News
Daytime Emmys 2016: Outstanding Musical Performance In Talk/Morning Show, Second Lifetime Achievement Award, Digital Acting Category Additions!

Courtesy/ABC
Every year with the changing landscape of daytime television, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and those who work in the daytime industry try to implement additions, when warranted, to the number of categories for the Daytime Emmys that reflect its current state of programming.
For the 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy competition, and upcoming presentation the following changes are afoot as noted by NATAS Senior VP Daytime Emmy Awards, David Michaels, in an feature for Variety.
First, the awards will feature a new category for Outstanding Musical Performance in a Talk Show/Morning Program. And with that, the possiblities seem endless as to the big name stars who could garner a nomination. Michaels elaborated: “If you think about the kinds of guests that are on The Today Show, Good Morning America and all of the talk shows, the entries in that category are like a who’s who of the recording industry, so no matter who gets nominated, that category’s going to be on fire. There will be a minimum of five nominees, but the number could go up.”
Secondly, with the boom of online web series and so many daytime soap opera favorites appearing in them, this year, instead of only one acting category comprising both male and female performances, the category is now split into two like the Daytime Drama Series acting categories. Michaels expressed: “Last year we noticed the talent category was completely out of control. It was just performer in a digital drama, so we split it into actor in a digital drama and actress in a digital drama so it would be a little more manageable for the judges. And it’s still huge.”
Finally, while the Lifetime Achievement Award primarily has been given over the four plus decades of the Daytime Emmys to a performer in front of the camera, this year there will be two recepients, one for a person in the creative fields. “It’s to honor a behind-the-scenes person who’s had a lifetime of contributing to a show or several shows,” Michaels revealed, “not just a front-of-the-camera person.”
This year the Daytime Emmys have 87 categories in which series, performers, and creatives have entered. The major nominees will be announced on March 24th on CBS’ The Talk.
So what do you think about the addition of musical performance category, a second digital acting and Lifetime Achievement Award? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
General Hospital
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
News
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027

The Young and the Restless enduring favorite and two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Jess Walton (Jill Foster Abbott) is set to release her memoir!
Kensington Publishing has revealed on their website that Walton’s book The Young and the Rest of Us is now available for pre-order while listing an April 27, 2027 release date. In addition, in June of 2027, Walton will mark her 40th anniversary with The Young and the Restless and her debut as Jill.
The official log lines for the memoir share, “Emmy Award-winning actress Jess Walton, known to millions as the iconic Jill Abbott on the #1 soap opera The Young and the Restless, shares her extraordinary journey to stardom, sobriety, true love, and self-discovery in this startingly candid, intimate, and star-studded memoir.”

Photo; Kensington Books
CAKE FIGHTS AND CORPORATE INTRIGUE
The book description for The Young and the Rest of Us adds, “In June 1987, Jess Walton walked through the artists’ entrance at CBS for her first day on The Young and the Restless,where she had just been hired to play the recast role of Jill Abbott. Two Emmy awards, four decades, and countless onscreen affairs, marriages, corporate takeovers, and cake fights later, she’s a beloved icon with an astonishing tale to tell.”
“In her refreshingly candid style, Jess shares her journey as a young actress from Toronto theaters to Los Angeles, where she found herself at the center of a Laurel Canyon circle that included the likes of Neil Young, David Geffen, Laura Nyro, and Joni Mitchell. Landing a Universal contract and a steady stream of guest starring roles, Jess embraced everything 1970s L.A. had to offer—including Hollywood parties fueled by limitless booze and drugs, and trysts with stars. She recounts with candor and gratitude the surprising path that eventually led her to sobriety, true love—and ultimately, to fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin, and the role of a lifetime.”
“Brimming with behind-the-scenes drama and celebrity cameos to delight fans, The Young and the Rest of Us is also rich in personal, relatable truths about marriage, motherhood, empty-nesting, self-discovery, and finding the courage to start over—as often as it takes. In a voice as fearless and frank as Jill’s, but with, humor and grace all her own, Jess Walton looks back on a life as unpredictable, and adventure filled as anything she has portrayed on screen.”
WHO ELSE PLAYED JILL FOSER ABBOTT?
Fans of The Young and the Restless know that Walton became the fourth actress to take on the role of Katherine Chancellor’s original nemesis Jill Foster back in 1987. The OG Jill was played by Brenda Dickson, also Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and Melinda O. Fee played the part.
This year, Days of our Lives star Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) filled-in for several episodes for Walton who was unavailable to travel from her home in Oregon to Los Angeles where Y&R was taped. Walton is still with the long-running soap opera as Jill.
So, excited to learn of Jess Walton’s upcoming memoir, ‘The Young and the Rest of Us?’ Will it be it a must-read for you? Drop a comment below.
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I applaud the Academy for staying relevant and recognizing innovations to the genre … yet it does become a slippery slope of easing into that culture of ‘everyone gets a trophy just for showing up’. With only four network dramas competing, it’s a little disingenuous seeing them ALL duke-it-out for Best Drama, Best Writing, Best Directing, etc. As recently as 2009 (pre-cancellations of GL, ATWT, AMC and OLTL), at least half the shows could legitimately rise to the top tier while the remainder sat it out. Now EVERY show gets a nom in EVERY category; just doesn’t feel as much of an honor for some reason.
I agree. Just because a show is still on the air shouldn’t make it automatically eligible for Best Show or Best Writing.
ok
Well the musical performance Emmy is just to boost ratings for the Emmy show by ensuring some big name in music might be performing or attending– it is designed to draw in viewers who do not normally watch or care about daytime, but might watch for the big name musical star– shameless self interest on that new award
Adding a lifetime award for behind the scenes is long overdue–
Splitting the digital acting awards into male and female is in keeping with the other acting awards, and I predict as the medium expands those awards will expand into the supporting and younger categories as well
Well-thought-out post, Mary….And, so true.
But..will any of the Singers nominated show up to get their emmy??
Lol, Jason.
Geoffrey and Mary, I agree with your points. Back in the day, there were shows that didn’t get nominations because they didn’t deserve them. Or, they deserved them and all the politics prevented it. Whatever the reason, when it was more of a competition, it was more of an honour. But still, I don’t think the nominees and winners mind. After all, it means nothing to the career trajectory of the individual. With an Emmy and a quarter, they can make a phone call at a payphone. It is just a night of celebration and self aggrandization, and it means a lot that the awards are voted on within their own industry.
And Mary, you said that the song category is just to ensure some big name people will show up. You said it in kind of a negative tone. Maybe you didn’t mean it that way, but that’s how it read. I say, WHY NOT? Why not try to grab some top name talent to appear on the show, maybe sing their Emmy nominated songs, maybe get the ratings for the show up so it may be broadcast on an accessible network.
The only minor quibble I have is that most of the online shows are not technically daytime…they are anytime. I don’t watch online shows, but aren’t most of them such that you either subscribe to watch, or stream to watch? They are different in subject matter, different in language, some much more risque. I am all for these people being recognized, and applaud the committee for trying to stay relevant. However, I think giving them their own special categories might be a way of including them but not really including them? Am I making sense? Why not allow those shows to compete against traditional soaps? Primetime Emmy’s don’t separate cable from network shows, and cable has been dominating for several years because network tv is in a slump that it doesn’t seem likely to recover from. It would be bracing and shocking if one or more of the four daytime soaps did NOT receive a nomination. It may also be a wake up call for daytime soaps to be more creative, to hire better writers, to realize that old recycled soap plots are just not cutting it anymore. It would be cool to see an online soap win over a network soap, and I don’t even watch online soaps. All My Children and One Life to Live were allowed to enter in the regular categories…after they made the switch to online ventures. I realize these are pioneering times, and change to rules takes time. Just some thoughts.
My only concern with trying to make the Daytime Emmys more ‘viewer-friendly’ to those that don’t follow daytime is that that logic flies in the face of what we’re there to celebrate: DAYTIME PROGRAMMING! I’ve attended and/or watched the majority of the past 43 telecasts, and lest I remind you of how forced it felt (…in an effort to get more eyeballs to the set) as we had to endure Las Vegas infomercials, forced pleas for Feed the Children relief, “fashion shows’ by B-list celebrities, enduring (not one, but two) dances by Vanessa Williams and Gilles Marini, and last year’s forgettable hostess Tyra Banks?! How many pathetic ‘bits’ and stunts have we sat through in years’ past all in an effort to “honor daytime” with people who had little-to-no connection to the genre? I say: if you can’t do an honorable job with people that DESERVE to be there, stop telecasting the show and return it to a dinner for those nominated.
You win bro!!! I can’t even argue. LOL.
My tone was not meant to be negative or positive, I was just stating reality that this music award is not really about rewarding outstanding musical talent but about trying to get new viewers by including an award that appeals to a broader base. There is nothing wrong with doing that, but I find it a bit disingenuous, because it is not about awarding excellent work, but self promotion– and perhaps that is the negativity you sense–but in the end these award shows, all of them, are in a way a business, and like any business the bottom line outweighs integrity. However, if they want to convince me this award is about recognizing musical talent, then the primetime Emmy awards need to follow suit and include the same award so all the musical acts that appear on late night have a shot at an Emmy too