Choosing Daytime Emmy nominees is certainly not a science.
The rules instituted by the Academy of Arts and Sciences change as often as most of us change our clothes.
This year, the drama series performer pre-nominees were voted on by all members of the Academy based on one, four-minute reel. Once the pre-nominations were announced each performer submits a reel consisting of their beat work from any two episodes from Jan. 1-Dec. 31 of last year. One other stipulation is the reel cannot exceed 20 minutes.
Smart idea, as in the past some excellent reels were likely ignored as they went in excess of 35 and 40 minutes.
In this day and age of channel surfing and short attention spans, 20 minutes may be too much, 40 minutes is out of the question.
While I could write an entirely separate column on the many insane rules the Daytime Emmys possess, I'll spare you and for now just make my predictions of the five performers in each category who I think are deserving of a nomination. Keep in mind, this is not a prediction of who Academy members may actually nominate when the nominations are announced on March 24, but, simply, my own handicap of wbo deserves to be included in the elite five.
Also, keep in mind that once the final nominations are announced, we will be privilege to what the nominees actually submitted for final judging. This list is just based on who - among the pre-nominees - should get the nod.
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES -
ERIC BRAEDEN - (Victor, The Young and the Restless.) Braeden had his best year in recent memory as the character once again became a force to be reckoned with. Although politics have often kept him off this list, he scored a well-deserved prenom and has the material to make it through the final round - if he submits wisely.
JUSTIN HARTLEY (Adam, The Young and the Restless.) The best recast in daytime history. Enough said.
MAURICE BENARD (Sonny, General Hospital.) Although, he's not one of my personal favorites, Benard had a Emmy-caliber year, especially if he chooses reels that include Emmy winners Laura Wright and Maura West.
CHRISTIAN LeBLANC (Michael, The Young and the Restless.) Although his cancer story was abruptly ended, he has the necessary reels that could win him a fourth Emmy.
ANTHONY GEARY (ex-Luke, General Hospital.) The ALL-TIME leader in Emmy wins, Geary has to be the odds-on favorite to nab a ninth Trophy with his split personality storyline. Unless, of course, voters were turned off by the negative comments he made against the genre when he retired from the industry last summer, that is.
OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS -
KASSIE DePAIVA (ex-Eve, Days of Our Lives.) Daytime vet DePAIVA has only received one prior nomination in her daytime career that spans some 30 years. She is a slam dunk, for me, to score her second nod as the grieving mother who slept with her daughter's boyfriend. Soap cliche? Definitely, but DePaiva was mesmerizing.
MAURA WEST (Ava, General Hospital.) The defending champ in this category, West could be poised for a repeat ,especially if she submitted her courtroom scenes with Maurice Benard.
FINOLA HUGHES (Anna, General Hospital.) Hughes often doesn't submit wisely, which makes her an iffy choice on my list, but if she submits anything surrounding Duke's death, she should be in the running.
MELISSA CLAIR EGAN (Chelsea, The Young and the Restless.) Egan probably had the best, most consistent, overall year of all daytime actresses, but that doesn't always translate into a nomination. It's all about the reel.
For my final spot, "the all-about the reel' comment really comes into play, making it a tie for me between LAURA WRIGHT (Carly, General Hospital.) & GINA TOGNONI (Phyllis, The Young and the Restless.) Both know how to choose reels and one of them - or both - could usurp either Egan or Hughes on the list.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS ( in order of my preference based on their year and what they 'may have' submitted.)
LAURALEE BELL (Christine, The Young and the Restless.)
LINSEY GODFREY (Caroline, The Bold and the Beautiful.)
KELLY SULLIVAN (Sage, The Young and the Restless.)
PEGGY McCAY (Caroline, Days of Our Lives.)
JESSICA COLLINS (ex-Avery, The Young and the Restless.)
I should note the latter two deserve a nomination just for turning some awful storylines into semi-watchable gold.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR -
JACOB YOUNG (Rick, The Bold and the Beautiful.)
DOMINIC ZAPROGNA (Dante, General Hospital.)
SEAN BLAKEMORE ( Shawn, General Hospital.)
BRYTON JAMES ( Devon, The Young and the Restless.)
WALLY KURTH (Justin, Days of Our Lives.)
It should be noted that conspicuously absent in any of the actress categories is Karla Mosely, who if nodded for her tremendous performance as the transgendered Maya on 'B&B' would easily be my favorite. That she was not even pre-nommed was a snub of Beverlee McKinsey proportions. And if you don't know who Bev is, then why are you even reading this column, anyway!
Also, the younger categories are such jokes that I'll save my comments and votes until the final noms come out. I will say that if Camryn Grimes (Y&R) GH's Tequan Richmond and Bryan Craig and DAYS' Camilla Banas, Tru O'Brien and Casey Moss don't make the final cut, then the categories are not just a joke anymore, they are totally absurd.
Check back next month when I cast my votes for the actual finalists and see how well I did with my nominations votes.
