*Update
AWARDS SHOW CENTRAL:
Game of Thrones: NATAS finally reinvents the rules for the 2012 Daytime Emmy Awards showdown! Uncensored has the exclusive scoop!
And the Emmy goes to… the most deserving actor and shows in daytime! What you talkin’ about, Nellie?
Yep, the elusive dream may actually become a reality next year. NATAS likes us; they really, really like us! Thanks to the tireless and brave efforts of actors like Y&R’s Michael Muhney, who boldly put a face on the fight for much-needed Emmy reform, NATAS listened and (re)acted in a big way!
A National Academy of Arts and Sciences spokesperson exclusively confirms Soap Opera Uncensored’s Emmy report in our first issue six weeks ago: a major overhaul has reinvented the award nomination process, along with introducing a proposed new category that will get the web soap community all lathered up. The changes have mostly been approved but will be integrated over the course of two years.
Below are the changes; read ‘em and rejoice:
• There is no limit to how many actors from one show can submit their name for Emmy consideration in the pre-nomination round in a category. For example, 10 actresses from General Hospital can submit themselves for Lead Actress contention. So, goodbye bloc voting! This also means that you could possibly have five GH actresses on the final ballot, too. But hey, if the five best actresses are from GH from this past year, that’s fair in my books. The alternative means members being forced to vote for actors due to the show they work on — and not talent.
• Pre-nominee hopefuls will submit an edited two-minute reel consisting of one scene from one episode reflecting their best work from the calendar year.
• Judging pre-nominees hopefuls will be conducted online only on a NATAS website over 4 weeks instead of 2. Members of the Academy will choose their top 10 choices from 1 (being the best) to 10 — regardless of what show they are employed on. The catch? The ballot will not include names or pictures of the hopeful candidates. Anonymous live links to their work will only be shown. In other words, voters will have to click on each link to find out who they are voting for — and most importantly, view the candidate’s work. Translation: Blind voting for members’ friends or well-known names is seemingly over.
• An actor can still submit more than one role in the same category.
• The top 10 pre-nominees from each category will be announced on March 2, 2012.
• In the final round of judging, a blue ribbon panel will be chosen to judge each of the final pre-noms, who will submit one full episode from the calendar year on DVD. Next year, NATAS will propose 15 minutes of work from as many episodes as they like and viewed online much like this year’s pre-nomination voting session. Why not this year? The spokesperson elaborated: “We asked AMC, while they were putting together their reels, to give us some sample submissions with scenes from multiple episodes, so that it would lend weight to our argument and be able to let the awards committee view, and see how important it is for an actor to show a broader range of work. One thing we were told was that pulling from multiple episodes would be asking too much of shows, but AMC proved that wrong by quite easily working with the actors and putting together a couple of sample reels for us, quite quickly since they were about to wrap! We’re working on that change for next year – as you can see!”
• The biggest win? A guest star category will more than likely be re-introduced in 2013. Over the years, members have suspiciously voted against bringing back the guest star category; but with so many recurring statuses and/or stunt casting enveloping the daytime dial, the Academy is finally reflecting the changing daytime landscape. But again, why not this year? According to NATAS, each show needed more time to create a new system of “guest star billing” in their credits to qualify.
• Final nominees will be announced on May 4. The ceremony will take place sometime in June. And it looks “good” that they will air on broadcast television, shares the spokesperson. Moreover, he adds that a very cool plan to reinvent the ceremony may be in the works as well. Stay tuned.
• When Uncensored asked if dramatic web actors could submit themselves in the mainstream categories (Best Actress/Supporting Actor/Directing, etc.) — especially since the number of broadcast soaps have decreased significantly in recent years and the quality of acting online is as top drawer as on the tube — NATAS answered: “That’s a good question! There is nothing in the rules that prevents web actors from entering in the main broadcast categories!”
Ergo, Crystal Chappell could have legally submitted her work on Venice for Outstanding Lead Actress contention last year! Shut the front door! Hey, soapers: You really need to start reading the fine print like prime-time and film actors do.
“In our literature, we’re not allowed to discriminate against platforms, [so on paper that would be legal].” After the discussion, NATAS later informed Uncensored that until they sort out this murky issue (after all, the broadcast soaps could revolt and simply refuse to vote for web stars), and barring any objections (at press time, it still needs to be passed by committee, but is expected to), NATAS has created a new category in the interim: Outstanding Performer (Male or Female) in a Special Class Format.
Next year, the Academy will vote if whether or not web soaps should compete in the mainstream categories. With One Life to Live seemingly headed online, I think it would be wise to open the mainstream categories to this fledgling medium.
SOAPILEAKS:
This week’s hottest news, interviews, and gossip!
All My Children, TheOnlineNetwork.com — AMC Cancelled… Again!
• Poor Agnes Nixon! I had a feeling AMC’s creator might regret creating a cliffhanger for her characters during the broadcast finale. What many people feared has happened: According to Soaps In Depth, Prospect Park is benching AMC and focusing on One Life. That sound you hear? Ron Carlivati tweaking his One Life finale… just in case. I really hope ABC schedules an AMC two-hour TV-movie to wrap up all the loose ends because we fans deserve that.
Regardless, Soap Opera Digest is reporting that AMC is only temporarily shelving the soap to focus on One Life because Prospect doesn’t want to forge ahead without Susan Lucci. Apparently, the mag’s sources cite Lucci’s salary as a sticking point. And as for why PP has signed 13 One Lifers and just two AMCers, sources explain that Llanview players feel more secure to sign with the online version because they know they’ll be working with proven show-runners Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati. Conversely, AMC has no producer or writer, but a couple of weeks ago Digest did whisper Gary Tomlin may become AMC’s new executive producer.
• Meanwhile, Disney had its fourth quarterly report conference call yesterday. Wanna listen? Head over here:
https://corporate.disney.go.com/investors/earnings.html
• From Jill Larson’s Facebook page: “By all means, don’t blame the actors! We were very excited about being a part of this online network, but we still believe there are other opportunities out there for AMC. PP doesn’t have their money, and probably realizes this is a bigger undertaking than they anticipated, or perhaps they were banking on other investors being as enthusiastic as they were, seeing the potential for something really groundbreaking, but as often happens in new ventures, they apparently put the horse before the cart. We now need to support One Life in making a big success online and hope that it will pave the way for resuscitating AMC. There is great disappointment all around, but we are ever grateful for all the support from all of you. You’re really fantastic!! With love.
• In the meantime, there is no more urgent time to get behind the Soap Opera Coupon Initiative, which was in full gear during AMC’s recent fan get together recently. According to Save Our Soaps, about 700 additional coupons were signed.
• Congratulations to Dancing With The Stars’ contender JR Martinez, who has been named the 2012 Tournament of Roses Grand Marshal! Reportedly, Martinez will also make the coin toss
before the 98th Rose Bowl Game.
• Star Jones, who? Move over, Rosie O’Donnell and Elisabeth Hasselbeck because there’s a new feud on ABC Daytime. Gawker asks: Does Mario Batali hate Dr. Oz’s daughter, Daphne? Of course, he does! Check out this montage Gawker put up with all his jabs!
https://gawker.com/5856418/mario-batali-hates-dr-ozs-daughter
• My gal Susan Lucci is currently filming her story arc on Army Wives, the Emmy winner tweeted. So happy… been missing her on the boob tube. “What a great cast,” she wrote. Will you watch?
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS — The Change-up! Royal Pain?
• Two years ago, Adrienne Frantz, who I’ve known since she was a teen, told me she was tying the knot with her beau on 11/11/11 — and girlfriend wasn’t joking. Frantz and Scott Bailey married today in Lake Arrowhead, Calif., in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. No word if Frantz’s Emmy was the flower girl. Congrats.
• Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, who? Looks like newlyweds Liam and Steffy’s marriage is on the rocks, too. Steffy confesses all to Liam as Thomas draws closer to his sister, Hope.
• B&B’s going on location again! Lauralee Bell tells Uncensored that her mother, Lee, recently visited a recent exterior shoot for the show. More details soon.
• According to a setsider, Kay Alden was involved in an accident during a trip to Mexico. Get well, Kay!
• Princess Theodora spoke with Uncensored on her upcoming gig beginning Dec. 5. Here’s a preview of what will appear in Hello! Canada in a few weeks:
Congratulations on the role! How did this gig come about?
Thank you. I went in to read for the B&B casting director… And then they offered me this fun role. Alison has a very wry sense of humour, which I like. I’m here for a couple of days… so we’ll see what happens. The role may turn into something more. She’s not a royal.
What’s it like working on a soap opera? The life of a royal sometimes is a soap!
[Laughs] It’s fun. It’s a family atmosphere at B&B… so I’m really enjoying my time there. Everyone’s been so welcoming. But when the camera turns on, it’s time for business. It’s a very well oiled machine!
Were you familiar with B&B? It’s the most watched daily serial in the world and extremely popular overseas.
I know it’s very popular, but I didn’t watch before. But I’m a fan now and watching every day.
Did you ever see yourself on a soap opera?
No, but for me acting is acting. I will do anything that comes my way.
• In story 411, Nick and Bill plot to merge Spencer Publications and Jackie M, much to Jackie’s chagrin. As a result, Pam and Jackie become new BFFs. In Digest, Lesley-Anne Down previews, “There are some fun scenes coming up.”
Days of our Lives, NBC — The Shocking Affair: Ejami pull a Jarlena!
• Hold on to your seats, Salem fans! Next week, DAYS promises to be on fire — especially if you’re one of the polarized Ejami and Safe fan groups! In a brilliantly ironic nod to history, EJ and Sami have sex… before Will walks in on them! Longtime fans will remember Sami’s character DNA forever changed when Sami caught Marlena getting plowed by John. The reason why Ejami are banging again? The ex-couple think their son, Johnny, is dead… and rely on grief sex to get through the unimaginable horror of losing a child. While I’m not a huge fan of grief sex, this plot twist is rooted in history so it makes sense. And if I lost a child, I’d definitely want someone like James Scott there by my side!