Friday night, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ (NATAS) 49th annual Daytime Emmy Awards were handed out in 15 categories on a live telecast on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.  When the dust settled, it was ABC’s General Hospital who took the night’s top prize for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series.

This marks GH’s continued record-breaking number of wins in this category and brings it up to 15 victories for the iconic show, which is currently in its 59th year on the air.  GH’s executive producer, Frank Valentini accepted the award on behalf of everyone connected with the show, when Drew Barrymore presented the final award of the night.

Photo: JPI

The night also brought with it the historic win of The Young and the Restless’ Mishael Morgan (Amanda Sinclair). The actress became the first black actress in Daytime Emmy history to ever take home the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy.  In the emotional highpoint of the evening, in terms of acceptance speeches and significance, Morgan spoke to the current generation breaking glass ceilings.

Morgan expressed: “We are breaking glass ceilings left right and center and I am so honored to be a vessel and to experience this moment. Everybody out there today, we can do this thing called equality and unity together.”  In her speech, Mishael shared: “I was born on a tiny island in the Caribbean, and I’m now standing on an international stage and I am being honored regardless of the color of my skin, regardless of my passport, for being the best at what I do, Now there are little girls around the world and no matter what the industry, the vocation they can strive to be the best.”

Veteran actor, John McCook who has played Eric Forrrester on The Bold and the Beautiful for over 35 years, finally won his first ever Emmy after four previous nominations in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Courtesy/CBS

The Supporting Actor and Actress in a Drama Series trophies went to two standouts from General Hospital, Kelly Thiebaud (Britt) and Jeff Kober (Cyrus), while Nicholas Alexander Chavez (Spencer), added another mantle to the GH trophy case with his first win for Outstanding Younger Performer.

Days of our Lives writing team led by Ron Carlivati took home the gold for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series, while GH won for Direction.

The biggest winner in terms of total gold belonged to The Kelly Clarkson Show. When all was said and done, between the Creative Arts ceremonies held last weekend, and last night, the talk show took home 7 awards including: Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show and Talk Show Host. General Hospital followed with five total wins for Daytime Emmys 2022.

The ceremonies featured DAYS Suzanne Rogers (Maggie) anchoring the Lifetime Achievement Award presentation to her longtime co-star John Aniston (Victor), who was not present, with the help of John’s daughter, Jennifer Aniston, who was seen on tape.

Susan Lucci (Ex-Erica, All My Children) made her first public appearance since the passing of her beloved husband, Helmut Huber and introduced the In Memoriam segment.  Grammy-winner Michael Bolton performed his classic tune “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” during the tribute.

Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner were the hosts for the telecast, and with the overturning of the Supreme Court Roe vs. Wade decision on everyone’s mind last night, Turner gave a nod to how she and so many others felt, when Frazier told her how nice she looked in her dress. Nishcelle commented, “I chose this dress. It was my choice.”  That moment received huge applause from the audience in attendance.

Check out the full winners circle list from last night’s 49th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards below. 

Then let us know, are you happy with the results? Who were you most thrilled to see take home an Emmy? What did you think of the telecast? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

Outstanding Daytime Drama Series

General Hospital 

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama, Actress

Mishael Morgan, The Young and the Restless

Outstanding Lead Performance In A Daytime Drama, Actor

John McCook, The Bold and the Beautiful

Outstanding Supporting Performance, Actor, in a Daytime Drama

Jeff Kober, General Hospital

Outstanding Supporting Performance, Actress, in a Daytime Drama

Kelly Thiebaud, General Hospital

Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series

Nicholas Chavez, General Hospital

Outstanding Writing Team For a Daytime Drama

Days of Our Lives

Outstanding Directing Team for a Drama Series

General Hospital

Outstanding Game Show Host

Steve Harvey, Family Feud 

Outstanding Game Show

Jeopardy!

Outstanding Entertainment News Series

Entertainment Tonight

Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host

Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show

Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show

Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show

Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host

Tamron Hall, Tamron Hall

Outstanding Informative Talk Show

Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts 

Finally, after many preemptions, General Hospital’s 15,000the episode aired on Wednesday. In it and front and center in the standalone episode was GH icon, Genie Francis (Laura).

In story, after a scathing op-ed is run in The Invader from a group of citizens called “The Friend of Port Charles”, they take aim at Mayor Laura Collins and want a recall to replace her. When trying to figure out who was behind the story, Laura’s friends and the citizens of the town, band together to keep her from being ousted and to figure out who would attack her in the press like this.

That sets up a few sentimental flashback clips featuring the three current longest-running members of the cast, Genie, Kin Shriner (Scott) and Jackie Zeman (Bobbie).  Viewers get a glimpse of Scotty and Laura’s wedding, and then Bobbie’s contentious and duplicitous side when she fought for the love of Scotty against a teenaged Laura.

As Laura tries to determine who is behind the op-ed, Curtis (Donnell Turner) gets a lead from Ms. Wu (Lydia Look) that Laura’s half-brother, Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober) is behind it.  Laura then heads to Pentonville to confront Cyrus.  She asks if he’s the brains behind “The Friends of Port Charles”.

Cyrus insists he is only an advisor. He goes on to say that this is a group of people who are disillusioned by the way she is running the town.  Cyrus gets angry and vengeful, and emotional, when saying the police department is corrupt and how ELQ and Cassadine Industries gets tax breaks at the expense of less fortunate people, etc.  Laura can’t figure out if these people in the ‘friends’ group have such high moral value why would they hire a criminal, like him, as an advisor?

Renault goes on to say that it’s up to God and preaches she needs to be less self-righteous.  Laura throws back to Cyrus that where was God in that scathing op-ed, that he did filled with such hate?  Laura then forgives him and walks out, which stuns Cyrus.

Photo: ABC

Later, Scotty in front of Laura, Bobbie, Anna (Finola Hughes), Felicia (Kristina Wagner) and Lucy (Lynn Herring), proposes to Liesl (Kathleen Gati), but she turns down his marriage proposal.  Liesl feels they have a good thing going , so why mess it up with a marriage at this point. The two kiss.

In addition, Laura meets up with Maxie (Kirsten Storms), who are visiting an institutionalized Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst).  Maxie brings her some cosmetics from Deception because of the bad lighting in the facility.

The softball game was the throughline of the episode, and at the end, we saw the payoff, when all the characters converged on Charlie’s giving their support to Laura, who says she is ready to write her rebuttal.

Then in a voice-over from Laura, she speaks to the essence of Port Charles and its residents which included: that they have a strong community that she is proud to be a part of it and she speaks to her legacy over generations.  Kevin (Jon Lindstrom) proposes a toast to Laura, as she notes that if she loses the recall then so be it, adding that if the person who replaces her is a Port Charles lifer, like she is, then the town will continue to prosper.

So, what did you think of the 15,000 episode milestone episode? Did you enjoy the performance of Genie Francis? Did you like the way much of the cast was utilized, or did you feel otherwise? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The juggernaut that is ABC’s General Hospital, is marking yet another accomplishment in its storied 59-year-history.  The iconic soap opera is set to air on Wednesday, June 22nd (unless preempted), its 15,000th episode.

As part of the celebration, General Hospital’s Finola Hughes (Anna Devane), Marcus Coloma (Nikolas Cassadine) and Josh Swickard (Chase), who all appear in the standalone episode, chat with Michael Fairman to mark the occasion.

During the conversation now on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, Finola and Marcus, and later Josh, who logged on later while at Disneyland, discuss: their beginnings on GH from landing their respective roles, who in the cast perhaps most intimated them, at first, and what it has meant to be part of the legacy of General Hospital.  In addition, Finola, Marcus, and Josh reveal some of their more challenging storylines, and more.

Photo: ABC

Later, the trio each gives us a tease of what’s to come now that Nikolas has slept with Esme (Avery Pohl), what lies ahead for Anna and her love-interest Valentin (James Patrick Stuart), and Josh talks on working with his on-screen love-interest, Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn Quartermaine).

Watch for a special appearance by GH’s Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) within the interview, as we do a deep-dive of being part of the ensemble cast.

We also take a moment to send out our condolences to Kristina (Felicia) and Jack Wagner (Ex-Frisco) on the passing of their son, Harrison, and how you can donate to the scholarship fund in his honor.

Check out our GH 15K interview with Finola, Marcus, and Josh below, and make sure to ‘subscribe’ to the Michael Fairman Channel for more upcoming features, interviews, and upcoming Daytime Emmy red carpet coverage.