY REEL SURROUNDING MONICA’S DEATH?

As to what scenes were on Burton’s reel, all he would say is, “I had to find other material, which is great. It made me really go through the process. It’s just one of those things. I did use some of that stuff from Monica’s death, for sure.”

However, speaking of the experience to say goodbye collectively to Monica and Leslie Charleson during the funeral shows was something he will never forget. Steve explained, “(The funeral scenes) were definitely a culmination of my experience there, my time with Leslie Charleson, my relationship with Leslie, my relationship with people who were in the scenes with me. The feeling of the crew mourning her also. It was emotionally a lot. I was grateful for that opportunity. It was amazing (to be able to do).”

Watch the full conversation with Steve, Bradford and Giovanni below.

Now, weigh-in: were you shocked that Steve Burton did not include Monica’s funeral? While he has not revealed all of the scenes on his reel, Steve has to be one of the frontrunners, given the other material he did get to play surrounding losing Monica. Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.

Ryan Murphy‘s anticipated new series The Shards, based on Bret Easton Ellis‘ prep school thriller novel, will premiere August 5 on FX and Hulu, as well as Disney+ and a very familiar face is set to appear within the series, when General Hospital alum, Colin Cassidy (ex-Aiden Webber, formerly known as Aiden Spencer) took to his Instagram to reveal the exciting news.

Colin shared, “I’m super excited to share that I will be appearing in Ryan Murphy’s The Shards premiering August 5th on FX, Hulu and Disney+!  I will appear in episode 5 as Rohmer, a fun lovin’ party animal with a secret! I had a blast working on this project and I can’t wait for you all to see it!”

Cassidy played the role of Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Lucky Spencer’s (Jonathan Jackson) son on the ABC soap opera on and off from 2024-2025.

Courtesy/ABC

The character was written off the canvas to explain Lucky’s sudden decision to travel abroad and leave Port Charles in June of 2025, Aiden went with his dad to get to know him better. During his run on GH, one of Colin’s most memorable scenes occurred when Aiden came out to Lucky after his father had been away for over a decade.

WHAT IS ‘THE SHARDS’ ALL ABOUT?

As for the The Shards, it’s a dark coming-of-age tale with semi-autobiographical facets for Ellis. Set in Los Angeles in 1981, the story follows a 17-year-old version of Ellis during his final year at the elite Buckley prep school. Upending the character’s world is the arrival of a mysterious new student, Robert Mallory, whose unsettling presence coincides with the activities of a serial killer known as The Trawler.

According to the official loglines: “Igby Rigney stars as Bret, an aspiring writer and keenly observant teenager whose reality begins to unravel with the arrival of a mysterious and magnetic new student, Robert Mallory (Homer Gere, the son of motion picture star, Richard Gere), Transferring in just before his senior year, Robert’s appearance coincides with the growing terror of The Trawler, a serial killer targeting teenagers across the city.

Alongside Bret is his elite social circle, which includes Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber), Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner) and Thom Wright (Graham Campbell), a glamorous and deeply entangled group drawn into a life of wealth, beauty, parties and excess. The promise of their youth is contrasted with the dark and cynical world of the adults surrounding them: Terry Schaffer (Wes Bentley), Liz Schaffer (Evan Rachel Wood) and Steven Reinhardt (Jordan Roth).

You can check out the 2nd official trailer for The Shards below,

So, are you looking forward to seeing Colin Cassidy in The Shards? Do you hope that General Hospital brings Aiden back to the canvas with or without his father, Lucky? Let us know via the comment section.