The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) today announced the Drama Performer Pre-Nominations for the 37th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Awards. There were some interesting choices and several surprising omissions.LEAD ACTOR
How nice to see John Aniston get a pre-nomination although I was expecting last year's nominee Peter Reckell in that spot for DAYS. Former winners Maurice Benard and David Canary should easily make their way to the final cut. Doug Davidson had some terrific performances during the year on Y&R and it's great to see him included. It is a crime that Justin Deas and his fabulous work on GL are not nominated. Grant Aleksander, too, for that matter. Will Eric Braeden ever be recognized again? Michael Park!
LEAD ACTRESS
I'm greedy but was hoping to see Crystal Chappell nominated for both GL and DAYS. Thank God her Award-deserving work on GUIDING LIGHT was recognized. It seems like not that many GL actors submitted themselves but Chappell was one that could not be overlooked. Sarah Brown was another actress I was hoping to get two nominations for two different shows. Kudos for the pre-noms for Hillary B. Smith and often overlooked Sharon Case.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Betty White! Let's hope White makes the final nomination list. Her presence alone might help the ratings of the Daytime Emmy telecast. Tina Sloan! Ilene Kristen! This category includes several actresses that have never been honored enough. Arianne Zucker seemed to carry DAYS a lot of the year but she is "Supporting"? Where is Suzanne Rogers? What an oversight. Tricia Cast and Beth Maitland?
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jonathan Jackson is a frontrunner for his 2010 work but he did enough in 2009 after his GH return to warrant a pre-nom. Joseph Mascolo has never been recognized by the Emmys for his work so it's good to see him listed. Brett Claywell was in one of the hottest stories of the year so major kudos to those who voted for him. Bradford Anderson! Austin Peck had the story on ATWT but Don Hastings had the chops. Why can't soaps value their talented older actors especially when they have material that could win? I would love to see true supporting actors nominated from each soap. In many ways Y&R revolved around Michael Muhney this year so I was expecting to see his name here.
YOUNGER ACTRESS
If you look through this list you quickly recognize the power and talent of the younger GH actresses. The Younger categories have often had surprise winners so I wouldn't be shocked if Crystal Hunt makes the final cut. Where is Meredith Hagner? ATWT only has one pre-nominated actress. Molly Burnett is terrific and will hopefully make the finals.
YOUNGER ACTOR
Congratulations to JR Martinez on the pre-nomination. Zack Conroy was a find on GL so glad to see him here. Scott Evans! In our interview with him on WE LOVE SOAPS TV he said he wasn't even sure if he was eligible. Apparently he is! Drew Garrett is one of the best younger actors to come along in a while and will surely make the final five.
GENERAL COMMENTS
It would have been nice to see more people of color in this list of nominees. Just by stepping on the set, Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan can act circles around most. The Daytime Emmys can change the voting process every year, but it seems there is also going to be block voting and actors left out because they may not be popular on their own show or in general. It's too bad GUIDING LIGHT, which had a pretty good 2009 before it went off the air, is not recognized more.
What do you think? Who was overlooked? Who will be on the final ballot? Let us know!
DAYTIME SOAP OPERAS
