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Daytime Emmys Add New Category: ‘Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series’ Eligibility Details Revealed

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: JPI

Last year. during the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards season, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences made the decision to drop the Outstanding Younger Performer category in a Daytime Drama series.

Over the decades, the title and qualifications for the category had shifted because of the age range of the actors in the category and it had often been the center of controversy. Knowing it needed to somehow rebrand and rebuild the category to offer more opportunities for performers on the soaps, NATAS has now greenlit a new category for the upcoming 2025 competition, entitled “Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series.”

NATAS’ Rachel Schwartz (pictured below), the Head of Daytime and Children & Family Emmy Awards, gave the inside intel on the new category to TV Insider, which come October’s Emmy ceremony will honor those who are appearing on your favorites soaps in their first roles.

Photo: JPI

Explaining why the ‘Younger’ category was dropped last year, Schwartz commented, “There just were not enough entries to consider it a viable category any longer. But it was never really our desire to remove a chance for some of the amazing on-screen talent in daytime to receive an Emmy.”

According to Schwartz, the new category will be for performers who specifically are on their first daytime contract, so there is not necessarily an age parameter with it. However, she noted, “I do imagine that some of the people that enter into the category will be on the younger end of the spectrum.”

Now, as to how you can qualify for the category, Schwartz explained that there will be a limit as to the timeline for qualifying entrants, in that, performers are only eligible for the first 2 years that they appear on their respective shows. In addition, actors can only win the category one time, because at that point they would not be considered as an ‘”emerging” talent.

Other key eligibility factors include: 1) Performer needs to have a speaking role and have at least one continuous story arc 2)  The performer can be on the show for up to two years and also enter the category for those two years – unless they win ( as noted above). 3) After the eligibility window has expired, they are still eligible to enter the ‘Lead’ or’ Supporting’ categories, if they remain on their program.

Photo: CBS

From 2020-2023, which were the last years the Outstanding Younger Performer category was presented and when the competition became gender neutral, Olivia Rose Keegan (ex-Claire, DAYS), Victoria Konefal (Ciara, DAYS), Nicholas Alexander Chavez (ex-Spencer, GH) and Eden McCoy (Josslyn, GH) were named the winners.

Previously from 1985-2019, the category was split by gender, Outstanding Younger Actor and Outstanding Younger Actress, where the winners included the likes of: Bryan Craig (ex-Morgan, GH) Chandler Massey (ex-Will, DAYS), Tom Pelphrey (ex-Jonathan, GL), Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R), Hayley Erin (ex-Kiki, GH, now Claire, Y&R) and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle, GH) and many more.

The 52nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards which moved to October this year, are still without a broadcast partner, according to Schwartz. In addition, NATAS has yet to release its deadline for submissions for this year’s competition, or when the nominations will be announced. Michael Fairman TV will continue to keep you updated as developments warrant.

So, excited to hear that there will be a new acting category for the upcoming 52nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Who do you think might be a good contender given the guidelines for Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series? Share your thoughts and picks via the comment section below.

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Front runner for the first award is Kristen Vaganos (Molly/GH).

If I were Kristen and or team, I’d encourage her to go straight to supporting actress… that award/nomination will do more for her than an emerging “talent” nom/award… She is a gem and a half, in her first full year, Kristen has KILLED IT. She has great material for a nomination and a win. I believe supporting would actually serve her better and her career has huge potential. And, she‘s making films! Kristen, you do you!

Normally, I might agree. But, Kristen could not win Supporting Actress this year as Susan Seaforth Hayes is a lock in that category.

Unfortunately, the odds of Susan Seaforth Hayes winning are quite low in fact. As much as I enjoy the actress over the years, she’s been nominated six times for daytime Emmy awards in Lead and Supporting, respectively.

However, 2018 she “Won” the Life Time Achievement Award (shared with the late Billy Hayes). It’s my opinion that this year the category is too fierce and Susan is Susan just like Susan Lucci is Susan… you win some, or you lose some…

Besides, I watch Days & General Hospital only… both soaps have had powerhouse performances and very noteworthy contenders:

(Not in any particular order)

Supporting Actress:

1) Kristen Vaganos (GH)
2) Jane Elliot (GH)
3) Eva LaRue (GH)
4) Kelly Monaco (GH)
5) Elia Cantu (DAYS)
6) Tina Huang (DAYS)

(For kicks & giggles)

Lead Actress:

1) Brook Kerr (GH)
2) Tamara Braun (DAYS)
3) Ari Zucker (DAYS)
4) Genie Francis (GH)
5) Cynthia Watros (GH)

The Emmy nominations (and wins) all rely on what reels (2 episodes) the performer submits. SSH has the moving scenes related to her real-life husband’s passing, including the eulogy she mostly wrote herself. Hard to beat that.

As for those you list, how you could possibly leave out Nancy Lee Grahn and her powerful performance after Sam’s death is a glaring omission. She has a good chance of breaking the GH dry streak in winning the lead actress category.

I love Nancy, I love Maura, I love Laura, I love Finola, however, sometimes… actors on a whole, remain safe in their usual depictions… I was hoping I’d be all fired up for Nancy and even Kate Mansi, however, I didn’t get what I was expecting. Characters die like almost every week in soaps and the tears and anger/pain becomes the same, and feels stale.

Kristin Vaganos surprised me, she barely worked with Kelly Monaco but I was in awe of her depiction of losing her sister, I felt a connection that doesn’t seem mundane. I suppose that with SSH… it’s all the same…
Vaganos gave us so much more, I feel… the loss of her baby, Sam, the end of the LTR with TJ. Like I said, I love Nancy, Maura, Laura and Finola… here’s an example what I will to articulate with Jane Elliott, she is a force, her work is very specific and nuanced…

Since Jane returned (out of retirement)… Tracey’s journey with friendships and bonds with Gregory, (Finn), and Violet… the character has evolved quite a bit… she’s still typical Tracey, however, the character is in a new place… we see a softer side to her, bonds with Cody, getting her nails done with the Q ladies… Tracey is lighter which allows Jane to go to new place in her craft, allows her to tap into areas that are different yet challenging. So, I saw a journey with Tracey, I saw a journey with newbie, Kristin Vagonas (only in her first year)… I guess, I am noticing work that is newer, fresher, new, different…not all the same. Don’t get me wrong, I believe GH has quite the talented ensemble.

Here’s another example (for different reasons) Maurice Bernard – he’s cruising and phoning it in the past year. I get the actor is having mental health difficulties, and the show wouldn’t recast Sonny, unless it was short-lived and if Maurice needed a few months. I respect Maurice for talking about his mental health challenges. With that said, would I want to see him on the list for nominations for Best Actor, no way. He’s dragging his feet and I can see it, he’s a fab actor when he’s on, the past year, I am feeling dull and banal performances. Sonny is going though his next chapter of life, and Sonny is slowing down, but I don’t feel energy in Maurice’s scenes. So, point is, there’s nothing new or fresh with the actor.

I hope all I wrote out makes sense. I’m a trained actor and I get it, acting is a bloody craft. With that said, the BEST (actor, actresses) who get nominated need to BE the BEST in their body of work.

In a perfect world, the Daytime Emmys would go on body of work. However, a performer can stink up the joint for most of the year and find 2 promising episodes that they submit for Emmy consideration – and that is what the awards are based on.

Most performers do base what category they submit in (lead or supporting) based on what they’ve done in the eligibility period. For example, on GH, Wally Kurth would be supporting most years. In 2023, however, he submitted in lead as the Ned/Eddie plot line drove story most of that year.

Through the years, both Nancy and Genie have submitted in either category.

No argument on Jane. She doesn’t like to submit for consideration. The last time Frank convinced her, she lost to less worthy competitors. She’ll be coming up for lifetime consideration soon and should definitely get that honor.

Also agree on Mo. Who else for 2024 from GH could be considered lead? Burton returned in March, but was a talk-to for much of the year. DZ has submitted in Lead before, so that’s a slight possibility.

Susan has taken her real life story and brought it to life! this year has been banner for her . Honestly if her peers love her as much as the audience does she has more of a chance than you think! I would think it an insult that a GH newcomer would take that over a veteran such as Susan Seaforth Hayes especially since Susan has delivered daily and her journey has hit all the beats

Expect the unexpected

With all due respect, why is Eva LaRue on this list? I can’t recall one standout performance, and she’s come off as monotone, stiff and wooden. Yes, I hate her character but LaRue lacks the acting prowess that say, Maura West has to pull out the nuances that might make viewers like her despite her flaws. Her appearance thus far has been a colossal flop.

I would prefer the older way – Best Young Lead Actress and Best Lead Actor. GH has done a great job with the younger generation. Molly, Rocco and Danny are all amazing.

No offense, but this category is plain stupid, if I was a performer and won in that category I would never own up to it publicly. Emerging Talent sounds like a pre award to a the big award, jeez are they giving them mini Emmy to go along with their “Emerging talent” ?

Funny – now that you brought it up… the title does have the “Best Newcomer Award” vibe that the Golden Globes notoriously gave to Pia Zadora.

The globes also gave the same award to Richard Burton Natalie Wood and Paul Newman just to name a few

I totally agree with you. I’m a working actor and emerging doesn’t sound like a solid award. I wouldn’t submit myself to the emerging if I had the choice. These Emmy people get paid a lot of money to what..:. Change the names of categories…, I’ll take that job!
They need to revert back to Best Younger (both genders) or Younger Actor & Younger Actress. If I was a younger actor and won an Emmy, hands down, I’d want to be for Best Younger Actor…. Not emerging! How does emerging sound on the resume for those who submit who are 30+? Sounds silly and weird. Emmy people do your job and stop fixing what ain’t broke.

By that logic, Genie Francis would have been ineligible by the time Laura killed David Hamilton or battled Bobbie over Scotty, which would have been insanely unfair. I get that they’re trying hard to come up with something workable, but I don’t think this is it.

Probably Laura Wright will get it.

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‘Santa Barbara’ Favorites A Martinez and Marcy Walker, ‘Cruz and Eden’ Reunion Chat, On Demand Replay Available for Half Price (Exclusive)

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The love was felt around the world during the Sunday, June 7 livestream conversation featuring enduring Santa Barbara Daytime Emmy winners, A Martinez and Marcy Walker who played Cruz Castillo and Eden Capwell on the iconic NBC soap opera. The popular duo reunited for this special one-day only special event honoring their most memorable of daytime roles.

Santa Barbara was globally a hit, and nothing illustrated that more than having attendees from 20 countries and over four continents participate in and watch the live chat moderated by Melissa Braverman, the author of Santa Barbara: The Complete Story due out this fall.

While many were not able to purchase the initial livestream when the ticket costs were revealed to be $100,  A Martinez previously clarified the event was to also raise money for Walker, who is currently facing a very serious health situation, now there is a way to catch the replay at half the price.

Courtesy: MBraverman

HOW YOU CAN STILL CATCH A AND MARCY’S LIVESTREAM

Michael Fairman TV can share exclusively that if you missed the chance to see and listen to what A and Marcy had to say, On demand access is available at the event link for a half price at $50 (guests can contribute up to $100 if they so chose). Like the livestream, 100% of On demand sales for the recording will be available for a limited time only, and also go toward Marcy’s medical expenses.

There was plenty of laughter, tears, and reminiscing through the the two and a half hour chat which included: some memorable footage and images from the love story of Cruz and Eden. At one point, Marcy reflected on the enduring impact and affection for Cruz and Eden. “You hope that whatever you do in this life, that you’ll make an impact of some kind,” expressed Walker. “It doesn’t have to necessarily be wrapped up in success or career or anything like that, but I think we all want desperately to feel like our time here blessed someone. To hear that somebody’s life was even a moment better because of what we did is a massive gift.

Photo: NBC

A AND MARCY’S DESIRE TO WORK TOGETHER AGAIN

In a moment that brought joy to those in attendance, A and Marcy both expressed a sincere hope and desire that one day they can work together again. Martinez explained, “There’s more avenues to pursue now than there have ever been. I would say just keep a good thought for it. I’ve been holding it for decades, and I fully intend to do whatever I can to make it happen. We’re engaged in trying to make it happen. And you know, we’ll see. I know we both want to do it.” Marcy simply nodded and responded “Amen.”

Melissa Braverman shared with Michael Fairman TV, her sentiments on hosting the Santa Barbara favorites. “Seeing A and Marcy together again, even virtually, was an absolute gift. It instantly reminded all of us why we fell so hard for Cruz and Eden in the first place. Their undeniable chemistry leaped off the screen and straight back into our hearts, proving that the magic they created all those years ago hasn’t faded one bit. Sharing in equal parts laughter and tears felt like catching up with old friends. It just meant the world to see them side-by-side again and to see how this incredible fandom showed up for Marcy during such an important time for her.”

So, if you attended the livestream chat with A Martinez and Marcy Walker, what did you enjoy hearing about the most? Now the tickets have dropped to watch the replay On Demand, would you want to check it out? Let us know via the comment section below.

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‘Days of Our Lives’ Officially Confirms Ryan Quan Returning as Co-Head Writer Beginning in July

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There is definitely a shake-up going down at the writing team at Peacock’s Days of Our Lives. Now, the long-running soap opera has confirmed, what has been previously reported, that current General Hospital breakdown writer, Ryan Quan is heading back to his old stomping grounds in Salem. This time as the series co-head writer.

The appointment of Quan comes with the official news that current co-head writer, Paula Cwikly, who was previously rumored to be departing the series, is not. She is staying with the soap opera and transitioning to a consultant role with the show. Now, Quan will join current co-head writer, Jeanne Marie Ford to steer the ship for the characters on the canvas.

On Wednesday, TV Insider, reported the official confirmation and that Quan will return to DAYS next month in July. In a statement to the outlet, executive producer, Ken Corday expressed, ‘We are lucky to have Ryan back in the fold. There are very few people who have such a deep knowledge and understanding of our show’s history. Stay tuned!”

Photo: JPI

THE FUTURE OF DAYS OF OUR LIVES

Since Days of our Lives unusual production schedule tapes ten-months ahead of air, the new creative team’s vision led by Quan and Jeanne Marie Ford are not expected to stream on Peacock until mid-2027.

Days of Our Lives is currently renewed through its 63rd season. The former NBC soap opera which transitioned to Peacock in September of 2022, celebrate its 60th anniversary in November of 2025.

The writing regime change comes after NBCUniversal Media Chairman Matt Strauss revealed that Peacock is expected to turn a profit for the first time in the current quarter, punctuating their investment with the enduring soap opera on its platform.

As for Quan, his knowledge of Salem is tremendous. Ryan joined Days of Our Lives as a writer’s assistant in 2007 after some time over at Passions. He then spent two decades and held every position on the writing team where he previously served as co-head writer from 2016-17 alongside Dena Higley.

Later, when Ron Carlivati took over as head writer for 7 years in 2017, Quan became his right-hand man and main story consultant for his deep knowledge of the history and the legacy of the show. After Carlivati exited the show in 2024, General Hospital hired Quan in 2025.

So, what do you think about DAYS making it official with Ryan Quan as the new co-head writer of the series alongside Jeanne Marie Ford. What do you think about the fact we won’t see the changes on-screen till 2027? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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ABC Announces ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Texas Spin-Off Gets Straight-to-Series Order

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In a surprise move, coming a week after ABC unveiled its 2026-2027 fall television schedule, Grey’s Anatomy is getting a new spinoff co-created by the original series’ creator/executive producer Shonda Rhimes.

The new untitled medical drama will be written and executive produced by Rhimes and Grey’s Anatomy showrunner/executive producer Meg Marinis under the Shondaland and 20th Television umbrella. In addition, long-running ‘Grey’s’ star Ellen Pompeo will also serve as an EP of the spinoff.

The upcoming new series will debut midseason in 2027. This will be the first of Grey’s franchise not set in urban city or West Coast locale. According to Deadline, the new “edgy drama is about a team at a rural West Texas medical center — the last chance for care before miles of nowhere.”

Photo: ABC

In a statement, Marinis shared, “I am incredibly excited to expand the Grey’s Anatomy universe. This opportunity will bring new characters and stories to life that will embody the same heart, emotion and connection audiences have loved from Grey’s for more than two decades — all set in my home state of Texas. I am so grateful to Shonda Rhimes for creating this dynamic world and feel so fortunate that I get to be a part of it.”

A NEW GROUP OF DOCTORS IN RURAL TEXAS

The Texas spinoff will feature a a new group of doctors, but there will be some connection to the OG Grey’s Anatomy and possibly to Debbie Allen’s character of Catherine Fox. The amount of episodes in the series order has not yet been determined. Previous Grey’s Anatomy spinoffs were the defunct Station 19 and Private Practice.

Previously, Grey’s Anatomy was renewed for its upcoming 23rd season while the amount of episodes is unclear.  The last two seasons the series produced 18 episodes.

It should also be noted, Grey’s Anatomy and the Texas spinoff would likely share a time period, which requires limited-run orders for both with Grey’s premiering in the fall, followed by the spinoff on the midseason programming block.

So, what do you think about a Texas spinoff of Grey’s Anatomy coming in 2027? Who would you like to see from daytime or primetime as some of the featured roles as new doctors? Put on your casting directors hat and let us know via the comment section below.

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