Daytime Emmys are unjust deserts
By Michael Logan, TV Guide, 1991	Home   Cette page en Français

Soapland is once again in the throes of Emmy fever, and with it come the usual blisters. As in year past, much of the best acting went unnominated.

Among the missing : Susan Flannery (Stephanie) of CBS's The Bold and the Beatiful, Robert Newman (Josh), Kim Zimmer (Reva) and Grant Aleksander (Philip) of CBS's Guiding Light, Nancy Grahn (Julia) and Louise Sorel (Augusta) of NBC's Santa Barbara and the trio who played out the rivetting midlife triangle on CBS's As the World Turns : Don Hastings (Bob), Kathryn Hays (Kim) and Marie Master (Susan).

Apparently, the sly, subtle work of these nine veterans wasn't of interest to the Academy voters, who instead continued their love affair with over-the-top performances. Witness the nominations for Susan Lucci (Erica), David Canary (Adam) and Jill Larson (Opal) of ABC's All My Children, As the World Turns's Elzabeth Hubbard (Luncinda) and Santa Barbara's Nicolas Coster (Lionel).

The latter selection is perhaps the most knucklehead. Coster is up for best actor despite a so-so performance in a barely visible role (in fact, he's been son steamed this past year over lack of storyline, he publicly threatened to quit Santa Barbara as often as he changes his socks). But after a 29-year soap career (he's starred in eight serials - four of them currently on the air), the super-gregarious actor has amassed plenty of pals throughout the Academy. Pals that clearly didn't watch Santa Barbara before voting.

We can't blame Coster, though. The Academy has purposely structured in nomination process so that members don't have to tune in. Instead, they thumb through a directory that lists all actors submitted for Emmy consideration. There's even room for an optional photo next to each name - and, this year, not a single photo-less actor got a nomination. Does this suggest that voters can't ferret out quality without a picture book reminder ? Does this system favor actors with a higher industry profile or a supposed reputation for excellence ? Since the ballot offers no way to register a write-in vote, can a great performance go ignored (as was the case with Zimmer and Aleksander) if a soap refuses - or forgets - to submit it ? Should the TV Academy smarten up and find a better plan ? (The answers, sorry to say, are yes, yes, yes and you betcha.)