Daytime Emmy nominations announced

Nominations for the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced today. Brace yourselves.

Outstanding Drama Series
The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Guding Light (CBS)
One Life to Live (ABC)
The Young and the Restless (CBS)

The good news: no nomination for ATWT, which did NOT deserve one this year (and I am an ATWT fan). Also, PLEASE let this be a wake-up call for AMC, which was as bad in 2006 as it has ever been in its entire run. But way to go, OLTL! No longer the ABC red-headed stepchild! The bad news: No question about it--DAYS deserved (at last) to be on the list this year. It may not have been over all the best show in 2006, but the things it did get right certainly put it in the top half. Shame on you, Academy. I'd also say that GH should be on the list for its merits in '06, and I generally diss GH.

Outstanding Lead Actor
Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott, Y&R)
Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer, GH)
Ricky Paull Goldin (Gus Aitoro, GL)
Christian J. LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin, Y&R)
Michael Park (Jack Snyder, ATWT)

Nice to have a non-Sonny/Jason race for a change. I look for Geary to win No. 6, if only for the photo-op of him & Genie winning in the same year.

Outstanding Lead Actress
Crystal Chappell (Olivia Spencer, GL)
Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor, Y&R)
Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Abbott, Y&R)
Maura West (Carly Snyder, ATWT)
Kim Zimmer (Reva Lewis, GL)

So much for your declaration that you wouldn't be submitting your name this year, Ms. Zimmer. Expect a battle to the finish between Zimmer and Stafford. West may have an outside shot, depending on which episodes she submits. DAYS' Kristian Alfonso = robbed. Doing cartwheels, though, that Susan Flannery will be sitting this one out for a change. (And La Lucci out again. This year, that's correct.)

Outstanding Supporting Actor
Trent Dawson (Henry Coleman, ATWT)
Dan Gauthier (Kevin Buchanan, OLTL)
Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing, GH)
Greg Rikaart (Kevin Fisher, Y&R)
Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters, Y&R)

I suppose Trent Dawson's chances are better this year since ATWT threw him some drama to go with his comedy, and that makes for balanced tapes. Nice to see OLTL managed to remember Gauthier since they just fired him. Everyone else seems like the same old, same old to me. What will it take to get OLTL's John-Paul Lavoisier nominated? Flat-out bribery?

Outstanding Supporting Actress
Genie Francis (Laura Spencer, GH)
Renee Elise Goldsberry (Evangeline Williamson, OLTL)
Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber, GH)
Lesli Kay (Felicia Forrester, B&B)
Gina Tognoni (Dinah Marler, GL)
Heather Tom (Kelly Cramer, OLTL)

All I have to say here is this: if the never-has-won Genie Francis, arguably daytime's best actress, does not win THIS time, I shall rush the stage in protest. Her 1996 loss was the biggest crime in Daytime Emmy history, and she must be avenged. (For God's sakes, if Vanessa Marcil can come back for a few months and win, then Genie Francis better damn sure do it too!)

Outstanding Younger Actor
Van Hansis (Luke Snyder, ATWT)
Bryton McClure (Devon Hamilton, Y&R)
Tom Pelphrey (Jonathan Randall, GL)
Jesse Soffer (Will Munson, ATWT)
James Stevenson (Jared Casey, PAS)

I'm very happy for Hansis, though I worry that the way the writers have reduced him to background small talk for six months may hurt his chances. Never thought I'd see a Passions nomination this year, so good for Stevenson. Pelphrey will win.

Outstanding Younger Actress
Julie Berman (Lulu Spencer, GH)
Alexandra Chando (Maddie Coleman, ATWT)
Stephanie Gatschet (Tammy Winslow, GL)
Jennifer Landon (Gwen Munson, ATWT)
Leven Rambin (Lily Montgomery, AMC)

I love me some Alexandra Chando, but only when she's perky and happy, which was like 15 minutes in 2006. I think this one is Berman's to lose, with Gatschet as a dark horse. Could we have three of six acting trophies this year going to GH's Spencer clan?

The 34th Annual Daytime Emmys will be presented on CBS on Friday, June 15th. I shall be there. :)