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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!

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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

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Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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