The nominations have just been announced by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) nominees for the 46th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.  And it was NBC’s Days of our Lives which led the pack in total nods with 27.  In second was ABC’s General Hospital with 25.  However, CBS led all networks with 65 nominations in all.

This year’s ceremony will be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Sunday, May 5, 2019.  The Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards will also be held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Friday, May 3, 2019.

The Daytime Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in all fields of daytime television production and are presented to individuals and programs broadcast from 2:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. during the 2018 calendar year.

“We are very excited today to announce the nominees for the 46th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” said, Adam Sharp, President & CEO of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). “We look forward to a grand celebration honoring the best of Daytime television both in front of the camera and behind as we return for the third year in a row to the classic Pasadena Civic Auditorium.”

“The incredible level of talent and craft reflected in our nominees continues to show the growing impact of Daytime television and the incredible diversity of programming the viewing audience has to choose from,” said, Executive Director, Daytime, Brent Stanton. “With the help of some outstanding new additions to our staff, Rachel Schwartz and Lisa Armstrong, and the continued support of Luke Smith and Christine Chin, we have handled another record-breaking number of entries this year. Many thanks to our hundreds of great judges, who through their hard work and dedication, have come up with a stellar list of nominees that exemplfy the best in Daytime!”

The 46th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards is a presentation of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Both of this year’s show will be led by Executive Producer, David Michaels, SVP, Daytime (NATAS) and Executive Producer, David Parks, Ignition Entertainment.

Congrats to all the nominees and now here who is in the running for Emmy gold in major performer and show categories, and creative categories, below.

Outstanding Drama Series

The Bold and the Beautiful

Days of Our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless

Photo: ABC

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Marci Miller, Days of our Lives

Heather Tom, The Bold and the Beautiful

Maura West, General Hospital

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, The Bold and the Beautiful

Laura Wright,  General Hospital

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Maurice Benard, General Hospital

Peter Bergman,  The Young and the Restless

Tyler Christopher, Days of our Lives

Billy Flynn,  Days of our Lives

Jon Lindstrom,  General Hospital

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Kassie DePaiva,  Days of our Lives

Linsey Godfrey,  Days of our Lives

Martha Madison,  Days of our Lives

Beth Maitland,  The Young and the Restless

Mishael Morgan,  The Young and the Restless

Vernee Watson,  General Hospital

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Max Gail,  General Hospital

Bryton James,  The Young and the Restless

Eric Martsolf,  Days of our Lives

Greg Rikaart,  Days of our Lives

Dominic Zamprogna,  General Hospital

Photo: JPI Studops

Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series

Hayley Erin,  General Hospital

Olivia Rose Keegan,  Days of our Lives

Victoria Konefal, Days of our Lives

Chloe Lanier,  General Hospital

Eden McCoy, General Hospital

Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series

Lucas Adams, Days of our Lives

William Lipton,  General Hospital

Kyler Pettis, Days of our Lives

Garren Stitt, General Hospital

Zach Tinker, The Young and the Restless

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series

Philip Anthony-Rodriguez,  Days of our Lives

Patricia Bethune, General Hospital

Wayne Brady, The Bold and the Beautiful

Kate Mansi,  Days of our Lives

Thaao Penghlis, Days of our Lives

Outstanding Digital Daytime Drama Series

After Forever

The Bay The Series

Giants

The New 30

Youth & Consequences

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series

Jade Harlow, The Bay The Series

Vanessa Baden Kelly, Giants

Liana Liberato,  Light as a Feather

Shanti Lowry, Bronx SIU

Liz Vassey,  Riley Parra

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series

Mitchell Anderson,  After Forever

Kristos Andrews, The Bay The Series

Kevin Spirtas,  After Forever

Brian White, Bronx SIU

Wayne Wilcox,  Only Children

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Outstanding Writing Team for a Drama Series

The Bold and the Beautiful

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless                                                                                                                    

Outstanding Directing Team for a Drama Series

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless                                                                                                                 

Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless               

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Outstanding Art Direction/Set Direction/Scenic Design for a Drama Series

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless                                                                                                                 

Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Technical Team for a Drama Series

The Bold and the Beautiful

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless                                 

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing for a Drama Series

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless                                                                                                                     

Outstanding Live and Direct to Tape Sound Mixing for a Drama Series

The Bold and the Beautiful

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless                                                                                                                    

Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless                                      

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Outstanding Costume Design for a Drama Series

The Bold and the Beautiful

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless                                                                                                                     

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Drama Series

The Bold and the Beautiful

Days of our Lives

The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Makeup for a Drama Series

The Bold and the Beautiful

Days of our Lives

General Hospital

The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Game Show

Family Feud

Jeopardy!

Let’s Make a Deal

The Price Is Right

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire                     

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

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Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program

Couples Court with the Cutlers

Judge Judy

Judge Mathis

Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court

The People’s Court

Outstanding Informative Talk Show

Access Live

The Dr. Oz Show

Rachael Ray

Red Table Talk

Today Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda

Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

A Little Help with Carol Burnett

The Real

The Talk

The View

Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host

Kelly Ripa, Ryan Seacrest LIVE with Kelly and Ryan

Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai, Tamera Mowry-Housley, The Real

Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba, Julie Chen, The Talk

Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, Abby Huntsman, Sara Haines, The View
Wendy Williams, The Wendy Williams Show

Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host

Dr. Mehmet Oz, The Dr. Oz Show

Kellie Pickler Pickler and Ben

Steve Harvey, Steve

Rachael Ray, Rachael Ray Show

Kathie Lee Gifford, Hoda Kotb, Today Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda

For the complete list of Emmy nominations in all categories click here.

So, what did you think of this year’s Daytime Emmy Nominations? Did your favorites get in? Who do you think got snubbed? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

Last week on key episodes of General Hospital, the truth was finally out that Ryan Chamberlain (Jon Lindstrom) was masquerading as his twin brother, Dr. Kevin Collins, and that Ava Jerome (Maura West) was an unsuspecting victim in all of this.  As the week began, Ryan and Ava had gone over the bridge, but Jason (Steve Burton) was able to save Ava and pull her back to the bridge, and that set the stage for a powerhouse series of performances by West.

On the bridge with Laura (Genie Francis), who is trying to make Ava comprehend the harsh realization that she has been with a serial killer this entire time, and not the real Kevin (Jon Lindstrom), Ava doesn’t believe what Laura is attempting to tell her.  She believes that Kevin had a mental breakdown.  Laura explains to Ava that Kevin is at General Hospital, while Ryan has been posing as him.  In Ava’s version of the situation, she thinks the switcheroo happened in the last 48 hours when Ryan wanted to whisk her away to be married.  Laura then tells Ava that Ryan switched places with Kevin months ago, and she has never been with Kevin.

It is a horrifying reality for Ava to grapple with as she insists that Kevin loves her.  However, moment by moment, Ava can no longer deny that harsh truth that is right in front of her.  She had sex with her daughter Kiki’s murderer the night she was killed, and she has been sleeping with the wrong man this entire time.

Courtesy/ABC

In heartbreaking scenes, Maura, along with another wonderful performance by GH icon, Genie Francis, illustrated the raw pain and devastation of a woman who has been so blindsided by love, violated, and deceived all at the same time.  The scene where Laura holds Ava on the bridge as she collapses with anguish was soap gold.  But, never underestimate Ava Jerome!  You know she will get her payback.

In another episode, a now drunken Ava heads to the GH to see Kevin for herself, but finds Franco (Roger Howarth).  First, she blames Franco, then he makes her understand that it was Ryan who murdered people and deceived everyone.  He was just helping the PCPD snuff out the serial killer.   She tells Franco that Ryan made her feel like a goddess and that he worshipped her and helped her in her time of need following Kiki’s death.  Ava tells Franco that she hopes Ryan’s still alive so she can kill him herself!

Courtesy/A

And still in another moment, Ava runs into the real Kevin in the hospital hallway.  Ava loses her grip and slaps him in the face accusing him of killing her daughter.  Scott (Kin Shriner) pulls her off Kevin, and tries to get her to understand that Kevin was in surgery at GH when she was with Ryan in Niagara Falls.

Sitting down with Ava, Kevin apologizes for what Ryan did to her and everyone else.  Kevin thinks she needs to speak with a therapist, but not him and he will recommend someone.  Later, alone in the hospital corridor, Ava sees a poster of Kevin Collins and rips it to shreds as Scott comes by to calm her down. She sinks to the floor in sorrow over Kiki’s death, and how she ended up falling for Ryan.

Courtesy/ABC

Scene after scene, moment after moment, you can’t get better than West.  Ava is a delicious complex character, who has been so unlucky at love, is so flawed, and at times so revenge-filled, and yet in the hands of the oh-so-skilled and talented Maura West, she has humanized Ava, so that we can’t help root for her to get back on her feet after she falls so far down, so we can witness what trouble she will stir up next.   All of this to say: Michael Fairman TV names GH’s Maura West the ‘Power Performance of the Week”.

So, what did you think about of Maura’s performances on  GH? Did Ava finding out the truth about Ryan live up to everything you hoped it would be? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

When Grand Hotel finally makes its highly-anticipated debut this summer (Monday night, June 17th) on ABC, soap opera fans will see some very familiar faces in primo roles as this sudsy drama, based on the Spanish series Gran Hotel, tells the story of a family-owned hotel in Miami, the people who run it, and all of the secrets they keep from one another.

Brought to you by executive producers Eva Longoria and Ben Spector, the show explores the family dynamic of the Mendoza family. Longoria herself will play a mother in four episodes of the show, as well.

General Hospital fans will take note that Daytime Emmy-winner, Bryan Craig (Ex-Morgan Corinthos) is front and center in the cast as Javi Mendoza, the troubled son of the family who has some major obstacles in front of him.

Michael Fairman TV caught up with Craig during the recent ABC TCA’s Press Tour for the network to get some insight into his new role, how he would feel if GH would recast the role of Morgan (he recently propped up former DAYS star Billy Flynn as a potential viable candidate) and what it has been like post-daytime in his burgeoning career in film and TV.  Here’s what he had to say about his TV life past and present.

What has this experience been like for you taping the episodes of Grand Hotel and working with such a stellar cast?

BRYAN:  It’s been incredible   It feels like it went by so fast.  It’s an awesome group of people.  We’ve got a fun show.

How would you say your character of Javi Mendoza stacks up against GH’s Morgan Corinthos?

BRYAN:  I think it’s one of the most layered characters that I’ve ever played.  There’s a lot going on with Javi.  He has a big disability, kind of like Morgan did.  It’s a physical disability, and there are a lot of challenges that come along with that.  He also has a substance problem.  So, some of the same issues and in the same world that Morgan was in.  Javi is a very troubled character, but he is also a lot of fun, and a ladies’ man … and sleeps with a lot of women! (Laughs)

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Do you think the audience will care for Javi, though?  

BRYAN:  Oh yeah, one hundred percent.  He was written in a very kind-hearted manner.  He’s a great guy, who has had a tough life.

Did they put you through a audition process to nab the role in Grand Hotel?

BRYAN:  They had read hundreds and hundreds of people for this role.  I came in at the tail end of it, and then the process went pretty quickly.  I read once, and the next think I knew, I was in a room with Eva Longoria and director, Ken Olin.  Then two days later, I was testing with Eva, and then I got the call that I had the part.

You’re a part of the core family, the Mendozas, on Grand Hotel, and on GH, you were part of the Corinthos clan.  How do the family dynamics stack-up?

BRYAN:  It’s pretty special.  There are a lot of similarities.  It feels like we have kind of shifted GH into prime-time.  In Grand Hotel, we have Demián Bichir, who plays Santiago Mendoza, and he is my Sonny Corinthos now.   They gave us a very heavy, heavy storyline … just like they gave Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) and me.   So, I think the fans are really going to buy into it.   ABC, (I think) wanted to marry that bond a little bit, and I feel it was very apparent in the writing.  This network has been very good to me.

Courresy/ABC

Did you know that your co-star Denyse Tontz was in Prospect Park’s All My Children reboot as Miranda Montgomery and had a soap past, as well?

BRYAN:  Yes! I did know that.  Denyse plays my sister on Grand Hotel and we work together a lot on the show.  There were quite a few people on the show who came from soaps.  Even some guest stars who came in were big in soap at points.

So, this kind of all  worked out for you!  You left General Hospital, and landed a major primetime series, plus your other movie roles!

BRYAN:  It was a scary move, but it worked out.  I did a few things; a couple of movies, and I did a show for CW for a while, and then this.  So, it’s been back-to-back.  I’ve been fortunate.

Courtesy/ABC

How would you feel if General Hospital, ultimately, recast the role of Morgan?

BRYAN:  You know, if it was to behoove the show, then so be it.   I feel like it was a pretty nice end for me there, but I can’t sit here and be selfish and be like, “I’m the last person who could play that role!”  Would that be awesome?  I mean, yeah!  But, who knows?  They’ve got to do what’s best for the show.

GH’s Maurice Benard had great story in 2018 with the Alzheimer’s storyline involving Sonny’s dad, Mike Corbin (Max Gail).  Had you been checking it out at all?

BRYAN:  I know!   I do keep up with Maurice a lot.   We are good friends.

To remind those who have not seen the trailer to Grand Hotel check it out below.  Will you be watching Bryan in his exciting new role on Grand Hotel? Will you be OK with a Morgan recast on GH, or hope the show will wait for Bryan to return one day? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.