What can we say about The 40th Annual Daytime Emmys?

Mistakes were made.

I have no beef with the unscripted moments like Carrie Fisher talking about dropping acid with Ozzy Osbourne or Corbin Bernsen using the F word while “quoting” his powerhouse late mom to make deserved fun of the telecast. It’s the cringeworthy stuff producers actually PLANNED that I found horrifying – like the couch.

Forcing the winners to immediately go sit on a couch to answer stupid questions has to go down as one of the worst producing decisions in the show’s history, but actors like Y&R’s Doug Davidson gamely participated. The funny thing is that in the room, people didn’t think those couch interviews were airing live on TV so they were chatting. Giada De Laurentiis had the nerve to admonish the audience for not paying proper attention when really someone should have admonished HER for forgetting to wear a top. Couldn’t Corbin Bernsen have thrown a tablecloth over her chest while he was chanelling the late, great Jeanne Cooper?

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the couch disappeared after Corbin made fun of it, although the telecast WAS running long by then. Nancy Grahn’s comedy bits were a highlight, but the time could have also been used to show welcome clips of the nominees (!). What did not belong were performances of the “Best Original Song” noms by co-host Robin Meade.

Producer 1: “We can’t get Sheryl Crow to sing the Katie theme, so let’s get a morning newsreader from a cable network to sing it.”

Producer 2: “Great idea. She can sing both songs!”

No one watches the Emmys to see “Best Song” except for my friend Cat at Good Afternoon America who actually won it. (Congrats, Cat!)

There were many other glitches (see poll below), but there were also many bright spots. My personal faves included Doug Davidson winning Best Actor after 35 years playing Paul on Y&R, and Kristen Alderson FINALLY being nominated and winning after 15 years of playing Starr on OLTL and GH.

Despite the butt-puckering moments, I have to say I was very proud of the way the actors, producers, etc. handled themselves in the face of a very scary runaway train.

Daytime is full of true professionals, and they proved it Sunday night.

 

Here’s how OUR predictions and winners played out:

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

I picked: Michelle Stafford

You picked: Susan Flannery

Who won: Heather Tom

 

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

I picked: Doug Davidson

You picked: Jason Thompson

Who won: Doug Davidson

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

I picked: Katherine Kelly Lang

You picked: Katherine Kelly Lang

Who won: Julie Marie Berman

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

I picked: Jeff Branson

You picked: Bradford Anderson

Who won: Scott Clifton and Billy Miller

 

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

I picked: Kristen Alderson

You picked: Kristen Alderson

Who won: Kristen Alderson

 

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

I picked: Chandler Massey

You picked: Chandler Massey

Who won: Chandler Massey

 

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

I picked: OLTL

You picked: OLTL

Who won: DAYS