The 51st Daytime Emmys were last night on June 7th, with some surprising winners. Watching the actors’ and actresses’ reactions when they won was fun, as they clearly thought they didn’t stand a chance to take home the Emmy. All in all, It was an entertaining and eventful night.
Michelle Stafford Won The Daytime Emmys Outstanding Lead Actress
Michelle Stafford, who plays Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless, was shocked by her triumph. Stafford won for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
While Stafford is a phenomenal actress, she was up against some serious competition with Finola Hughes, who plays Anna Devane on General Hospital, and Cynthia Watros, who plays Nina Reeves on General Hospital.
Stafford had a good past year, as she had killer scenes with her on-screen nemesis, Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters). During her acceptance speech, she praised her fellow actress and good friend, Finola Hughes, saying,
“You are the best actress in the room.”
It’s not untrue.
Hughes also did some incredible work this year; we thought she would surely take home an Emmy for it. The look on Stafford’s face as she took to the stage was priceless.
Stafford first appeared on Y&R in 1994. Her role was supposed to be short-term. However, she impressed the powers that be, and they gave her a contract. Ironically, she played Nina Reeves from May 2014 to June 2019. Watros, who plays Nina now, also had an exceptional year.
Courtney Hope, who plays Sally Spectra on The Young and the Restless, won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Hope joined the cast of Y&R in November 2020.
In her speech, Courtney Hope dedicated her Emmy to all the mothers who had experienced the loss of a child. Her storyline this year, for which she won the Emmy, was miscarrying her baby girl. Her performance struck an emotional chord and was heartbreaking. It was a pleasant surprise to see her win, and it was well-deserved.
Many people predicted that Emily O’Brien, who previously played Gwen Rizczech and now plays Theresa Donovan on Days of Our Lives, would take home the prestigious award.
‘General Hospital’ Won Outstanding Writing Team And Outstanding Daytime Drama
General Hospital took home the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team. This win is interesting because GH fired the writers responsible for the win in January of this year. Dan O’Conner and Chris Van Etten were let go and replaced by new writers Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte.
Van Etten has since returned as breakdown writer, and Elizabeth Korte will remain co-head writer. The GH writing team is like an actual soap opera.
The last time GH’s writing team won for Outstanding Writing Team for a Drama Series was in 2009. It was a big night for GH as the show won for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series.
Not so much a surprise, as it was a pleasant historical occurrence, Dick Van Dyke went home with the Emmy for Outstanding guest actor in a daytime drama series for his part as “mystery man” on Days of Our Lives. Van Dyke is the oldest winner of the Daytime Emmys. Van Dyke said that he had a “wonderful time” on Days. It was a sweet moment.
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