Days Of Our Lives
DAYS Will has his first kiss with another man! What did you think of the moment?
Photo Credit: Adam Campbell
In one of the best daytime television coming out kisses in recent memory, Days of our Lives Will Horton finally locked-lips on today’s episode with another guy in a very aggressive, sexually-charged moment while in a drunken stupor! We have to give credit to DAYS for keeping Will’s coming out story edgy, dark, and very raw.
The set-up: After revealing to his friend, Sonny that Will saw his mother, Sami having sex with EJ, (which Rafe overhears!) the duo decide to go check out a party scene and a new club in town and have some drinks. Once there, Will gets sauced and later after trying to step away from the party and freshen-up, because he is really smashed, he ends up making out with another guy. And the best part … Sonny sees the whole thing! Great drama.
After the jump, check out a preview of Friday’s episode where the kiss continues and the fallout from it will begin! Are you in to Will’s coming out story? What do you think of the Kiss? And, Chandler Massey’s (Will) performance? Let us know!
Beyond the Gates
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Announced: ‘The Young and the Restless’ Tops With 18, ‘Beyond the Gates’ With 16
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the full list of nominees for the upcoming 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, and it was CBS daytime’s The Young and the Restless and broadcast television newest soap opera, Beyond the Gates that racked up the most nominations with 18 and 16, respectively.
The full reveal on Tuesday follows the announcement of several major categories including Lead Actor and Actress on Monday via Extra and Entertainment Tonight and The View today revealing Daytime Drama Series and more.
The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmys ceremony is set to take place on Friday, October 30 at the historic Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California.
Photo: CBS
In a statement, Adam Sharp, President and CEO of NATAS expressed, “We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television, As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
“Each year, the Daytime Emmy Awards celebrate the creativity, passion, and dedication that drive this vibrant community of storytellers,” said Rachel Schwartz, Head of the Daytime Emmy Awards. “Congratulations to this year’s nominees, whose work continues to entertain, inspire and connect with audiences every day. We look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements in Hollywood this October.”
The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of genres, including daytime dramas, talk series, entertainment news, culinary, adventure, instructional and legal/courtroom programming.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Honoree, Gold & Silver Circle Inductees, and ceremony host will be announced at a later date.
Now below, check out the nominees in the daytime drama, talk show, entertainment news series and creative arts categories and congratulations to all!
Photo: JPI
Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
Beyond the Gates
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Stacy Haiduk (as Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives
Karla Mosley (as Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates
Michelle Stafford (as Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless
Heather Tom (as Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful
Tamara Tunie (as Anita Williams Dupree), Beyond the Gates
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Eric Braeden (as Victor Newman), The Young and the Restless
Steve Burton (as Jason Morgan), General Hospital
Scott Clifton (as Liam Spencer), The Bold and the Beautiful
Thorsten Kaye (as Ridge Forrester), The Bold and the Beautiful
Christian Jules Le Blanc (as Michael Baldwin), The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series
Linsey Godfrey (as Sarah Horton), Days of Our Lives
Camryn Grimes (as Mariah Copeland), The Young and the Restless
Beth Maitland (as Traci Abbott), The Young and the Restless
Trisha Mann-Grant (as Leslie Thomas), Beyond the Gates
Amanda Setton (as Brook Lynn Quartermaine), General Hospital
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
Sean Dominic (as Nate Hastings), The Young and the Restless
Timon Kyle Durrett (as Bill Hamilton), Beyond the Gates
Michael Graziadei (as Daniel Romalotti), The Young and the Restless
Roger Howarth (as Matt Clark), The Young and the Restless
Mike Manning (as Bradley “Smitty” Smith), Beyond the Gates
Lawrence Saint-Victor (as Carter Walton), The Bold and the Beautiful
Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
Braedyn Bruner (as Emma Scorpio-Drake), General Hospital
Al Calderon (as Javier Hernandez), Days of Our Lives
Alice Halsey (as Rachel Black), Days of Our Lives
Giovanni Mazza (as Gio Palmieri), General Hospital
Ambyr Michelle (as Eva Thomas), Beyond the Gates
Arielle Prepetit (as Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne), Beyond the Gates
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
Jasmine Burke (as June Hughes), Beyond the Gates
Jeff Kober (as Cyrus Renault), General Hospital
Eva LaRue (as Natalia Rogers-Ramirez), General Hospital
Christopher Sean (as Paul Narita), Days of Our Lives
Ray Wise (as Ian Ward), The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
Beyond the Gates
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
Days of Our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Casting for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series
3rd Hour of TODAY
The Drew Barrymore Show
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Live With Kelly and Mark
TODAY With Jenna & Friends
The View
Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host
Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin & Ana Navarro, The View
Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show
Tamron Hall, Tamron Hall
Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri
Outstanding Entertainment News Series
Access Hollywood
Entertainment Tonight
Extra
Outstanding Daytime Personality (Daily)
Mona Kosar Abdi, Derek Hough & Terri Seymour, Extra
Cassie DiLaura, Denny Directo, Kevin Frazier, Rachel Smith & Nischelle Turner, Entertainment Tonight
Scott Evans, Zuri Hall, Kit Hoover & Mario Lopez, Access Hollywood
Star Jones & Corey Jovan, Divorce Court
Outstanding Arts and Popular Culture Program
Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood — An Entertainment Tonight Special
Off Script With The Hollywood Reporter
Variety & CNN Actors on Actors
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Working In the Theatre
Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Daytime
Beyond the Gates, Episode 103
Have Guitar Will Travel World
The Kelly Clarkson Show Episode 5033
Let Frankie Cook,” Getting the Band Back Together
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Outstanding Technical Direction and Video for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, Episode 104
The Bold and the Beautiful,” Episode 9511
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade”
The Jennifer Hudson Show, ” Episode 4041
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade”
Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, Episode 103
General Hospital, Episode 15719
The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Episode 5033
The Young and the Restless,” Episode 13273
So, what do you think of the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy nominations? Who are you happy to see receive a nomination and who do you think was snubbed? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Monday on Entertainment Tonight, the second set of nominations for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced which included the highly-coveted Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actress and Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
ET followed suit after Extra announced the nominees, as previously reported, in the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actor and Outstanding Daytime Talk Host.
Now, five leading ladies of the soaps are vying for the gold for Lead Actress and the category marked the first-ever nominations for CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when two actresses made the final cut. Only General Hospital is not represented among the actresses this year after Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) took home the trophy last year.
Photo: NATAS
THE FIVE LEADING LADIES OF THE SOAPS ARE …
The 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives, Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates, Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless, Heather Tom (Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree), Beyond the Gates.
This marks the first Daytime Emmy nominations for Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie. In addition, this marks the first-time in her career that Stacy Haiduk had received a Lead Actress nod after two Supporting Actress nominations.
Meanwhile, Michelle Stafford had previously won 3 Emmys – 2 for Lead Actress and 1 for Supporting, but this recognition makes it her 11th overall nomination.
Heather Tom currently is tied for the most all-time Daytime Emmy wins with One Life to Live alum and General Hospital guest star, Erika Slezak. The B&B star has 19 nominations throughout her career.
Photo: ABC
DAYTIME TALK SERIES
In the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series category, the nominees are: 3rd Hour of Today, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Live with Kelly and Mark, Today with Jenna and Friends and The View.
“We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television,” NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement on the nominations. “As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
The rest of the nominations will be revealed tomorrow on Tuesday July 14 starting on The View and then the full list of nominees in both the main and creative arts will be released by NATAS. The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are slated for October 30th in Hollywood, California.
So, what do you think about the women who are vying for the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? Happy with who got in? Who do you feel got snubbed? What do you think of the nominees for Daytime Talk Series? Weigh-in via the comment section.
It’s Daytime Emmy nomination week, and as previously reported things kick-off on Monday, July 13 when Entertainment Tonight (7pm ET) will announce the nominees for Lead Actress category and Daytime Talk Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. In addition on Monday, Extra (7pm ET) will reveal the nominees for Lead Actor and Daytime Talk Host.
On Tuesday, The View (11am ET) starts things off with their announcement of Daytime Drama, Entertainment News program and Outstanding Daytime Personality-Daily. That is followed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) full reveal of all the categories beginning at 12noon ET/9am PT on their website and their official social handles on X and Instagram.
Then, Tuesday night at 8pm ET/5pm PT join Michael Fairman as he hosts his 12th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026 live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel where he will chat with some of the just announced nominees as we celebrate the hard work of the men and women in front of the camera who will be going for gold.
WHEN ARE THE DAYTIME EMMYS?
This year, the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out on October 30 in ceremonies in Hollywood, California (Venue yet to be revealed). At that time, as like last year, both the major categories and creative arts will be presented. There is no word yet on a broadcast partner for the annual celebration of daytime programming, or if it will soley be streamed on NATAS’ watch.theemmys.tv and various apps and platforms.
WHO WILL BE APPEARING ON THE DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATIONS SPECIAL 2026?
Throughout Tuesday, keep an eye on Michael Fairman TV’s social media handles on X, Facebook and Instagram, for updates of who will be expected to appear on our live show.
If you have a question or comment for one of the nominees, or on the nominations, we can encourage you to join us in the live chat on Tuesday night.
So, who are you hoping lands a nomination from Beyond the Gates, General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, The Bay, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless? Let us know via the comment section. More Tuesday!
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I loved that kiss, it was something I have never seen before especially with same-sex kisses. And Chandler has been awesome in the role.
AMAZING!!!! He was wonderful and it’s about time daytime gets real with the same sex thing. KUDOS to DOOL and Chandler!
They could not have done it better. Great writing and a powerhouse performance by Chandler Massey. WOW!
I personally don’t mind it at all. However all the soap operas that featured gay couples (GL, ATWT , OLTL) are gone today. So I get the feeling that Americans are not quite ready for this yet. Days currently has remarkable abyssal ratings in the 18-49 demo. They can’t afford to lose more viewers than they have already lost.
I am so impressed- Days is doing such a fantastic job witht this storyline. So far, they haven’t backed off, and are producing an effective, authentic look a one gay man’s coming out process. I have been a Days fan all of my life, and I am truly surprised by this realistic, raw storytelling. Chandler Massey is creating a star-making performance. I really hope that some industry leaders outside of the soap worldd will start taking noticie of his work. I also hope that Corday and company have the balls to keep this storylne in motion, showing the many emotional layers that are potentially inherent in this story. Many, many, many years ago I remember that Julie had a “friend” who had developed a crush on her. As a young kid, I wasn’t quite sure why I found this storyline so compelling. However, I remember feeling very disappointed when they quickly aborted the storyline, writing off Julie’s “friend” as a weird sociopoath. All these years later, Corday has finally redeemed himself. (Will Horton spitting at himself in the mirror. That gritty, impulsive man-on-man kiss in the bathroom- brought on by a combination of alcohol, months of self denial, and the unexpected presence of a hot stranger. This is NOT your mother’s Salem.) Hopefully, Days will continue taking chances- and increase viewers. (Btw- the BEST scenes are between Will and “Grandma” Marlena. They are both fantastic. However, I must admit that I wince a bit everytime Will refers to the still beautiul Deidre Hall as “Grandma”. Yikes!)
Everything that Will is involved in is gold. His story with Sami, his relationship with Marlena (Marlena winces when he calls her grandma in public too!), now the coming out. The kiss seemed a little bit too Brokeback Mountain to me but I understand his pent up building to this situation. I might have gone with more tenative and slow then building up to the passion. But that is just being critical because YEAH we finally got that first kiss! I have thought that Will might be gay for many years. Besides the abortive attempt with Julie’s friend being gay, we also had Mike Horton once flirting with the idea that he might be gay.These stories were aborted at the corporate level. So in a way Days IS my grandma’s soap (really MY soap) again because it is bravely going out on the limb to tell great stories again.
Your right Mark- I almost forget that storyline with Mike Horton and Trish Banning. I remember that Mike “couldn’t do it” with his girlfriend Trish, which led to some internal specualtion and 70’s style angst from Mike. (They never used the word “gay” back then, but even at a very young age I knew what they were referencing.) Shortly thereafter, Mike “did it” for the very firt time with an older woman- Linda. The very next morning, at the kitchen table, Mike’s mom, Laura Horton looked at her son and proclaimed there was “something different” about him. For many years after that I just assumed that I’d look” different” and externally obvious to the world whever I first had sex. Boy- soaps have come along way since then. I really hope the ‘Will is Gay’ storyline brings in more viewers, and that Corday’s writers keep playing out the storyline. (I thought that One Life gave up their storyline way too early. They could have played out the gay parents vs. straight mother story and ended up with some relevant court room drama.)
Wow. Powerful just powerful.
First kiss when drunk is sad.
agree about being drunk ,but he needs to talk to someone ,which he finally did to his grandmother ,I like will ,dont want to see him get hurt ,he should move in with marlana.I know if I had a mother like sami ,I would be out the door to,so I dont blame him for leaving.
I only hope that TPTB of DOOL do not do to its gay SL what ATWT did with Luke and Reid SL and the Luke and Noah SL. Even after a year and a half, it is incomprehensible what the purpose was of the senseless ending. Lesson learned: Never to get attached to a fictional character/s or a SL. It remains to be seen if DOOL treats its gay characters the same as straight; it has never happened in soaps, at least in American soaps.
I guess Im just old,I dont care who is gay but I dont want it on my TV or the only soap I am still watching.This is one hour aday for just me,
I will be happy when Lucas is back. 🙂
Thank God gay people are more tollerant. Imagine if we wouldn’t permit straight people on tv?
your right marknsprmo.
Unless someone is standing there with a gun to your head, I just wouldn’t watch if I didn’t like it, LUMI. If this storyline did not “bother you”, then you would have no problem watching it–you can’t have it both ways.
what about diease?has AIDS been forgotten?gay lifestyle isnot considered normal JMO
and I dont want it on my TV,
the writers has wrote it as realistic,profound and heartfelt,and sensitive and I thank them for that,and I love Will and Sonny,but still,,,,,,
change your channel if you dont like what you hear or see,I think your trying to start a gay bashing war here so I will say this ,I also read the bible and I am a christian and no where in my life have I ever been one to ever judge someone, and thats what your doing.all of us are important in gods eyes, gay, straight, black, white, fat ,thin ,so sorry to burst your bubble,but you should look at your self in the mirror.sorry for the sunday school lesson ,but heres a good thought ,do unto others as you would have them do to you .
Are Sami and EJ “normal” enough for you? If not, maybe you can tune into Maury or Dr. Phil if “normal” interests you so much. Thank God and the American Constitution my normal is not your “normal”.
The Kiss! HOT HOT HOT
For me, this story would have much more impact if it showed the peer abuse that often happens within one’s own “community.” I’d like to have seen someone more awkward like the former actor who played Will in this storyline. The reason being that body image and outward appearance are at times made to be overly important in the gay community, much more so than in the hetero community, in my own opinion and experience, that is. The current Will is beautiful and fit and would be a hit with any young “in” group of gay guys; plus these times we live in today are much more accepting, so it’s really a non-story. However, having lived through coming out myself two decades ago, one doesn’t grow up, become aware that he is gay, and then become immediately accepted by the gay community. It can be very harsh and cut-throat, meanwhile being shunned by one’s own non-gay acquaintances.
Nice comment. What is in the heart is more important than an outward appearance. After all physical beauty is skin deep, and all that glitters is not gold. It is not necessary that a good-looking person has a beautiful heart or an ordinary-looking person is not a nice person. Why can’t everone be treated as human beings instead of being categorized as straight, gay, bi, or whatever. Everyone is God’s beautiful creation, is unique, and has been brought on this earth for a specific purpose. Why can’t people be allowed to live their lives with dignity irrespective of their cast, color, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender,,,
in my Bible/my religion gay lifestyle is not considered normal,
and I realy dont want it on my TV.
LUMI: If you don’t like a SL do not watch it. You have a right to not like a SL. But, please don’t throw stones at someone. I am a catholic and straight, but I don’t find anything wrong with people’s sexual orientation. And, for the record, there are many more straight people who are stricken with AIDS, who divorce at the drop of a hat, have extra-marital affairs, and the list goes on and on. So, it would be hypocritical to label anyone or claim something is abnormal. The Bible has never talked about intolerance; these are all man made traditions. Everyone on this earth is God’s creation and miracle. So, let there be peace, unity, and harmony.
Will’s first kiss was a scorcher. Wonderful job by Chandler Massey! Also loved Freddie Smith as Sonny. Just a great job all around.
I’m so glad to see that, on at least one front, Days is showing some daring, by not only having multiple gay characters, but also showing Will’s story. This story has been developing for some time and it’s been an interesting journey. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Will’s story as he accepts that he is gay and then (hopefully) embraces it.
The kiss is super-hot, but I was wishing that Will’s first time came from a place of warmth & love, not from an intoxicated lust reaction! 😀
interesting journey,will be for Wills FAMILY to be reunited. :))
Lucas Sami Will Ali,Johnny and Sydney
I didn’t like it. It was like they were attacking, mauling each other. They were so aggressive. A bit OTT I thought.
CM has been doing a great job! Kudos to Days and the writers for doing this important gay story line of Will coming out. They have been handling the s/l well. Sonny is terrific too! This is one of the best done s/l’s Days has every done.
I wuold’ve liked a passinate, non-drunk kiss between Sonny and Will more, but this makeout was hot and would have been hotter if it turned to sex. Still rooting for “Silly”, but I think DOOL and Chandler have done an amazing storyline with this. It is not too cliche, but stays true to reality. Also, WIll’s storyline doesn’t just revolve around his homosexuality, but also his anger towards his bitch mother Sami “Samanther” Brady.
I’m really enjoying Chandler/Will on Days. I’m a straight female, but I am getting into this s/l like none other in recent years. Please someone tell me that we will see more Sonny and soon? I know he is opening his cafe the week of March 19th I believe but we need more screen time with Sonny and Will together. Here is to hoping WilSon will happen by end of summer. Good job Days, please don’t drop the ball on this one!
Days saving grace is will’s story the rest of the show sucks.cm is wonderful.