News
ATI's Romanovich speaks out on Daytime Emmy Telecast content decisions!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
ATI’s, Jim Romanovich spoke to TV Guide Canada’s, Soapgeist, Nelson Branco, on this year’s Daytime Emmy Telecast. And while fans were upset over the lack of airtime for soaps, clips of the nominees, and the ATWT’s tribute, plus the insertion of an commercial for the Las Vegas Hilton inside the telecast itself, Romanovich told Branco why it all had to be done this way. Many industry insiders apparently offered their kudos f on this show being the best telecast in years. Here are a few excerpts:
Romanovich on saving the Emmys: “Perhaps what many genuine soap fans don’t realize is that the Daytime Emmys were allowed back on TV in spite of the soaps, not because of them. Had we not had a 20-minute tribute to Bandstand (which according to the ratings on the quarter hour was the spike that won the two-time period and the night for CBS) and the Las Vegas Hilton, we would have never had CBS. It would have been over. Therefore, the Daytime Emmys would have been a dinner at the Beverly Hilton. For the daytime community, that’s not a bad thing. It’s still a good, fun night for them. But what the Daytime Emmys represent by being on television is the strength of the content of daytime television. If the soaps have a chance in hell at being looked at as relevant in mainstream America, it has to be [related with what the general public considers] mainstream. As a soap fan, I’m telling you the sad facts, which is why I have worked so hard to keep the Daytime Emmys on television. The facts are that networks really have lost interest in their soaps. They are not the financial boons they used to be. What’s sadder is that if you poll most television viewers and ask them who Oprah, Judge Judy and Jerry Springer are, they know. Ask them again who Agnes Nixon, Susan Flannery and Maura West are and they don’t know. The soap opera fan alone cannot sustain the Daytime Emmys. Like all awards shows, you need entertainment as that wide net to capture as many fish as possible. If I can do that with some magic and music, while still maintain about an 80 per cent weight to the soaps, then we all win. What I’m hoping to do with the Emmys is prolong their relevance so that these six remaining shows can have a life beyond daytime TV when the Internet and à la carte television options presented to us in the near future is our only way of watching TV. That’s what I tried to do with Guiding Light. ”
Romanovich on ATI and CBS’s plan to make the show relevant in 2010: “If we never came forward and produced the Daytime Emmys in ‘09, what message would that have sent to the broadcast networks? Everything we did for the Daytime Emmys had a grand plan and last weekend was it — to make it big, on a top network, and relevant. Was it the same as 20 years ago? No, because the soaps aren’t the same (or as plentiful) as 20 years ago. As one who is doing everything for soaps I can, I will feature Lion Kings, Kabuki dancers and the roster of Motown if that’s what it takes to keep them on TV.”
Congratulations are in order for Jen Jacob (Ashley Morgan, Beyond the Gates) and her husband, musician Jesse Ruben. The two will be welcoming their first baby girl to their growing family in March of 2027 after Jacob that she is pregnant!
Jen took to her Instagram account and shared sonogram images of the couple’s little bundle of joy growing inside of her. She captioned the montage of images, “Mom & Dad have entered the chat. Baby girl coming March 2027 🩷” The post is set to the music of Thurston Harris’ “Little Bitty Pretty One.”
This marks the first child for the duo who have been married for the last 8 years and recently celebrated their wedding anniversary just last week on October 7.
Photo: JjacobIG
Ruben wrote on the occasion, “Eight years ago today, I got to marry my favorite person. Jen Jaccob, hank you for saying yes, and being the best, most patient and kind and loving partner. How lucky am I, to get to do life with you. I love doing life with you.”
BEYOND THE GATES CAST OVERJOYED
Upon the news, several of Jen’s Beyond the Gates costars were on the ready and jumped in the post comment thread including: Daytime Emmy nominee Arielle Prepetit (Naomi).“I’m gonna be an auntieeeee!! Yasss!♥️” That was followed by RhonniRoseMantilla (Chelsea), who aded, “YAYYYYY BTG BABY BTG BABYYYY💕💕💕”
Daytime Emmy nominee, Karla Mosley (Dani) wrote, “❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ love love LOVE – there aren’t enough hearts in the world.” Meanwhile, Daphnee Duplaix (Nicole) added, “Can’t wait for our newest family member!!!!” Lauren Buglioli (Vanessa) expressed: “EEEEEE!!! Aunt Lauren loves you baby girllll”
Photo: CBS
WILL THE CBS SOAP OPERA FOLLOW SUIT AND MAKE ASHLEY PREGNANT?
Meanwhile on CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates, Ashley still remains unlucky in love. Her ex-boyfriend, Derek Baldwin (Ben Gavin) died, she had initially split with suitor Grayson Perez (Jordi Vilasuso) after the The Impaler blood plasma reveal, but now seems back together with him. Previously, Ashley had a flirtation with Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman), which could still come back around in the future.
No word yet if Ashley will become pregnant on-screen during the time of Jen’s pregnancy or if she will be hiding behind the nurses station desk to cover her baby bump at Garland Memorial Hospital.
Share your congrats to Jen and Ben on the announcement of their baby on the way via the comment section, and let us know if you think Beyond the Gates should or will, write Jen’s pregnancy into the story for Ashley?
View this post on Instagram
News
B&B’s Dual Emmy-Nominee Lawrence Saint-Victor on Black Representation in the Soaps, ‘Our Voices Are Being Heard. I Want to Make Sure That Continues’
When Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter Walton, The Bold and the Beautiful) was announced to be nominated this year at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards for not only Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series, but also as part of the nominated Writing Team from the CBS soap, it was a big moment in his life and his career.
As many know, Saint-Victor has been a veteran of soap opera since back in his early days as Remy on the now defunct Guiding Light. Fast-forward to some 17 years later since the conclusion of GL, and Lawrence is nominated in a year that is a breakthrough for Black performers and creatives behind the scenes in the soaps, which for decades was never the case in daytime television.
With the advent and launch in 2025 of the first Black-led hour-long daytime drama, Beyond the Gates locking down 15 nominations going into Emmy night on October 30 and a host of other writing and acting nominees, the tide seems to have shifted. It’s something Saint-Victor hopes will continue for years to come.
Photo: JPI
THE TIDE HAS TURNED
Speaking with Ebony, Lawrence shared on his dual nominations, “I’ve sat with those thoughts and feelings for some time, thinking about what these nominations mean to me, especially as the first Black man in daytime to be nominated for acting and writing in the same year.”
Saint-Victor is nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor alongside: Sean Dominic (Nate, Y&R), Mike Manning (Smitty, BTG), Michael Graziadei (Daniel, Y&R), Roger Howarth (Matt, Y&R), Timon Kyle Durrett (Bill, BTG).
On his journey in soaps, Lawrence explained, “So many Black men and women, both in front of and behind the camera, pushed the door open and kept pushing so that I could walk through. They fought to be seen, heard, and given an opportunity. I don’t take for granted that I get to stand on the other side of those doors now. And I believe it’s my responsibility — as well as the responsibility of my brothers and sisters in this industry — to keep pushing. That feels especially important to me as a writer.”
MORE WORK TO DO FOR INCLUSIVENESS
Lawrence added, “Representation can’t exist only in front of the camera. Our perspective and our experiences need to be present in the work too. Our experiences are not one thing. Black people are not one thing. We are romantic. We are funny. We are angry. We are heroic. We are flawed. We are sexy. We are vulnerable. We are complicated. We still have a lot of work to do, but we have also come so far.”
Win or lose, Lawrence believes this will be a moment for inclusiveness, celebration, and to inspire: “The fruit of the fight to be heard is coming to harvest. I am a leading man in a leading story on my show, and I’m also a writer on that very show AND I stand on the shoulders of giants. Our voices are being heard. I want to make sure that continues.”
The 53rd annual Daytime Emmys will be streamed on the official Emmys You Tube Channel as well as streamed on the official website The Emmys via watch.theemmys.tv.
So, have you been thrilled to see how the door has opened for Black representation in front of the camera and behind the scenes at your favorite daytime soaps? What do you think about Lawrence’s dual nominations heading into Emmy night? Share your thoughts on the state of the soaps via the comment section below.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Alum Eva LaRue Talks Guest Performer Daytime Emmy Nod With Maurice Benard: ‘I Only Have a Nomination Because of You’
It was back in episodes of June of 2025 that saw the undoing and ultimate death of Natalia Rogers-Ramirez after complex and poignant scenes delivered by soap opera vet, Eva LaRue on General Hospital. Prior to her demise, Sonny (Maurice Benard) had Natalia believing they were going to head out of the country and set up their lives together, only for Sonny to pull out at the last moment after learning of all of Natalia’s deception.
Throughout her run on GH, LaRue’s Natalia became one of the most hated characters of the year, especially because of the character’s bigotry against her own gay children, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) and Blaze (Jacqueline Grace Lopez), and that she was revealed to be the ex-wife of Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota). But even with all that, Eva triumphed and secured a Daytime Emmy nomination going into the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on October 30 in the Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series.
LaRue faces tough competition from the other nominees that include: Christopher Sean (Paul, Days of our Lives), Jasmine Burke (June Hughes, Beyond the Gates), Jeff Kober (ex-Cyrus Renault, General Hospital), and Ray Wise (ex-Ian Ward, The Young and the Restless).
Photo: NATAS
EVA LARUE SCORED HER FOURTH EMMY NOMINATION
Now, on a new Sunday, October 11 edition of Maurice Benard’s mental health series, State of Mind, the two former co-stars talked about LaRue’s fourth Daytime Emmy nomination. She previously won an Emmy for her work as as Celeste Rosales on The Young and the Restless in this same category in 2020, and was nominated three other times including this year.
The others were for co-writing the song, “Dance with You Again” for All My Children in 2004 and in 1997 in the Supporting Actress category her role as Mario Santos on the beloved ABC soap opera.
Speaking on her nomination, LaRue says it’s Maurice who was truly helped her deliver her performances. “I only have a nomination because of you,” she said to the three-time Daytime Emmy winning Lead Actor. “You said to me that you were going to get nominated.” Eva added, “God bless the writers because they wrote some fantastic stuff for me to go out on.”
Maurice responded, “You had levels in your work that day that we did those scenes. But you were on fire!”
Photo: ABC
MAURICE BENARD’S BOLD EMMY PREDICTION
Explaining the category she is nominated for to Benard, LaRue said, “I’m nominated for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series. So (the category) was those of us who were like not on contract, but we were there for a while. I mean now, I feel like that guest thing is so much more competitive than it ever was, because so many of the soap operas are taking people off contract, which then throws them into the Guest category.”
Benard, who shares he has great Emmy karma predicting the acting awards on daytime’s biggest night, made his bold 2026 prediction sharing his pick. “I would say you’re gonna win (to LaRue). And I would say if not, it’s between you and somebody else. There’s no reason why you wouldn’t win for the ‘Guest’ category.”
You can watch part 1 of the conversation between Eva LaRue and Maurice Benard on State of Mind below. With part 2 being released next Sunday on October 18.
Now, let us know, do you think Eva has a chance at grabbing the gold for her work as Natalia-Rogers Ramirez on General Hospital? Would you like to see her win? It’s been a very heavy time for Eva after just recently losing her brother. Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Zende Quits Forrester Creations in Another Standout Performance by Delon de Metz
‘Beyond the Gates’ Actress Jen Jacob Reveals Pregnancy
B&B’s Dual Emmy-Nominee Lawrence Saint-Victor on Black Representation in the Soaps, ‘Our Voices Are Being Heard. I Want to Make Sure That Continues’
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Matt Clark Reveals Himself, ‘Clearly, Hero Time Is Over’
Parry Shen and Lydia Look Make a Return to ‘General Hospital’
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Delon de Metz Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Netflix Canada to Stream Past Episodes of ‘Days of our Lives’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’
Robert Kelker-Kelly, ‘General Hospital,’ ‘Days of our Lives’ and ‘Another World’ Star Dies at 62
BEYOND THE GATES Preview: Who’s Trying to Silence Hayley?
‘Beyond the Gates’ Fall Preview: Michele Val Jean Reveals Twists and Turns in Fairmont Crest, Teases New Faces
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Zende Quits Forrester Creations in Another Standout Performance by Delon de Metz
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Matt Clark Reveals Himself, ‘Clearly, Hero Time Is Over’
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: ‘From Your Biggest Fan’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Finn May Learn Unsettling News, Zende Makes His Decision, Katie’s Bitter Battle Escalates
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Delon de Metz Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
-
Recaps2 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Delon de Metz Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
-
Days Of Our Lives1 week agoNetflix Canada to Stream Past Episodes of ‘Days of our Lives’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’
-
Breaking News1 week agoRobert Kelker-Kelly, ‘General Hospital,’ ‘Days of our Lives’ and ‘Another World’ Star Dies at 62
-
Beyond the Gates1 week agoBEYOND THE GATES Preview: Who’s Trying to Silence Hayley?
-
Beyond the Gates5 days ago‘Beyond the Gates’ Fall Preview: Michele Val Jean Reveals Twists and Turns in Fairmont Crest, Teases New Faces
-
Previews1 week agoTHE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Sally’s Bachelorette Party and Billy’s Bachelor Party Take Center Stage
-
General Hospital6 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Hudson West Wins Big as Contestant on ‘The Price is Right’
-
General Hospital1 week agoGENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Everyone Turns Their Backs on Sonny; Can Anyone Get Chase to Open His Eyes About Willow’s Treachery?
Am I the only person out here that feels a disconnect when listening to Mr. Romanovich’s claims of having the greater good of daytime television in mind when producing these past two years of Daytime Emmy telecasts? Really? Is his goal to represent the best in daytime television or is his goal to simply “air” the Daytime Emmys; because to me, he seems more concerned with the latter than with doing anything substanitive to honor those supposedly gathered.
How does he feel his telecasts represent the “strength of the content of daytime television” when a simple element as viewers aren’t even shown clips of why people are nominated leading into the awards presentation? How does he feel he “still maintains about an 80 per cent weight to the soaps” when the fact that three legendary actors (Mitchell, Reid and Wagner) passed away this year and their combined 129 years of service did not warrent a mention, yet somehow America just couldn’t live without a tour of the penthouse of the Las Vegas Hilton or an extended infomercial on Feed the Children? (People tuning-in weren’t expecting a heavy-handed public service announcement, they were expecting to see the daytime celebrated!) How does he feel “Lion Kings, Kabuki dancers and the roster of Motown” are “what it takes to keep them on TV”? If ‘them’ mean the Emmy Telecasts, that’s one thing that he definitely seems focused on … but the man ain’t ‘saving’ daytime or respecting it’s audience by green-lighting a two-minute GL tribute and a one-minute ATWT tribute! While trying to attract your ‘mainstream’ audience, you seem to be alienating your ‘core’ audience; how exactly is that good production business?
When he asks “if we never came forward and produced the Daytime Emmys in ‘09, what message would that have sent to the broadcast networks?”, it would say exactly what he already thinks: that America doesn’t consider soaps mainstream and that the networks have lost interest and it’s time to stop airing the telecasts. I say quit while you’re ahead, stop trying to produce a spectacle and return to a nice dinner/awards ceremony for the people that should be honored, produced by someone that will place a higher importance on daytime rather than trying to be all things to all people, and ending-up disappointing instead of inspiring.
Mr. Romanovich’s claims are a big pile of BS!!! I totally agree with the previous writer that they should quit while they’re ahead and go back to the nice dinner/awards ceremony where the people of DAYTIME can be honored and we’re not forced to watch an infomercial of Vegas and a hotel suite and a bunch of Vegas acts that I couldn’t care less about! Using the title DAYTIME EMMY’S as an excuse to air a Vergas informercial is a joke only it’s not funny at all!!! He has his numbers confused because Vegas took up 80%+ of the time with maybe 20% given over to daytime! And no red carpet, no Emmy reels, rushed and confused presenters, 30 second acceptance speechs, no views of the actors/nominees as their names were called and no MEMORIAL!!! SHAMEFUL AND RIDICULOUS AND A VERY POOR EXCUSE FOR WHAT THEY CALLED THE DAYTIME EMMY’S BUT CLEARLY THESE WERE NOT THE DAYTIME EMMY’S!!! This was the worse Daytime Emmy’s EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!