HOLLYWOOD—There was no need for Ebenezer Scrooge or the ghost of Christmas past for daytime viewers this week. We had Dollar Bill Spencer and Victor Newman to keep us entertained. The male performances this week were all incredible and diverse, but Don Diamont, who portrays billionaire mogul Bill Spencer and his Genoa City counterpart Victor Newman, played by Emmy-winner Eric Braeden were two of the most outstanding to watch this week. Both men are consummate professionals who have a hidden well of emotions and gifts as actors that keep viewers of “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” on the edge of our seats.

Don Diamont as Bill on “B&B” blew me away this week with his extraordinary acting. It was as if he was on a marathon of emotions, all perfectly played to fit each scene, characters he was interacting with and each and every situation. Bill was a proud father one moment, who threw the biggest bash since Nicole Richie’s recent Beverly Hills wedding to introduce his son William “Liam” Spencer, III to the media of L.A. and the world. Later Bill plotted to end the relationship between his son and Hope Logan, only to have second thoughts and he also had a beautiful scene with his right hand man, Justin discussing their sons (Liam and Marcus) and being such proud and blessed fathers to such extraordinary offspring.

Don Diamont is nothing if not handsome, talented and ever-surprising in his role as Bill. The actor has mastered every threshold of entertainment and drama, while still keeping an edge of humor in the role in order to maintain Bill’s intrigue and appeal to viewers. I have five words to conclude Diamont’s incredible end to 2010. “Give this man an Emmy!”

Eric Braeden is one of the most powerful actors on the big and small screens. The talented and seasoned thespian is one of the most fascinating men in entertainment today. He uses his rich and vast personal history to create such an iconic legend in Victor Newman on “Y&R.” This week the man who started out being cruel and uncaring toward his family, ultimately helped one of his enemies in need and had an incredible Christmas eve episode of “The Young and the Restless” playing every emotion known to man and then some.

When Victor was visited by ghosts of his past, present and future on Christmas eve, viewers were stunned, but ultimately shocked by the outcome. Braeden’s recent break from “Y&R” was just what he needed to return and engage the viewers with a very perplexing and astonishing performance that will go down in the annals of history as one of the most outstanding performances since the 1946 performance of Jimmy Stewart in “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Braeden is on par with Stewart and Diamont is as well.

These extraordinarily exciting performances would not have been possible without the two giants who portray Bill and Victor. Don Diamont and Eric Braeden deserve our applause and a lot more.

“B&B” and “Y&R” air weekdays on CBS.

Photographs Courtesy: Don Diamont by Gilles Toucas, Bell Phillip Television Productions and Eric Braeden by Monty Brinton for CBS/Sony Studios