The coveted Emmy. Photo courtesy of Google images.

This year’s Emmy Awards will be given out on Friday, June 20 at the famed Kodak Theater. The night will be filled with stars of daytime, talk shows and even game shows.  The announcement of the nominations took a few of us by surprise this year. All except my friend Michael Logan, with TV Guide Magazine. He suspected hanky panky in the daytime soap genre and said as much recently.

I was surprised that Susan Flannery of CBS’s “The Bold & the Beautiful” was not nominated this year. And what a shame her costar Katharine Kelly Lang was not nominated and what a year “The Young & the Restless” star Melody Thomas Scott had. What a shame she was not nominated and my favorite actor in daytime Doug Davidson as well.

However, with the current nominations at hand, here we go with who should win. Outstanding Drama Series nominations are: “General Hospital,” “One Life to Live,” “Guiding Light” and “The Young & the Restless.” Where is “As The World Turns”? What a year that series had. But of the nominees, “Y&R” deserves to win. Second choice would be “One Life to Live.”

This year’s lead actress nominees in a daytime drama include: Maura West (Carly Tenney, ATWT), Crystal Chappell (Olivia Spencer, GL), Nicole Forester (Cassie Layne, GL), Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor, Y&R) and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, Y&R). I’m torn this year, I think Maura West, last year’s winner did another great job, and Michelle Stafford was absolutely superb in her role, as she always is. But my heart goes to Jeanne Cooper. With so many years as Katherine on “Y&R,” I hope that she’s voted to win this time around. She’s long overdue for an award that is much deserved.

The leading men this year are: David Canary (Adam Chandler/Stuart Chandler, AMC), Thaao Penghlis (Antony DiMera, DAYS), Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer, GH), Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott, Y&R) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin, Y&R). This is a category of winners and deserving actors. David Canary and Tony Geary, what can I say? Sublime. Peter and Christian are very deserving as well. But Thaao Penghlis is the most incredible actor on his show “Days of Our Lives” and like Genie Cooper has never won this award. All in all, I think Peter Bergman will win. With Tony Geary surprising everyone and being the upset. All of these men are very deserving.

The supporting actresses this year are giving each other a run for their money. They are: Kelly Menighan Hensley (Emily Stewart, ATWT), Heather Tom (Katie Logan, B&B)
Judi Evans (Bonnie Lockhart/Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis, DAYS), Gina Tognoni (Dinah Marler, GL) and Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren Fenmore Baldwin, Y&R). I like Tracey and think she had a great year, but if Heather Tom doesn’t win this year, she is a sure bet next year. With her current “B&B” storyline as Katie is the recipient of a heart transplant from her brother Storm, who shot himself in order to give his dying sister a healthy heart. Wow!

This year’s supporting actors also are amazing: Trent Dawson (Henry Coleman, ATWT), Daniel Cosgrove (Bill Lewis, GL), Brian Kerwin (Charlie Banks, OLTL), Greg Rikaart (Kevin Fisher, Y&R) and Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters, Y&R). Not that any of these guys didn’t deserve to be nominated, they surely did, but Austin Peck of “As The World Turns” really deserved a nomination in this category. But everyone can’t be chosen, can they? My vote is for Trent Dawson as Henry on “ATWT.”

Every year we go through the race and it seems on Emmy night, there are always some surprises. This year won’t be any different. See you there!