The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced that David Michaels, Actor, Producer and Founder of TV Cares has been appointed Senior Executive Director of the Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards.

Following the announcement, On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Michaels to ask him about some preliminary plans and his involvement in the administration of the Daytime Emmy contest for 2013 and following that the official press release on NATAS’s appointment of David!

Was this position of Senior Director of the 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards something you were lobbying?

DAVID:  It came about out of the blue.  I got a call from Malachy Wienges (Chairman, NATAS) and he asked me if I would consider coming in and running the contest for 2013.  And I said, “Yes, I would definitely consider that.”  We then talked back and forth for three weeks and we made a deal.   I am going to New York for seven months and the way things are in L.A. with the heat right now, the thought of winter sounds really good right about now. (Laughs)

When you take this over, do you foresee some fundamental changes that need to be made to the Daytime Emmy voting and competition?

DAVID:  The two academies met at ATAS a couple of times.  There are changes that have been proposed that are being brought to the NATAS awards committee at the beginning of October.  So there could be a few rule changes – like every year.  I just plan to look at the rules and see if anything might need some tweaking to make sure there is a smooth and clean administration of the Daytime Emmys.

With the changing face of daytime, do you also see changes and additions ahead in the Emmy categories?

DAVID:  There are always new categories surfacing and especially with web series.  I think there may also be a little bit of tweaking coming with the acting category rules. But, that is yet to be seen from these meetings.  Overall, people were happy with the changes that were made last year.  We are always open to new categories and the changing technologies and looking at the Internet.  There are still going to be five soaps eligible in this contest, because One Life to Live will still be in the running.   We need to look at that because the following year, there will probably be four soaps. But there are a lot of other categories other than soaps, although it seems like the soaps always get the most attention.  Obviously, the soaps are a vital part of this contest!

What are the chances that the Daytime Emmys will be televised next year?

DAVID:   I think it is a very good possibility! In fact, I think there is a good probability!  Malachy Wienges is working very hard on that as we speak.  That is one of the things that is key … to always keep the Daytime Emmys on the air.  It is what a lot of people look forward to all yearlong, which is that telecast.  I never want to see it go off the air!

NATAS OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced that David Michaels, Actor, Producer and Founder of TV Cares has been appointed Senior Executive Director of the Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards.

“David’s experiences in all genres of daytime television make him the perfect candidate to head up our Daytime Emmy Awards operations,” said Malachy Wienges, Chairman NATAS. “His long time association with The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) will be a valuable asset as the two Academies work closer together sharing the same goal of awarding excellence in television.”

“The Daytime Emmy Awards remains the favorite annual event for so very many fans throughout the country,” said Mr. Michaels. “In a world where the face of television and especially Daytime is constantly transitioning and changing, we strive to keep the Daytime Emmy Awards a vital and exciting event.  I am very excited and honored to be working with NATAS as Senior Executive Director and about the upcoming awards year.”

David began working as an actor and a model at age 17, appearing in New York, around the USA, Canada and in Europe in productions including Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Purlie and Deathtrap.  He worked steadily as an actor until he competed on a game show when an immediate fascination with the “behind the scenes” world of Daytime Television led to his first production job with Bob Stewart Productions. He rose quickly from production assistant to producer, doing over 25 pilots and air shows eventually producing shows such as The $25,000 and $100,000 Pyramids, starring Dick Clark, and garnering multiple nominations and two Emmy Awards.  He also produced Pictionary for Dan Enright.  Transitioning into the talk show world, David produced such shows as Vicki! (2 nominations), Leeza (2 nominations,) and Caryl and Marilyn. He also produced and wrote the primetime special, Lie Detector.

At the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, David served as Co-Chairman of the Daytime Emmy Awards serving on the Board of Governors for 14 years as well as on numerous other committees.  He founded TV Cares, ATAS’ AIDS awareness committee, chairing the committee with honorary co-chair, Angela Lansbury for 15 years. He also conceived and produced the annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration honoring programs and individuals for responsible programming in the area of AIDS awareness and education.  Along with Tom Viola of Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS, he helped to make the Red Ribbon an international symbol of AIDS Awareness.  For two years, he produced and wrote The Ribbon of Hope live event as a Television Special for here! Networks, receiving another Daytime Emmy nomination.  In addition, David spent ten years as the Director of Special Events for the Western Region of The Actors’ Fund of America.

David has produced countless star-studded live charity events, including, Tap Your Troubles Away: The Words & Music of Jerry Herman, Something Wonderful: the Richard Rodgers Centennial, Kurt Weill: The Centennial, Sing Happy: the Music and Words of Kander & Ebb, The Best is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman, Hooray For Love: The Harold Arlen Centennial; and Everything’s Coming Up Roses: The Jule Styne Centennial and Falsettos at the Wilshire Theatre.

So soapers! What do you think of the appointment of David Michael’s to adminstrate the Daytime Emmys in 2013? What changes would you like to see in the voting process?  Let us know!