Did you enjoy the Daytime Emmy Awards last week? Were you happy to see grand soap stars like Anthony Geary and Jeanne Cooper honored? I have no complaints with the winners -- and as I mentioned in previous posts, I had predicted some of them correctly. But I do have qualms about so many actors and actresses who weren't even nominated.
A lot of great performances weren't recognized. Therefore, I've decided to recognize a few actors and actresses who should be on the ballot in 2009! That's right, this is a pre-emptive list of six who should be included in next year's Daytime Emmy nominations.
There'll be another big name soap star on the second season of SOAPnet's General Hospital: Night Shift. In addition to Antonio Sabato, Jr. returning as Jagger Cates, Tristan Rogers will join Night Shift, reprising his role as secret agent Robert Scorpio, the Australian spy and former Port Charles police commissioner. His younger brother, Mac, is the current top cop in PC, so expect them to cross paths.
However, it's as the father of Dr. Robin Scorpio, played by Kimberly McCullough. Robin, who is HIV-positive, that Robert will mainly drive story. She is currently in the midst of her first pregnancy. You would imagine that Robert's back to check in on his daughter, but there's more to his Night Shift stay.
Michael Logan in TV Guide reports that a rep for Night Shift said that Robert is suffering from "a major health issue that'll have him grappling with his mortality." Instead of Robert caring for Robin -- to trying to -- the situation will be reversed. Dr. Robin will have to treat her father.
"This'll be a real departure wherever it's headed," says Mr. Rogers. "Robert and Robin will finally get a chance to connect as adults."
The Daytime Emmys are coming. The nominations have been announced and ABC plans to broadcast the award presentation on June 20 at 8 p.m. (EST) with Sherri Shephard and Cameron Mathison sharing the hosting duties. One of the things that invariably drives soap fans nuts is not being able to see the Emmy submissions; that is, the actual shows that the Blue Ribbon Panels are seeing when they choose the Emmy winner from the set of nominees.
Is that Carlo Hesser I spy? It looks a lot like Hawk from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century? Actually, it's both, and his name Thom Christopher. The veteran character actor, who most recently was Colonel Dax on Guiding Light, is coming back to the soap that he's best known for, One Life to Live. In 1992, he won a Daytime Emmy for this role. Soap Opera Digest reports that Thom's will resume the role of Carlo Hesser, evil-doer extraordinare, on June 27.
Christopher's comeback comes on the heels of the major announcement, that is the return of Andrea Evans as Tina Lord Roberts after a nearly two decade absence. And One Life isn't done with the splashy returns. Susan Haskell, another former Emmy-winner (for her role as Marty Saybrooke), is also finding her way to Llanview. Never mind that her character plunged off a cliff in a van last year (when Christina Chambers played the part). You'll see, she was thrown from the vehicle and survived somehow. Trust me. Like sci-fi, soap opera deaths are not as final as you think.
The Daytime Emmys have rendered their verdict: court TV shows will compete in their own Emmy award category. On April 30th, when the nominations are announced, legal shows will vie against each other in a new category meant to honor the best in court television. That means for the first time ever, Judge Judy can go up against the likes of The People's Court, Judge Alex, Divorce Court and the rest of the justice-driven syndicated real drama series currently on the air.
Everyone knew that Regis Philbin is the king, now he'll have some extra hardware to prove it. Like a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. At the upcoming 35th annual Daytime Emmy Awards, June 20 at Hollywood's Kodak Theater, NATAS will present the special honor to Regis, host of Live With Regis and Kelly, during the primetime ABC broadcast. There will be a salute to Regis, no doubt including Kelly Ripa and/or Kathie Lee Gifford, his daytime co-hosts over the years, but the details haven't been announced yet.
Here are the weekly TV ratings, by number of viewers.
1. America's Got Talent (NBC) 2. So You Think You Can Dance - Thurs (FOX) 3. NBA Finals - Game 4 (ABC) 4. NCIS (CBS) 5. Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader (FOX) 6. CSI (CBS) 7. NBA Finals - Game 3 (ABC) 8. CSI: Miami (CBS) 9. Two and a Half Men (CBS) 10. Cold Case (CBS) 11. So You Think You Can Dance - Weds (FOX) 12. Law and Order: SVU (NBC) 13. Hell's Kitchen (FOX) 14. Without A Trace (CBS) 15. Shark (CBS) 16. The Price Is Right - Primetime special (CBS) 17. Daytime Emmy Awards (CBS) 18. CSI: NY (CBS) 19. Deal Or No Deal - Weds (NBC) 20. 48 Hours Mystery - Tues (CBS)
Paula Abdul's still talking about her personal life. Hoping, no doubt, to drum up interest for her reality show Hey Paula that debuts later this month.
The Daytime Emmys are opening up to online content. That may not mean a whole lot this year, but it's a step in a good direction!